Mild cold, so far so good but . . .

I'm having a very mild cold, my first since starting CPAP last February. Wow! It's really mild, while my husband (who immediately loads up on OTC meds which I am convinced make colds worse) is feeling pretty punky. I'm hardly congested at all, coughing just a little.

So my nose was REALLY sore from wiping with non-lotion tissues (banned from my house from now on!) and I wasn't sure I was going to tolerate the nasal pillows. I got out the Quattro I used for the first two weeks or so and a gel pad for my nose I bought right before switching to nasal pillows with the idea that I could sleep semi reclining with the Quattro if I was really congested.

NOT! I couldn't stand it for even 5 minutes!!!!!! No matter what I did it leaked into my eyes a lot (that was a problem before, too), hurt the bridge of my nose (even loosened at the top as much as possible), and was SO uncomfortable. I don't know how I ever managed to sleep in this mask! At the same time, having the full face mask on for even a few minutes seemed to ease my congestion just enough to allow me to use my nasal pillows again.

I know I'm getting off very easy with this cold, but what if I have a bad cold???? I'm not sure I could ever be comfortable in ANY FF mask.

I have had a few colds since I started cpap, just over 8 years ago. I don't get as many as I used to.

So far, while on cpap with a cold, I have never had to use a full face mask. I seem to do fine (in fact my cold feels better and I sleep as well as if I did not have a cold) with a nasal mask, a boost in the humidity and a maybe some over the counter meds. I do well with Robitussin Cold and Cough.

I haven't had a cold since I started using nasal pillows but I expect it might be difficult if the nose gets really raw. I have a back up nasal mask so will use that if I get a cold. I'll use the nasal mask, raise the humidity some, take some Robitussin and hope I still get by with a nasal mask for those times as I have so far.

Feel better soon!

Please google: NETI POT

Since I started using it 2x a day I RARELY get a cold or even sick. When I do, it doesn't last but a day or two and the symptoms are weak. Next to using CPAP, this is one of the best things I've ever done for my health. It's simply fantastic!

I discovered a long time ago that if you start covering your nose with lanolin as soon as you start feeling like you are getting a cold you can prevent the red sore nose stage. Basically protect your skin from the mucus and you will be ok. Think dishpan hands... or diaper rash....

Thanks everyone!

The lanolin does help and I use saline nasal spray already--I'm a little leery of the neti pot after my poor husband used the neti pot faithfully on the advice of his doctor and blew infection back to the point where he had severe ear infections and two perforated ear drums. I never saw a man in so much pain in my life So a little saline sprayed up there has been really helpful, but I'm too chicken to do a full on nasal rinse after my husband's experience.

What's nice is that the congestion so far is very little--I think CPAP is really helping that.

Maybe I can get by with a comfortable (ha, ha!) nasal mask if I ever have to--good suggestion. If I can keep the congestion under control enough to still breathe through my nose that would work. I don't think the FF masks are going to do it for me--I've been looking at other types and they all look like they'd cause the same problems, but I am eyeing that fit life total face mask. Hmmmm. The problem is I have a genetic facial dysmorphism with a very small and receded chin. So anything that's supposed to work around the chin area generally does NOT. I'm not sure the total face mask will work with my chin either.

Sorry to hear y'all are dealing with colds & congestion. The one time I've had an upper respiratory infection since I've been on cpap, using the machine really seemed to help me recover quickly. One thing I like about the Hybrid is that I could still breathe through my mouth if I had to, but I credit the nasal pillows with really helping with the congestion. Another thing I've found that seems to really improve my immune system is drinking Naked Fruit at the first sign of sniffles. Lots of good stuff in those little bottles!

Years ago I was home for Christmas and had dinner with an old friend who had just finished medical school. I was getting a cold and asked him the best way to treat it. He said, "Drink lots of orange juice. Hang a hat on the bedpost, get a bottle of whiskey, and get into bed. Sip the whiskey, sleep, drink orange juice. Get out of bed when the hat moves to the other bed post by itself, or in nine days, whichever comes first." Just sayin'!

Nine days! OY.

My personal theory for colds is that the body's response (nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, even low grade fevers) is NORMAL and it's the way our bodies were intended to deal with the bugs. So I don't like to interfere too much, but I do like to be able to breathe. I drink plenty of fluids to help my body expel the nasties and saline spray and expectorants are OK because they help you clear out, too. I made a big pot of chicken soup on Saturday, and that's helping too

When I'm doing well, my colds are usually gone in two to three days, as long as I don't get sabotaged by one of my asthma triggers (smoke and perfume being the worst) and end up with bronchitis.

My mom's response when I was a kid was to drug me at the first cough or sneeze with heavy duty stuff (Actifed, Elixer Turpenhydrate with Codiene (nasty stuff!!!!), nose drops, etc) and I would be sick for weeks not to mention semi-comatose from the antihistamine and codiene combination. My husband cleans out the drug store shelves of every OTC he can find, and he stays sick for weeks too. I may feel awful for a few days, but then it's gone and I'm back on my feet. My husband's colds seem to string out forever.