Sleep Apnea Support Group

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of sleep disturbances.

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thp636 11/13/2009

I have been using the CPAP machine for a little less than a year. Usually I have no problem. However I currently have a cold and sore throat and the CPAP has made the situation worse. I have been awakened by a dry cough the last two nights and the only way to get some sleep was to take the CPAP off.

How do you all handle it when you have a cold?

harry3333 11/14/2009

increase the humidifier if your CPAP has one, otherwise get a humidifier for the bedroom
see doc about meds for the cold

most seem to get fewer colds when using CPAP, I do. but a bad cold means you go without CPAP for a few nights

deleted_user 11/20/2009

I have cold now. So I am using the extra humidifieras harry3333 has said. It is hard with a cold. Maybe a day or two without will help. Also remember to clean the filter on your machine. Espcially this time of year when some of us has the heat on.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

jimgreg 12/26/2009

now this can be hell..but someone will make alot of monney to figre away to release the germs that backfire as you cough or sneeze..i haven't crossed that bridge..if it gets to bad you night have to sleep without it a few nights till ur cold subsides

roseypeach 01/10/2010

No matter what I do, add more water or not, every morning I wake up with this icky crusty like stuff in my throat and my mouth is dry as a bone. And THAT is with a chin strap! I have given up on finding a 'cure' for this persistent dryness. I quit smoking over a month ago and I was sure that would take care of it but it did not

deleted_user 01/12/2010

My husband uses the cpap machine. his setting is at the highest level. Ever since he's been on this machine..he uses the mask...he gets colds all the time. He hacks every a.m. and it scares me. He has told his dr., but there is nothing that can be done. I feel so bad for him. Personally, I would not be able to use it if I wake up feeling like that. He has the humidifier, but we live in Fla., so humidity is not the problem.

deleted_user 01/27/2010

That is good advice to increase the humidifier, I put a little and I mean a little VIC's Vapor rub under my nose before I put my mask on. That helps but in really bad cases I have not used it and slept in my recliner in a modified sitting up position.

Good luck

deleted_user 01/30/2010

Yep, humidifer helps for sure, I will use a nasel spray to open up sinuses so I can breath, as you are well aware, if you can breath through your nose, life sucks. So, clear your sinuses, put a humidifier near your bedside till the sorethroat goes away and sleep. :-)

deleted_user 03/01/2010

Don't know if you notice whether you're breathing in cool air through your tube or not. But. . . Because my bedroom is pretty cool, I keep the machine covered and put the long tube under the covers with me. This has prevented a cold nose and breathing in cold air all night. Yes, there is a heater on my vpap, but it doesn't keep the air warm enough.
As far as getting and coping with colds, be sure to wash your mask every day--you could be reinfecting yourself with the cold bacteria on your mask.

BreatheEasy 03/02/2010

Using a full face mask helps, in case of a stuffy nose.

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