CPAP during cold/flu

[soxfan426]

What happens when you are sick with a cold or flu? Is CPAP still effective or does that complicate things? Seeing how its cold and flu season. I think now that i'm getting proper sleep i can hopfully avoid getting sick this winter.

[Paul56]

What happens when you are sick with a cold or flu? Is CPAP still effective or does that complicate things? Seeing how its cold and flu season. I think now that i'm getting proper sleep i can hopfully avoid getting sick this winter.

Just coming out on the tail end of having a cold for the past week or so.

Coughing and runny nose during the day. Dope myself up at night with cough syrup and give the nose a good blow. I cranked up he humidity setting on the machine and would sleep then night through... early on would wake up once and need to remove the mask to get the throat clear.

I did not find it all that bad... and the numbers stayed as per normal.

[araminta]

I'm getting over a bad cold with lottsa congestion.

I had a new ritual:
First, used the netipot to clear the congestion.
Then, a full face mask was really useful and I finally learned to use it properly so it wasn't noisy.
Finally, I learned that I had to turn off the humidifier cause it was making me feel even more congested.

With all that done, I could sleep thru the nite.

I think I got sick because the bedroom temp is kept kinda low, and the cpap was blowing cold air into my lungs.
But now I have the Aussie hose and the warm air feels great. PLUS: No more rainout.

[BlackSpinner]

I got a cold the first week I had it. I did the same thing, decongestants & cough syrup and cranked up the humidity. It was the easiest cold I have ever sailed through.

I had a full face mask and it made it a breeze.

[JohnBFisher]

What happens when you are sick with a cold or flu? Is CPAP still effective or does that complicate things? Seeing how its cold and flu season. I think now that i'm getting proper sleep i can hopfully avoid getting sick this winter.

Before I answer your question, a word of "Congratulations!" on getting your sleep under control. It's quite an adventure to reach that point! Way to go!

Yup. Having a head or chest cold can make xPAP therapy miserable. But it's not the end of the world. Here are some tricks I've used over the years. No doubt others will have other suggestions.

First, I do not use nasal decongestants until I absolutely need to. See my note later on how to use them to REALLY clear your sinuses. However, consider it a last resort since your body can get a bit addicted to nasal decongestants.

Second, try to stay away from Benadryl (or medications that contain it - such as the Tylenol PM or Advil PM). Benedryl tends to amplify obstructive sleep apnea at a time when you need it less.

Third, I typically use a nasal saline spray before I go to sleep. Other folks recommend nasal irrigation. I've never tried it, but I suspect it does help. Use a double spray technique. Spray the saline solution into your nose and try to inhale as deeply as possible. Then blow your nose. Wait a couple minutes, blow your nose again and then repeat. That normally clears my nose well enough to last several hours.

Fourth, If your nasal passages are COMPLETELY blocked, it may be time to use a nasal decongestant. I had a pulmonologist teach me a "double" spray technique. (He also taught me the use of nasal spray, then decongestant .. a graduated attack plan). Use a shorter acting nasal decongestant, since you may need to repeat this later in the evening. You don't want to overdo the decongestants.

This technique is essentially the same as the nasal saline spray. It WILL open your nasal passages. About 15 minutes after using the double spray with nasal decongestants, I typically follow that with a nasal saline spray. Double dose with the decongestants can make my nasal membranes bleed. The follow up spray with saline solution seems to help me avoid that.

Fifth, if I also have a chest cold or junk in my throat, I tend to use soup or herbal tea to try to keep myself hydrated and help clear my throat. I also will use an over the counter expectorant to help clear phlegm from my lungs.

Finally, soxfan426, I have some really good news. I know that at least for me and others to whom I've talked, I have FAR fewer sinus and chest infections with xPAP therapy compared to before my use of xPAP! It's not really a coincidince. I sleep better. My body can better handle stress and the increased pressure helps keep my airway open better. Thus, the raging infections in my sinuses are lessened.

Anyway, I hope that helps!

