I have the flu and can't breathe through my nose

So I went to the doc in the box today (Target Minute Clinic) and I have Influenza. My nose has been running like a faucet. They prescribed a nasal spray, which seems to stop the running, but it's still blocked and I desperately need sleep.

I tried-

sitting in hot showery bathroom
saline nasal spray
eating a popsicle
cold compresses
hot tea

and the minute I lie down and put the mask on my face my nose gets swollen and blocked up again.

Any ideas?

Have you tried a nasal rinse like NeilMed? You will need a full face mask so you can breathe through your mouth while on cpap. What I do...and I just finished a bad cold...is.....
1. Use NeilMed twice a day.
2. Use a room humidifier
3. Full face mask with medium humidity.
4. Take a antihistimine like Zertec or Claritin
5. Lots of Kleenex
6. Hot tea with honey & lemon
7. It's going to take a week+ no matter what you do.

This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

RandyJ wrote:This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

Yeah, I'm dreading getting a cold. Our Medicare only supports getting a machine and I can't afford a FF mask.

ddk wrote:

RandyJ wrote:This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

Yeah, I'm dreading getting a cold. Our Medicare only supports getting a machine and I can't afford a FF mask.

Do you have regular Medicare, or an Advantage (HMO) type plan?

don't have a ff mask. Did do saline spray. it worked for 5 sec. I have a neti pot some place but I dunno where, havent used it in ages. Would that reduce the inflammation? I thought that was what the prescription nasal sprays were supposed to do, dang it....

catbirdgirl wrote:don't have a ff mask. Did do saline spray. it worked for 5 sec. I have a neti pot some place but I dunno where, havent used it in ages. Would that reduce the inflammation? I thought that was what the prescription nasal sprays were supposed to do, dang it....

What I can tell you is that since I learned to breath eucapnically I have not stuffed up. I get what feels like a headache up there and there is a bit of extra wet but no stuffy nose even with other flu symptoms present.

jencat824 wrote:

ddk wrote:

RandyJ wrote:This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

Yeah, I'm dreading getting a cold. Our Medicare only supports getting a machine and I can't afford a FF mask.

Do you have regular Medicare, or an Advantage (HMO) type plan?

ddk is in Austrailia

catbirdgirl wrote:don't have a ff mask. Did do saline spray. it worked for 5 sec. I have a neti pot some place but I dunno where, havent used it in ages. Would that reduce the inflammation? I thought that was what the prescription nasal sprays were supposed to do, dang it....

In a tough spot like yours and no ff mask I would use Afrin, which WILL work and most likely get you through the night. Just don't use it for more than 3 consecutive days.

If congestion is due to thick mucus, take guiafenesin (Mucinex), and drink plenty of water.
Thinner mucus doesn't hang around; it does its job and goes away.

You could also try pseudoephedrine (I get the generic Kroger-brand, very cheap). It is not addictive like Afrin and helps in such cases.
McSleepy

LSAT wrote:

jencat824 wrote:

ddk wrote:

RandyJ wrote:This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

Yeah, I'm dreading getting a cold. Our Medicare only supports getting a machine and I can't afford a FF mask.

Do you have regular Medicare, or an Advantage (HMO) type plan?

ddk is in Austrailia

OOPS..sorry, I should have looked.

RandyJ wrote:This is when having a backup full face mask is a lifesaver.

Yeah, having some sort of mouth breathing mask on hand is must. I bought an extra cushion for my Mirage Quattro and have a box of RemZzzs mask liners just in case...That was the freebie mask I got from my insurance and I've only used it twice for testing.

chunkyfrog wrote:If congestion is due to thick mucus, take guiafenesin (Mucinex), and drink plenty of water.
Thinner mucus doesn't hang around; it does its job and goes away.

I like guiafenesin, which is very mild acting and well tolerated. I also would heed the rest of CFs advice. As an off-the-wall side note: I use both nasal masks and nasal pillows,depending on the results I need. However, I personally find that my FX nasal pillows tend to 'blow open' my nasal passages (even with a cold bug) and keep them free flowing for nasal breathing, thusly drying up any mucus. Just an idea...

what ended up helping was ayr gel on a q-tip