alternate to nasal mask ideas for when congested

I have been using a nasal mask. Recently I got a sore throat and headache (only lasted a day), and it got me wondering what I would do if I came down with something that caused severe congestion. I thought I'd ask for suggestions. So, those of you who use a nasal mask, do you continue to use it when congested? Just skip the CPAP? Does anyone keep a full face mask to use in case of illness? I've been thinking of buying an F20 setup but it would be out of my own pocket. Ouch. Then I saw there were cheaper knockoffs on amazon and wondered if they would be a disaster or a good-enough-short-term option. Any thoughts on any of this? Thanks.

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

do you continue to use it when congested?

Yes.

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

Just skip the CPAP?

I have never skipped cpap because of any nasal issues but I have skipped it when I had a bad case of the stomach flu.
You know the puking and pooping thing where you can't spare a millisecond to take the mask off and head to the toilet on a run.

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

Does anyone keep a full face mask to use in case of illness?

There are lots of people who do this very thing.
I don't own a full face mask. Don't like them and never found one that I didn't just hate. I have tried them though.

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

I saw there were cheaper knockoffs

What knock offs? There really isn't much of a market for generic masks. Link????

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

Ido you continue to use it when congested?

I continue to use it. However, I also try to treat the nasal congestion. First, I make sure to replace the air filter in my VPAP Auto. If the nasal congestion is allergy related, I start using generic Flonase until the allergies are better. If it's a bad headcold, often the VPAP helps with the night time congestion rather than aggravating it. If the nasal congestion is particularly bad, I'll use a nasal rinse + plenty of saline nose spray to help ease the congestion.

Just skip the CPAP?

Like Pugsy, the only time I would skip PAPing is if I had a bad stomach flu that was triggering severe nausea and/or diarrhea.

Does anyone keep a full face mask to use in case of illness?

Me? No way. (I start sneezing whenever I try to put on either a nasal mask or a full face mask.)

My hubby? He is not a mouth breather. But, yeah, he got a full face mask for when he is sick when he became eligible for a mask replacement under our insurance. (His nasal mask was not worn out at the time.) He used the FFM the first time he got a head cold and decided he much preferred the FFM to the nasal mask he had been using. He actually prefers the traditional FFM with the forehead support after trying one without a forehead support. To each their own: His mask is my definition of "mask hell" and my nasal pillows are his definition of "mask hell".

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:29 am

What knock offs? There really isn't much of a market for generic masks. Link????

https://www.amazon.com/MEDICOLOR-System ... th=1&psc=1

This seems to be a knockoff of the F20. There are many similar in various pieces and packages.

robysue1 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 11:59 am

onward60 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:57 am

do you continue to use it when congested?

If it's a bad headcold, often the VPAP helps with the night time congestion rather than aggravating it. If the nasal congestion is particularly bad, I'll use a nasal rinse + plenty of saline nose spray to help ease the congestion.

Good to know!

I don't skip CPAP for nasal congestion (or coughs, or flu, or COVID).

I keep a FFM - could never tolerate the ones that touch the bridge of my nose, prefer the hybrid ones - e.g. the ResMed F30.

In addition to what the others said, I turn the humidification up. It seems to help with nasal and asthma problems.

Thanks, everybody.

When nasal congestion strikes both nostrils, I use Afrin or a generic oxymetazoline.
In case of extreme stuffiness, a breathe right strip can help.
In 14 years, I have never needed to skip cpap.
(My "forumversary" is in under a week, BTW.)