Tough Week

Hi,

I had a rough week. I came down with a nasty cold last Saturday. For two nights, I had trouble trying to use my nasal pillow mask due to my nose running constantly. I attempted to go back to my old trusty Quatro, but I just couldn't deal with the full face mask. Every time I would wiggle, I'd end up with air in my eyes. Just when I needed the rest the most, I struggled to get 3 hours of sleep each of Sunday and Monday night. My nose cleared up for Tuesday night, and I was able to get in 9 hours of sleep with an AHI under 2. That really helped. I am still not feeling 100%, and I am still a bit weak, but at least I am getting good sleep other than the two nights where I struggled.

It does kind of unnerve me that getting a cold can have such a big impact now that I am dependent on the machine. For me, attempting to sleep without the machine is a risk that I am not willing to take. What do other folks do when they get a cold or the flu?

-john-

Sorry to hear that you suffering. Things will get better when that cold passes. I am like you in that I have tried the Quattro and hated the full face. My mask would also leak around the eyes which was a real pain. I am now trying the Liberty which has nasal pillows. I have been wondering what would happen if I get a cold like you. At least you have a backup mask unlike me who is a newbie and starting out with only one.

Have you tried flushing out your sinuses with a neti pot. I understand that can help make me breath and assist in cold recovery.

Just hang in there as things will improve.

I have been using a cpap for 7 years now and have had a few colds in that time! If I raise the humidifier setting just a bit, or give myself a little heated humidity (I use the humidifier in pass over mode most of the time), I can breathe better and sleep better when I have cold. Might work for you.

Sometimes I try to use the neti pot, but when I'm too clogged, I sleep in the recliner with my feet up but the back only slightly tilted. My recliner is straight backed so I don't sink into it - helps with keeping everything properly aligned. Then I prop one of the c-shaped neck pillows around the front so it keeps my chin from falling forward. In that position I don't have breathing trouble. (Others may still even with the positioning precautions.) Don't have a full facemask. May go that route some day.

Hi to jweeks & Kathy.
John, I can identify with how you are feeling. I had a cold that turned into sinus, so I have the stuffy head, achy feelings plus stuffed nose. Between the cough and the can't breath feeling, I sympathize with you. Using the neti pot or one of the nasal cleaning systems, similar to water pik, has helped me in the past. Reading your post reminded me that I hadn't tried the nasal rinse systems. I recently purchased the Full Life Full Face mask, I tried to use my Zest nasal mask when the cold first started, and it didn't work. I did use the Full Face and I could breath through my mouth and still get therapy.

Kathy, I learn something from you almost everytime I read one of your posts. I have tried propping myself in a recliner, but couldn't keep my head erect. Now I know what to do with the curved pillow. Hope you are well.

Jan

I resort to generic 12-hour moisturizing Afrin but use it cautiously to prevent rebound congestion. I get 5 nights relief using it this way:
Night 1: 1 spray in each nostil
Night 2: pick a nostril, 1 spray (nothing in the other one)
Night 3: same nostril. 1 spray
Night 4: switch nostrils, 1 spray
Night 5: that same nostril, 1 spray

No more Afrin for at least 3 weeks.

sorry to hear about your troubles...and boy, can i relate! i went thru what you are going thru about 2 weeks ago. i sort of panicked because i hadn't invested in a full face mask yet as i had read to do in the event of a nasty cold! but it all turned out better than i hoped. like the other posts, i did the following:

1) slept with my head propped up...like you would if you had a bed wedge (and i may still invest in one of those!)
2) used afrin nose spray...but only for 3 days as the label states...to avoid rebound congestion
3) used a neti pot to rinse out my sinuses...twice a day
4) took zyrtec (actually the generic equivalent from wal-mart)

it took longer than usual to beat the cold/sinus infection....but all in all...not so awful.

hope you feel much better soon! hang in there..