Cold and congestion with the CPAP
by Vicki
I am a new user to CPAP (3 weeks!) and so far the therapy is going well. I have a Resmed H5i and S9 with humidifier. AnswerWhat can a sleep apnea patient do if he has nasal congestion and uses CPAP with nasal pillows? Well...this is a good question, and I have some ideas for you:) Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing etc makes cpap use with a traditional or nasal pillow mask impossible! It's bad enough having a cold, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body ache, fever etc, but losing sleep is the last thing we need to add to the suffering! Getting adequate sleep actually is an important part of recovery as in stage 4 sleep, our body naturally produces antibodies to help fight off infection. When we cannot use our cpap and have poor sleep it just compounds our recovery. However...if you are wearing a full face mask on the nights you have a cold or otherwise can't breathe through your nose, and use your machine, it would be helpful...at least you could resolve your apnea events and sleep better as you recover from the cold. So, you might want to consider buying a full face mask to keep on your nightstand to use when you otherwise would not be able to use your machine! I know what you are thinking, Vicki...a full face mask....no way! But I think its worth every penny of the cost not only in dollars, but in your overall well being and health. We all know that losing sleep is the pitts - but when we are sick AND losing sleep, its truly miserable. The full face mask will help you to recover quicker from the cold (or whatever nose problems you have), it also allows to wake up feeling well enough to go to work, when otherwise you would be spending the day in bed! Bottom line... It's not a bad idea to have a full face mask in your arsenal, for those occasions when you have a cold, allergies, or are otherwise congested. Full face masks are more expensive than nasal masks or nasal pillows, so if you must buy one out-of-pocket, it might just as well be the cheaper one. Another tip...you can use a simple saline nasal spray to treat your nasal congestion. There are many on the market, and the best I know is from Ocean, but you can ask your doctor which one is the best for you. Remember too that using your humidifier when you have congestion is also very helpful! So, there you have it - if you can relate, these suggestions are for you! Best wishes for a healthy sleep! Remy |
