Dealing with Flu and CPAP

[ezdrifler]

First time I get the flu while using my cpap, I tried it out and the sensation of air in my troath makes me cough like crazy, im using a full face mask because nose is too blocked.

Am I to try to sleep without the machine just sitting up and on a side to minimize oa events?

thanks

[PoolQ]

good question, I have not had a cold yet, so I will be watching what you discover.

[ezdrifler]

good question, I have not had a cold yet, so I will be watching what you discover.

Im out of options apparently there will be some days I wont be able to use my machine, just have to minimize the apneas by trying all the tricks in the book, but im not getting much sleep either, flu keeping me up

[OpalRose]

Ive had a couple colds, but never gave a thought to going without CPAP.
I've also found that even with a stuffed up nose, I can use my nasal pillow mask. It actually helps
unclog the stuffiness.

Trying to sleep without CPAP will probably make you feel worse, but if your determined to do so, sleeping on your side is best, but won't elimate apneas from occurring.

Feel better soon!

[y_not]

Gulps deeply! I hadn't thought about colds! Hum, watching this post for more advice ... I also have COPD so colds become exacerbations before you know it, add on the OSA and I think life will be a bundle of laughs (not).

[OpalRose]

Gulps deeply! I hadn't thought about colds! Hum, watching this post for more advice ... I also have COPD so colds become exacerbations before you know it, add on the OSA and I think life will be a bundle of laughs (not).

I'm sure there will be tons of advice coming. It seems most of us suffer with colds, congestion, allergies, etc. In your case, with COPD, you have to be a little more careful to avoid colds and such, if that's possible!

In my case, the more I try to avoid, the more they find me.

[PaulaO2]

Turn the humidifier up as high as you can and/or put a humidifier in the room.

Are you taking a cough syrup right before bed? If so, stop. Try a lozenge for a few minutes instead, one that numbs the throat.

Even if your nose is clogged, try using your usual mask instead of the FFM. When I exclusively use nasal pillows mask, I had no problem with colds, allergies, or whatever. The pressure and the humidity helped me to sleep as well as recover. It was especially helpful for my bout with bronchitis and the horrible time I had bronchitis/pneumonia. But with the FFM, I found that my nose stayed clogged and I did not sleep as well. If I catch a cold this winter, I'll switch to the pillows again and my bet is I sleep much better.

[foss]

I went through flu and bronchitis over the holidays. It was terrible. I could not use the Amara view and had to use the Simplus FFM instead. My obstructive and central apneas were much higher than usual. A lot of snoring was also registered but that may have been due to coughing spasms. The heated hose and high humidification helped. I always sleep on one side or the other anyway so no change there.

It is just something we all have to tolerate at one time or another. I feel that the APAP machine did help. The filtered, moist air is better than trying to sleep without using the machine.

Jeff

[ezdrifler]

I am sneezing so hard my mask will not work, ive slept the last two days without it, i "think" today i can try again to start wearing it.

I think if youre like me that nothing you take stops the coughing and sneezing youre out of luck, mask comes off.

[holden4th]

Just experienced this the last couple of nights. My nose got to the stage where it required so much force to breathe in and out of my nasal mask that I woke up feeling like I was choking. Simple solution is a nasal spray which I have taken just now before I typed this. Can't see why it won't work