Can I use bipap while sick "sinus/common cold)?

[Ruinednose]

Or is the humidity and stuff bad for the lungs. Expecially if there is fluid in the lungs

[nanwilson]

Keep using the machine you will feel better in the morning. I have been on cpap for almost 4 years and find I have way less colds, but when one does sneak through I find by keeping the machine ON at night it lessens the length and severity of the cold.

[robysue]

Short answer: Yes, you can use your BiPAP when you're sick with a common cold.

Longer answer: Extra humidity is not bad for the lungs---one of the things docs tend to recommend for anybody with a nasty head cold or the flu is to use a room humidifier to add extra humidity to the room air. When you use a BiPAP with a humidifier, you're already accomplishing that. And many people find that sleeping with the PAP machine is easier than sleeping without it when they're sick: The added humidity and the air pressure can make the sinus/nasal congestion a bit less, which in turn makes it easier to breathe at night rather than harder. Some people find that they prefer a FFM when using their PAP with a headcold since they can readily open their mouth if the congestion is just too much for nasal breathing.

Final comment: You write "Expecially if there is fluid in the lungs". An illness with fluid in the lungs is NOT a symptom of a common cold or a sinus infection. Fluid in the lungs can be a symptom of pneumonia or other serious conditions. If you really have fluid in your lungs, you need to contact your primary care physician

[Ruinednose]

i have had this rhinis stuff before about 2 months ago with fluid in my lungs and my doc helped me through it with prednisone and some antibiotics, now it seems to come back. so im wondering if it is the same thing will having fluid in lungs be worsened if bipap is used?

[jnk]

Personal decisions about whether to continue or discontinue PAP treatment when other problems are present (including minor temporary ones such as a cold) may be a call for a doc to make, in my opinion.

In general, people with very mild OSA are not taking much of a risk when discontinuing a few nights. On the other hand, some people with moderate to severe OSA and other health history may be taking a significant risk to sleep even two hours off PAP. So the severity of the OSA and the severity of other health conditions come into play. Personally, I've found PAP to help my colds and allergies, but then I haven't had a problem with lung fluid recently.

If a patient wonders about how his or her specific circumstances should be weighed in the decision, a phone call might be in order.

Just sayin'.

[robysue]

i have had this rhinis stuff before about 2 months ago with fluid in my lungs and my doc helped me through it with prednisone and some antibiotics, now it seems to come back. so im wondering if it is the same thing will having fluid in lungs be worsened if bipap is used?

As I said before, this illness is NOT a routine common cold or routine sinusitis in spite of the title of this thread. Common colds and run-of-the-mill sinusitis do not directly cause fluid in the lungs.

I'd start by calling your PCP about the fluid in the lungs problem. Having fluid in the lungs twice during a 2 month period is pretty alarming in my opinion. So it's worth reporting that the symptoms have returned to the doc who prescribed the prednisone and antibiotics.

As to whether you should continue using your BiPAP or not, I'd err on the side of using it until and unless a doctor specifically told me to not use the machine, but that's just me. I do thing it is worth asking both your PCP and your sleep doc about whether you should still be using the machine since you've got fluid in the lungs and following their advice.

But for dealing with a common cold or sinusitis that involves nothing more than a lot of nasal and sinus congestion and coughing, I think you're better off using the machine than not using it.

[DoriC]

i have had this rhinis stuff before about 2 months ago with fluid in my lungs and my doc helped me through it with prednisone and some antibiotics, now it seems to come back. so im wondering if it is the same thing will having fluid in lungs be worsened if bipap is used?

As I said before, this illness is NOT a routine common cold or routine sinusitis in spite of the title of this thread. Common colds and run-of-the-mill sinusitis do not directly cause fluid in the lungs.

I'd start by calling your PCP about the fluid in the lungs problem. Having fluid in the lungs twice during a 2 month period is pretty alarming in my opinion. So it's worth reporting that the symptoms have returned to the doc who prescribed the prednisone and antibiotics.

As to whether you should continue using your BiPAP or not, I'd err on the side of using it until and unless a doctor specifically told me to not use the machine, but that's just me. I do thing it is worth asking both your PCP and your sleep doc about whether you should still be using the machine since you've got fluid in the lungs and following their advice.

But for dealing with a common cold or sinusitis that involves nothing more than a lot of nasal and sinus congestion and coughing, I think you're better off using the machine than not using it.

I'm not a Dr but Fluid in the lungs does not sound like ordinary sinusitis or a common cold and usually does not present again twice in 2 months after antibiotics and prednisone, has your Dr mentioned possible pneumonia? Repeating what Robysue recommended, call your Dr.

[Ruinednose]

ok, i will go to the doctor, i don't yet feel the wheezing and stuff so i don't think i got any fluid in lungs but i got one nostril constantly dripping clear liquid and congested in the nostril.
but this is what happened last time and i eventually got fluid in lungs which were cured with prednisone and powerfull antibiotics.

i will wait another day and see if this is just a normal cold or something and then go to doctor if it gets any worse.
im just running out of money

also i have no sore throat, just body weakness and nostril dripping, no fever yet

[BlueSky72]

If you tend to get a chest infection after a cold, it can mean you have a chronic sinus issue, which could be structural. I recommend seeing an ENT for further investigation.

As an aside, did you know that the way the nose keeps itself clean is to switch around about every four hours by blocking one nostril then the other for cleaning. If you have the same nostril blocked for significantly more than four hours it indicates a problem. I also recommend nasal irrigation/rinsing daily and during a cold or sinus infection, several times a day. It really does work, and is cheap and painless.