Using CPAP when you have a cold or allergies

So, I have the Swift LT for my regular use mask and I bought the Liberty for when my nose was stuffy due to a cold or allergies. At least that was my intention. Unfortunately, I have never used my Liberty mask. I have found that when my nose is stuffy, it tends to run all night long. I don't see how I can wear anything that covers my nose in this situation. Basically, when my nose is stuffy and running, I don't use my CPAP. This really bothers me. I know that when you are sick you need good sleep to recover. By not using my CPAP, I am not getting good sleep. Does anyone else encounter this problem? What do you do in this situation. By the way, my allergies are pretty much under control now but I am a person who will catch any cold around.

If you catch everything and easily, get your vitamin D levels checked. D is rewuired for a healthy robust immune system. It's not a vitamin, it's a neuro hormone.

I'd definitely recommend trying to get it under control, but I know that's not easy. For me my nose only runs usually when I'm heavily under a cold. I don't suffer that much from hay fever which is good, but I do suffer from blocked sinuses a lot which is the opposite to what you're experiencing. This past two weeks have been really bad and I've had to go from my Swift FX to my Activa because I find the pressure I just can't cope with on the Swift FX.

I really wouldn't try to sleep without your mask/machine, try to talk to your doctor to see if they can also subscribe anything that might help in stopping the nose run and maybe clear it up.

Thanks
Dave

getting my allergies under control was the *BEST* thing lol. Before I finally went to the doc and he put me on meds, sleeping was a nightmare sometimes, mostly because most over the counters don't work for me when I get a runny nose, unless I take mega doses which of course can have bad side effects. But I have found ONLY NYQUIL works for me (My doc has approved double doses of NYQUIL only during colds) Cause when my nose runs and I lay down. It makes me cough and keeps me up., keeps the BF up etc.

Now so many people I see have FF Masks for colds, yet I have never not been able to not use my CPAP because of a cold, in fact using my machine will ALWAYS help clear my head up fast, as long as I'm not totally clogged, but a couple good doses of salt water rinse/spray will open it enough to let the air get through and the CPAP opens it up the rest of the way. Heck there have been times with head colds the ONLY thing that would open my sinuses was popping off the mask and using the hose on one nostril only for a moment and while laying on one side. But Ive only had to do that like twice in the 15+ years i've been on CPAP/BIPAP

What I have noticed is, when my allergies/sinus act up, I sleep very poorly. Especially when my nose is serverly congested, next morning I wake up with super dry mouth. Also allergies causes my throat to mildly swell up, restricting air flow, next day I wake up, feeling like dawn of the dead. From my experiences, cpap is useless during allergy/sinus events.

But, what does work is nasal rinsing, normally I nasal rinse once a day, but yesterday I rinsed 6 times through out the day, last night I slept fantastic !!

I asked my sleep doctor, if pressure should be increased, during times of allergy/sinus events, he said to consult with my allergist to clear symptoms, but do not take any allergy meds containing sedatives, as sedatives makes apnea worse.

But, I noticed that I do feel worse, using cpap during times of allergy/sinus events.

Shellie_p wrote:Now so many people I see have FF Masks for colds, yet I have never not been able to not use my CPAP because of a cold, in fact using my machine will ALWAYS help clear my head up fast, as long as I'm not totally clogged, but a couple good doses of salt water rinse/spray will open it enough to let the air get through and the CPAP opens it up the rest of the way. Heck there have been times with head colds the ONLY thing that would open my sinuses was popping off the mask and using the hose on one nostril only for a moment and while laying on one side. But Ive only had to do that like twice in the 15+ years i've been on CPAP/BIPAP

I agree !

For whatever reason, when I am congested, the CPAP seems to actually help clear out my nasal passages.

I may have to be laying down for a while, but at least ONE of my nasal passages ( right or left ) seems to open up and allow me to breath.

When I switch sides, the OTHER side opens up. It's weird, but maybe it's due to the humidty or pressure pushing it's way thru.

Cpap with the humidity turned up as high as it can go was a blessing when I had the flue that turned into pneumonia/bronchitis last winter, I wanted to wear it all day but couldn't function on a 6 ft tether.

Hi, I have severe allergies and am just now getting better from a bout of sneezing constantly and nose running and the only way i could get any relief at all was to get on my c-pap.

So, you are saying that your nose actually stops running when you put the CPAP on? I have never tried it. I just thought that if my nose was running, I would not be able to wear something that covers my nose because I would have to blow/wipe it all the time. That is to funny if it is as simple as wearing the darn thing!

ched03 wrote:So, you are saying that your nose actually stops running when you put the CPAP on? I have never tried it. I just thought that if my nose was running, I would not be able to wear something that covers my nose because I would have to blow/wipe it all the time. That is to funny if it is as simple as wearing the darn thing!

I'm not so sure wearing the mask is gunna be the answer if your nose is running/dripping excessively.

But if you are sort of Blocked-up in the sinuses, my experience has been the CPAP opens things up.

And as gross as it my sound... if you're laying down, you're not going to "drip"..... you're going to "swallow". (YUK, did I just say that ? )

Oh no, trust me. My nose runs a whole lot when I lay down. So much that I put a tissue in my nostril to stop the dripping. (I know, TMI! LOL) Whichever side I am laying on, gets stuffed up and starts dripping. This is not all the time, just when my allergies are bothering me or I have a cold.

ched03 wrote:Oh no, trust me. My nose runs a whole lot when I lay down. So much that I put a tissue in my nostril to stop the dripping. (I know, TMI! LOL) Whichever side I am laying on, gets stuffed up and starts dripping. This is not all the time, just when my allergies are bothering me or I have a cold.

Don't know what to say... I guess if you lay on your back you'd choke.

Pseudofed or similar to dry you out before bedtime ?

Guess I am a hopeless case. If I take Sudafed at bed time I would never fall asleep due to my heart beat racing. When I was pregnant and sick all I could take was tylenol and sudafed. I only took the sudafed once!!!! Crazy stuff!!! Thanks for trying to help though.

Try using a nasal rinse just before bed.

Gravity is the culprit when laying down causing body fluids to shift and level out. When you shift the fluids shift too.

You can also try Loratadine (Claritin) before bed too. $4/30day supply at Walmart. I've used it before bed and it does have a drying effect. It is for allergies too.

Are you allergic to dust? I am. But never had a problem until I started cpap.