Using CPAP when you have a cold or allergies

ched03, I know what you mean about how your nose can run even while lying down. Yes, we defy laws of gravity! I worried about this when I first started on the hose, so I bought a Hybrid mask--nose pillows AND mouth cushion!--so if the nose stops up I can breathe through my mouth. I had a terrible respiratory infection and the Hybrid worked great. It also seems to have reduced my allergy problems, in general. I think it's the whole filtered air while actually SLEEPING instead of choking all night. I'm also sensitive to medications, particularly stimulants, so, like you, I have to be extremely careful about taking any meds to help relieve the allergy problem. My doctor prescribed Claritan24 when I had the infection; the recommended dose is 1 tablet every 24 hours. That kept me awake for about 2 and a half days. It did help with the congestion, though, so I finally determined that 1/2 a tablet every other day would keep the stuffiness at bay but still allow me to get some rest. Like so many other things, it's a balancing act...keep looking till you find what works best for you!

I'm just getting over a really good head cold at present, the first I've had in the 4 months I've been on APAP. Spend all day breathing through my mouth and blowing my nose.
I thought I'd really have a problem, but my ResMed S9 Auto with a Swift FX mask just blows the airways open, I'm more comfortable at night than in the day. I need a long hose to wear it all day - what a horrible thought.

When I have cold, my nose get blocked. I use NASO-RATIOPHARM to unblock my nose. I can buy this in Finland. I'm not sure if you can buy this in other countries. I suppose that you can at least find some similar drug in your local pharmacy.Here is the link of naso http://www.naso.fi/naso-tuotteet/
Unfortunately, it's only in Finnish. You can try GoogleTranslate.

Yes indeed!! When i was suffering so bad It was only in the daytime, as soon as I lay down at night and got on the c-pap it stopped!!!!! I was totally going insane! When i discovered that the c-pap helped the running I was amazed! I would find myself sometimes in the afternoon telling my husband' I am going to lay down for a min. to get some refief. After I stayed on the machine for maybe 10 or 15 min. I would get relief for a little while. I am serious!!!
This went on for about 3 months! I am better now,'THANK GOODNESS!!!!'
I also use Flonase every morning and saline nasal rinse. Before bedtime i do a nasal spray, i have severe allergies.
Best of luck to you !!!!

Well, I take Allegra and Nasonex daily. My allergies are under control most of the time. I live in San Antonio and we have a very bad problem with ragweed in the fall and cedar in the spring. People like me who have control of their allergies for most of the year still have problems when these allergens are high. Thanks for all of your help! I am going to try and just wear my CPAP when I am having congestion/runny nose problems.

GumbyCT wrote:Try using a nasal rinse just before bed.

I agree with the saline rinse too, I have done it in the past when I was REALLY REALLY clogged up and it helped a lot.

Talk to your Doc to see what other meds may reduce the congetsion without making your heart race, although I believe that most of them will since they are vasoconstrictors in general.

GumbyCT wrote: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.

If I take that it is like being on speed and , oh look squirrel!

I often get a blocked nose with allergies too.

I find if I can get it clearish then I can breathe through my nose on CPAP. It will stay fairly clear all night. It will block up almost instantly again when I take my mask off in the morning.

Nasal wash is good but I find it is often overkill.

As much as Buteyko is completely useless for many things, I have found the Buteyko trick for clearing your nose works 99% of the time for me. It is enough to get my nose clear and then I can put my mask on and start breathing. The rest of the time I resort to drugs or nasal wash. The method is:

• Take a normal breath in
  Let a little bit of air out
  Hold your breath
  Hold for about 5 seconds after your first desire to take a breath.
  When you start breathing again, breathe only though your nose and as gently as possible. You don't want to hear air coming out your nose.
  If your nose is not clearer, repeat this a few times with about 15 seconds break between each time.

I am not advocating Buteyko for anything else. In my view claims that you can avoid CPAP using it are rubbish. However, this trick works for me and I know it works for others.

So far Inhave found that the symptoms of colds seem to be diminished with the c-pap. As for allergies I used to suffer in the spring. Gradually after starting c-pap I have found that the allergies have diappeared. Thera are other benefits to c-pap that I have found also.

Laura

GumbyCT wrote: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.

My doc put me on Loratadine and Nasonex spray and for the most part I have few allergy issues anymore.

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!

For me this is often what happens, If its just a runny nose cause I slipped up on taking my Nasonex, yep, putting on my mask and few minutes of that air going through clears it up. But I DO NOT breathe through my nose during the day much anyhow. I have a deviated septum and can't move enough air through it while active.

If its a cold and its running that's a different story. Then it runs down the back of my throat and I cough till I take something to stop it. 15+ Years and I have NEVER not been able to wear my CPAP to bed because of a cold/allergy/sinus issue. Guess I've been lucky that way.

I asked the pulmonologist that question the other day. He said when your sinuses are blocked, there's not much you can do. He recommended saline rinses, saline nasal spray, maybe half a benadryl before going to sleep. But he said when you have a cold, CPAP is going to be hard to do, no matter which mask you use. He said you might consider sleeping propped up in a recliner to allow your sinuses to drain, which I've done a few times. When the nose won't blow, and just runs and runs, that works for me.

Afrin spray works well, too, however your nose tends to get hooked on it if you use it too much.