[BlackSpinner]

Finally, soxfan426, I have some really good news. I know that at least for me and others to whom I've talked, I have FAR fewer sinus and chest infections with xPAP therapy compared to before my use of xPAP! It's not really a coincidince. I sleep better. My body can better handle stress and the increased pressure helps keep my airway open better. Thus, the raging infections in my sinuses are lessened.

Anyway, I hope that helps!

YES YES - since I have been on cpap I have not had any cold, sinus infections, or flus even though my house mates have been sick with them twice, even the dreaded swine flu!

My allergies are much less, my asthma is less.

Probably because for 8 hours I breath humidified, filtered air, I am getting enough sleep and my body isn't stressed by the lack of oxygen. My ENT said I should switch to a nasal mask and I thought he was crazy but I decided to try the hybrid - mostly because Resmed won't let cpap.com ship to Canada. After a month my sinuses are doing better.

[flylow]

For me, when I am stuffed up, I can't even get the neilmed to flush through my nose without sending it up my eustachion tube. While this is a worst case scenario for me, I do have to take it easy with the neilmed to avoid that scenario. Even so, I am often not clear enough to breathe through my nose.

As I am settling down, I will alternate between mouth breaths and nose breaths. What I find that after a few minutes of this, I am comfortably breathing through my nose. It seems the cpap manages to blow a path clear. This action has me wondering if cpap has a tendency to increase the frequency of sinus infections by shoving the mucous into the sinuses and preventing them from draining. It seems every cold I get, winds up turning into a secondary sinus infection. I need to use pseudofed to help but it hasn't really been effective in avoiding these infections for me.

[MoneyGal]

Count me among those who really don't get colds now that I am getting restful, sufficient sleep. Before diagnosis and treatment, I spent 2-4 days in bed EVERY month with a cold or flu. Since diagnosis and treatment, one cold. One!

[Muse-Inc]

...spent 2-4 days in bed EVERY month with a cold or flu... Since diagnosis and treatment, one cold. One!

Congrats! Great recovery story. Might also get your vitamin D levels checked. Normal is >30, optimal is 60-70. Since I hit optimal, no colds, no viruses...I used to catch everything.

[Gerryk]

Depending on your nasal congestion you will probably need a full face mask. I wear one all the time, but others who normally use nasal will tell you that you should have a full face as a backup for illnesses or what ever.

I do irrigate. I used to irrigate on a regular basis IE daily but now I only do it when I need to. I have only been sick once since I started cpap but everyone else in the house and at work had the flu, so I was the last standout and was pretty much worn out so I got it.

As far as irrigation you can use that neti pot or the squeeze bottle. If you have allergies you may want to look into something like the grossan nasal irrigator by hydro med. I use this for allergies and if I get sick and have nasal congestion. My son also uses it because of allergies and to help moisturize his nose to prevent frequent bloody noses.

My doctor had told me if I need to but only as a last resort, I can use Neosypherine for up to a few days but not to use Afrin.

John has made some very good points, I would suggest going back and reading them again.

Gerry

[DreamStalker]

Since starting CPAP about 3 and a half years ago, I've had one very very mild incidence of runny nose that lasted for about 2 or 3 days. Managed to keep things fairly clear with nasal sinus rinses and avoided having to use my Liberty mask which hides in the closet for just such occasions.

Don't know if it is the CPAP treatment, or my revised diet or both ... but my immune system is better than it has ever been in my whole life.

As the Muse stated, can't go wrong with vitamin D3 (make sure it is the D3 version) supplements. Most people have very insufficient levels.

[MoneyGal]

Pretty OT but my parents have been vitamin D proponents since I was a kid, and long before there was a lot of awareness of vitamin D. So I've been supplementing since I was a baby, honest. (My parents are also vegans and very committed athletes, well into their 70's.)

[soxfan426]

I noticed i have had alot of sinus pressure and thought i was getting sick from the CPAP but that has seemed to stop. Although I was taking Tylenol Sinus to help.

[SleepyStarfish]

I started with cold symptoms yesterday. Last night I irrigated with the NeilMed squeeze bottle and that helped some. I had no trouble sleeping. I use a FFmask all the time but had not thought about turning up the humidity as y'all have suggested. I will try that.

Any special cleaning I need to do on the tube, etc???