CPAP, Compliance, and A Cold

[PerChancetoDream]

I love my CPAP, I really do. But, I am still in some bad sleep habits and am on the edge with my compliance (I may try to just sit with it while watching tv ((shh! Don't tell my insurance! )) or something), but now I have a cold or allergies going on and am snatching my FFM off in my sleep despite the Afrin right before I go down.  I feel like I can't breathe. Any tips?

[Walla Walla]

If you still have your P10 mask use that until your over the cold. Pillow masks are good for clearing out your nasal passages.

[PerChancetoDream]

If you still have your P10 mask use that until your over the cold. Pillow masks are good for clearing out your nasal passages.

Oh, I sure do! I will try that tonight! Thank you!

[PerChancetoDream]

The FFM made me feel like I couldn't breathe (I couldn't initially get the pillows tubing connected), and now the Nasal pillows feel like my throat is on fire. Ugh. I just dosed up on Afrin, too. Gonna continue to be a long night...

[Hydrangea]

I totally agree about the P10 during stuffed-up-nose times. Give it 5 minutes, and you'll be breathing just fine!

[ShaunBlake]

PerChancetoDream, it really is a good idea to run your PAP while reading or otherwise relaxing.  Not only will it help satisfy compliance, it will help your body (and your mind) adapt the the therapy.  Moreover, it will help the machine to adapt to you.  (Some of ResMed's devices have little pixies in them that snoop on your breathing requirements and make algorithmic adjustments to improve the machine's responses to your needs.)

And your insurer won't object — they want you to be compliant so they can obtain full revenue.

[CB91710]

I totally agree about the P10 during stuffed-up-nose times.  Give it 5 minutes, and you'll be breathing just fine!

It's crazy, and really is counterintuitive, but the only time I don't use the P10 is if I get nostril irritation (hasn't happened in almost a year now)
We originally purchased FFM "backups" for when we had colds, but the P10 really does work well.

[Hydrangea]

I totally agree about the P10 during stuffed-up-nose times.  Give it 5 minutes, and you'll be breathing just fine!

It's crazy, and really is counterintuitive, but the only time I don't use the P10 is if I get nostril irritation (hasn't happened in almost a year now)
We originally purchased FFM "backups" for when we had colds, but the P10 really does work well.

Same here!  That's the whole reason I bought a FFM as back-up for when I have a stuffy nose.  Go figure it doesn't work for me when my nose is stuffy!

[CB91710]

I totally agree about the P10 during stuffed-up-nose times.  Give it 5 minutes, and you'll be breathing just fine!

It's crazy, and really is counterintuitive, but the only time I don't use the P10 is if I get nostril irritation (hasn't happened in almost a year now)
We originally purchased FFM "backups" for when we had colds, but the P10 really does work well.

Same here!  That's the whole reason I bought a FFM as back-up for when I have a stuffy nose.  Go figure it doesn't work for me when my nose is stuffy!

If anything, it's actually worse.  I like the nasal mask, but both the nasal and FFM tend to pinch a bit at the top of my nose, and that increases congestion.

[Rcgop]

I love my CPAP, I really do. But, I am still in some bad sleep habits and am on the edge with my compliance (I may try to just sit with it while watching tv ((shh! Don't tell my insurance! )) or something), but now I have a cold or allergies going on and am snatching my FFM off in my sleep despite the Afrin right before I go down.  I feel like I can't breathe. Any tips?

Don’t dismiss the allergies too quickly. I started shots at the same time as cpap and my progress for both followed the same path. Allergy shots take time to be effective as did my cpap therapy. After all, allergies do cause obstructions and flow limits. 

Two years in on both and my allergies are under control and my AHI averages .3 or lower. At this rate, in 2 years when shots are over, my AHI should be zero. ?

No, I will not stop cpap, but allergies will not be part of the problem.