How do you handle a cold?

sleepy0808 · Post by **sleepy0808** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:09 am

I know this may sound funny, but how do people handle a cold when using there mask. I feel like I am coming down with a cold or it could be allergies. But I am wondering how people handle this? How are you able to breath with a full mask on? I was stuffy last night and noticed I needed to be propped up in order to breath properly. Do you go without until it is gone or what?

53now · Post by **53now** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:47 am

I try to do whatever possible to make sure I can breath through my nose (at least one side) by the time I go to bed. I take a dose and a half of Nyquil about an hour before bedtime.
I've been on Pap therapy for over 5 years. This has worked for me.......of course everyone is different.
Rich

PS ... after taking that much Nyquil........you don't really care if you can't breathe

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:16 am

I use a heated hose so that I can crank up my heated humidifier. The very humid air works to keep my breathing passages open no matter how congested I am during the day.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:58 pm

I have a mask that covers just my nose.

For a cold,I purchased a full face mask.With this mask I breathe through my mouth when my nose is stopped up.
I have had to do this once already.

bigcat · Post by **bigcat** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:17 pm

I do the same as wading thru the muck! yet I don't need to turn up the humidifier. For me, using just the nasal mask, I put on the mask about 10 minutes before I want to go to sleep and it clears me up.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:19 pm

When you have a chest or head cold you really need that heated humidity. Remember how Mommy put a humidifier by your bedside when you were a little kid and had a bad cold? That humidity helps you breathe and loosens congestion in your sinuses, bronchial tubes and all that other stuff.

Using your xPAP will ensure your throat, etc. stays open so you can get that humidity. In fact I've found it actually makes me feel better faster.

And don't forget the Vitamin C

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:23 pm

I up the heated humidifier, and I also us my Ultra Mirage FF mask. This gets me through the night - I like 53's idea though!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:50 pm

sleepy0808: like NeuroSurgeryNP, I use the ResMed Ultra Mirage full face mask on nights when I absolutely can't breathe through my nose.

A full face mask (covers just mouth and nose, not the whole face) is a good extra mask to have in your arsenal for such nights. Lets you continue to get treatment pressure either way - breathing through your mouth or through your nose. Heated humidification really is a must with a FF mask. Breathing through the mouth can really dry it out fast.