My next Question: tummy flu and CPAP

So....after I received reasurrances last night that a lightning strike wouldn't strike me dead through my cpap equipment..., I said my prayers and fell asleep. But woke up about 2:30 a.m. with this really nauseous feeling. I got up thinking maybe it was GERD....and then realized I couldn't swallow my saliva....so then I knew, that the next few hours would NOT be pleasant. So I grabbed a chair and waited it out and sure enough....i'll spare you the details but it wasn't fun. Now what concerns me is that after it was over, I was afraid to put my mask back on, so just sat up the rest of the night. With the quattro, sometimes those clips are hard to get off, and I've had pneumonia once and almost TWICE from aspirating, and didn't want to try my chances with a third time....

so.....now my compliance time for the nite is all screwed up? ....remember I'm working on my compliance time to have ownership of the machine and do things "my way."....the compliance time shows only 2.5 hours.....so....that's not going to be good when I see the sleep doc? Or do the sleep docs and insurance company just look at the compliance percentage? What is a good percentage for them? The other nights I had 4 hours each night at least, actually a little more because I put it on my face for practice (by the way that REALLY helps with claustrophobia to just put it on and relax and hang out with a funny hugh grant type movie).....but I'm concerned about my compliance time now (headache, and I think I sound whiney to boot! sorry)

So, if you have the flu or feel nauseous and use a FFM, is it better to not use CPAP for the nite so y ou don't take a chance on aspirating? OR should I just learn to rip that mask off faster......

Now, don't ya'all just LOVE my questions? But hey, you're here, and "inquiring minds wanna KNOW!"

Well, I think my assumption would be that I would wake up as soon as I started throwing up. I am not really sure. I did have a tummy bug while on CPap but at the time I was using a nasal mask so it wasn't really an issue.

Hopefully someone else will know a better answer. I hope you feel better.

Hmmmmm...I think this situation is when it'd be handy to have a nasal pillow mask instead of a full-face one. Then you could just switch masks and go back to sleep. Bless your heart, this was a tough night for you!

I love your questions.

I had not thought of that scenario (I'm new-ish too), ewww. But for me, I tend to wake up well in advance of spewing, knowing that it's coming and just a matter of time. I usually get out of bed and hang by the bathroom.

Just went through my first cold with CPAP. Interesting.

Hope you're feeling better!

To really appreciate how to deal with it, here's a story from ~ 40 yrs ago (the last time I was "sick"). I ate some unripe or overripe grapes and overnight (long, long before Cpap) suddenly realized I wouldn't even get to the bathroom, but luckily(?) there was a litter box nearby (newly married, still living like students) and I just managed to get to it, thus saving the floor and my clothes! It occurred to me that if ever it happened again and I at least had some notice ahead of time (as you did) I could replicate things and have a tub with just a thin layer of litter nearby (the stuff is a lot easier to clean up in litter). So ... if this helps anyone at all, terrific, and if not, sorry to have gone graphic on you .

I do think a nasal mask would be a better choice on nights like that however. Hope you feel better.

I did it once with a upset tummy and masked up... and it's just TMI... but the smell of it woke me up before it got too far.

Thanks for the responses. I see that a nasal mask is PERFECT for going back to bed then, because I'd be getting my air, but still READY in case I have to get up again....great idea. I have the quattro, and am trying out a "liberty" this week, and then I'm going to try out a nasal mask next (DME allows a couple of trials during the first 30 days I think). Wait a minute, maybe I want nasal mask NEXT before the liberty nose/mouth thingee!

So Sandra, I guess you're elected (TAG, you're IT) and you get to share what you learned about how to get through the first cold. What did you learn you can share with me.

#1, definitely I'll be getting a flu shot.

but what else helps? we'll just seque here from tummy flu to COLDS! HAHAHA