Full Face Masks for colds?

[dfstarman]

Do people generally buy a full face mask to have on hand for times when you have a cold or bad allergies?

I wonder how hard it is to adjust to if you tolerate a nasal mask well?

[Peter_C]

Many of us (myself included) have a FFM for those really bad sick days where the nose simply won't work. But in my case at least, I find it hard to get a FFM that leaks less, and is more comfortable than my nasal mask. I do have one that leaks are controlled, but it is *really* strapped on, is not comfortable - but when taking Nyquil, I don't really notice it either

[PaulaO2]

I use nasal pillows. When I have nasal congestion, I continue to use the pillows. The air pushes the stuff out of the way. Combined with the humidity, I sleep great. That is, once I fall asleep. There is a brief time of about 15 minutes or so where it is difficult to breathe but then it clears and zzzzzz.

I do a nasal rinse before I go to bed and immediately when I get up. The rinse is very productive when I get up. I think it is from the humidifier. I use the squirt bottle vs the neti pot.

I have seasonal allergies and get really stopped up from those, too. I've not had a night yet where I've had to go without my CPAP!!

I was sick with severe bronchitis/pneumonia a few years ago and got a small humidifier to put here on my desk. I got it because I realized how well I felt when I first woke up. I had half an hour or so where I was not coughing my lungs up. The doc and I discussed it and we concluded it was the humid air from the CPAP.

[dfstarman]

thank you all for the responses

[archangle]

I don't think I've ever had to give up my nasal mask due to congestion. Maybe the pressure shrinks the swollen tissues in the nose or there's some other effect that clears out my nose.

[Shastzi]

I am just the opposite. Cant use the nasal mask since I breathe through the mouth too much.
Total face mask here 100% of the time so cold or not I am good for it.

If I were a nasal mask user, I would probably want to acclimate to a FFM just in case of cold or allergy issues.