now i'm sick, what to do?

[sleepymama]

so i woke up early this morning to my mask at the back of my head off. machine says 3.6hrs of usage. i had stuffy nose and think that maybe i couldn't breathe cause i was wearing the chinstrap. dh said i was leaking from my mouth as he came in to check on me when i was using my machine and then he said i would close my mouth and cough/gag. so on to find another chinstrap. also need to take some medicine to have a better time breathing tonight. in the past i've used vicks but can't do that since i'm using pillows. what to do?

[nanwilson]

Can't use a chin strap either it chokes me, sits too far in on my throat.... UGH
I have been inundated with allergies lately & since the antihistimines weren't working, last night I put vicks on a cotton ball and put it close to my air intake. Mmmm the smell relieved my stuffy nose for awhile...long enough to fall asleep and I slept like a baby. The vicks doesn't melt or anything so don't see how it would hurt either the machine or me...just a nice soothing smell to open my airways. I imagine if I put some eucalyptis or camphor on a cotton ball it would do the same thing. Purrsleep has one that is called vapour clear & it has eucalyptis in it so it would be the same.
Good luck, hope you feel better in a day or so.
Cheers
Nan

[mars]

Hi sleepymama,

All I can say is that if I was you I would be getting a full face mask for times like this. You might even find the full face is better for you anyway. I did.

Good luck

Mars

[LSAT]

Use a nasal rinse or neti pot...and...try a FF mask.

[Beachmeezer]

Saline spray and Claritin D for those times when I'm stuffed up. (I use saline every night) I like the idea on Vicks on a cotton ball - will remind me of when I was a kid - my mom swore by Vicks! still does lol - Kim

[torontoCPAPguy]

Agreed. If you cannot clear up that nasal congestion, a nasal mask or pillows are simply NOT going to work for you. DANGER WILL ROBINSON! ENGAGE FULL FACE MASK.

I suffer from nasal congestion on a regular basis; if I am going to have a good night without congestion IMHO, I will put on the Mirage Activa nasal mask. If, on the other hand, I have any indication of pending nasal congestion during the night I will put on my Mirage Quattro full face mask. Both seem to offer me a good seal excepting that I get some mouth breathing with the Mirage Activa, especially if congestion begins to form during the night. I have recently purchased a PAPCAP PLUS4 and as soon as I figure out all the darned straps am going to give it a try along with wearing some underwear elastic as a chin support and with some velcro attached by sewing machine, as a slight 'push' on the front of the masks to complete the seal as recently suggested on here.

I am starting to wear the Quattro more and more as it is smooshable and I seem to be able to smoosh my face into a pillow without breaking the seal.

Allergy season is a bugger up here in Ontario, especially living in the suburbs. Oh, one other thing. I would also try cranking up the humidity on your humidifier to see if that helps.

[sleepymama]

i had the humidity on the highest setting a few days ago but noticed some stuffy ness starting so i turned it down a few notches. i will probably crank it back up tonight since it's cool here today. i think i'd rather go with a mask that goes over the bridge of my nose and get blisters then have to keep going to find a darn mask. it's an hr one way UGH. i head back down there on tuesday so i have to bring back the other masks i have. i think i will tell her to give me a certain one to try at home cause each time i try it there sitting up (there is not a spot to lay down) it seems fine leak wise but once i'm home and start getting comfy i'm leaking even still after adjusting the straps more. i'm just really frustrated and part of me wants to just forget it all but i know i can't so i keep trucking.

[Jaylee]

A FFM is a must when sick, I think. Also the neti pot helps, too. I can not use a nasal mask when sick.

[BlackSpinner]

i had the humidity on the highest setting a few days ago but noticed some stuffy ness starting so i turned it down a few notches. i will probably crank it back up tonight since it's cool here today. i think i'd rather go with a mask that goes over the bridge of my nose and get blisters then have to keep going to find a darn mask. it's an hr one way UGH. i head back down there on tuesday so i have to bring back the other masks i have. i think i will tell her to give me a certain one to try at home cause each time i try it there sitting up (there is not a spot to lay down) it seems fine leak wise but once i'm home and start getting comfy i'm leaking even still after adjusting the straps more. i'm just really frustrated and part of me wants to just forget it all but i know i can't so i keep trucking.

Line the mask where it touches your nose with some cotton knit fabric to protect your skin. Even a tissue paper works.

[sleepymama]

maybe i'll just drop by the DME place and request 2 more masks to try at home instead of having her fit me each time and try with the machine. i'll tell her i'm time strapped so i can't stay long. the mirage quattro, how much cushion does it have? what's the other ones you guys prefer? i have a big nose lol so it's hard to find a good mask.

[animallover13]

I love the Vicks idea on the cotton ball and putting it by the air intake....
I was raised on Vicks also....and still buy it
It sure opens the nasal passages...very important when we are using nasal pillows!

I hope you are better Real soon Sleepy Mama !

[torontoCPAPguy]

Firstly, I am wondering about the effectiveness of Vick's on REAL congestion... although I do have fond memories of being mothered with Vick's when I had a cold as a kid. If it works for you GREAT!

Agreed - a full face mask is a MUST if you are sick and have congestion.

Humidified airstream - I find it does not always work for me, but when I have a cold it is super duper. It keeps me from coughing into my full face mask and helps clear the nasal and lung congestion for some reason.

Bridge of the nose irritation - my early masks would cause BLISTERS on the bridge of my nose; then I discovered masks with forehead supports, the Mirage line being wonderfully adjustable depending on where the bridge of your nose sits. In fact, I tend to adjust it for the lightest fit that gives me a solid seal every night before going to sleep. All adjustments to your mask should be made while you are laying down. No more irritation to the nose.

Nasal Pillows - have their place but not for me thus far (although I have a bunch to try out yet). I find that smoooshing my nose into the pillow constricts the hole and creates an air pressure washer, drilling holes into my nose and eyeballs from inside. If you are a back sleeper they are wonderful once you find the right one that fits properly.

Good luck. I am down to the Mirage Activa and the Mirage Quattro which used to be available on cpap-auctions for about $50 or so until ResMed put an end to that... I'd still be looking for other auction sites that carry ResMed listings and if I ever figure out what auction software to use without having to invest a fortune, I will donate a computer system dedicated to a ResMed auction site. Any auction software suggestions?

[Bons]

maybe i'll just drop by the DME place and request 2 more masks to try at home instead of having her fit me each time and try with the machine. i'll tell her i'm time strapped so i can't stay long. the mirage quattro, how much cushion does it have? what's the other ones you guys prefer? i have a big nose lol so it's hard to find a good mask.

Have you tried the Fisher & Paykel 431 yet? It's a tad noisier than the Quattro, but for me it's a lot more comfortable fit, and it seals better on my face. Because the Quattro rests just under the lip, my mouth would sag open from time to time - the 431 has a chin rest that lets me breathe through my mouth but not cause a leak when my mouth is open. My only complaint, which I guess I'll get used to, is that I can feel it moving up and down when the pressure rises and falls. I can sleep on my side again, so it's worth waking up now and then until I get used to it.