And I have nasal pillows. My nose is so stuffy I can't imagine I will be able to use the CPAP tonight or for a few more nights. Any suggestions??

SleepySip - I work in an abattoir (although am off work at the moment) - thus a very cold environment - thus, I catch lots of colds - thus, similar problems.

My solutions  (please bear in mind that although I am English, I live and work in France - so some of the trade names might be different - Wikipedia is good for finding out local trade-names for medication)...

1).  Don't catch colds!  Might sound stupid but... I wear gloves and scarf if it is cold outside - I can still hear my Mum saying "Wrap up warm if you go outside, I don't want you catching a cold!"  Well, that might have been 30 years ago but Mum's advice still holds good.  Those of us with SA really do need to take that extra bit of care (especially if you are an outdoors type person, like me!)

2).  Olbas Oil - To clear my nose, I use something called Olbas Oil.  I put a few drops on a hanky and sniff it from time to time - it is important not to touch your face with the hanky as it will burn.  Olbas oil seems to be a mixture of Clove oil, Cajuput oil, Eucalyptus oil and some other stuff - well known in the U.K. - have absolutely no idea what it is called in either France or the USA?

3).  Nasal sprays - I have 4 different nasal sprays (all prescribed by my doctor) - one is for allergies (good for hay fever time), one is antiseptic, one is for irritants and the last one is for pain.  If you want further details of this - email me and I will send you details but... they will be of French products - might be worth you visiting your doctor and explaining the implications of a cold for someone who suffers from SA - he/she really might not be aware of the difficulties.

4).  In my humble opinion (and from my experience) - it is better to try and sleep with your mask even if you have got a cold.  I am better off getting 2 hours sleep with the mask than sleeping for 8 hours without it.  Having said that - that is just my personal experience.

5).  Keep cheerful - If you can't sleep with you mask - don't let it get you down.  Read a book - make use of the time!

6).  My secret (or not so secret, now), recipe for a cold treatment is... hot water, loads of lemon juice and sugar, paracetemol and a good, unhealthy dose of whisky!  I find that if I drink a mug of that as soon as I get an inkling of a cold - it clears it up straight away (a hot shower/bath also helps).

I suppose (in summing up) - we SA sufferers need to be aware that colds are dangerous (just as Diabetics are aware of the dangers of sugar; people with Liver problems are aware of the dangers of alcohol etc...).  I don't know what part of the USA you live in (am assuming here that that is where you live???) but unless you are in one of the hot parts (Florida/Calafornia/Arizona???? - am cr*p at geography) - buy yourself some gloves and a scarf - look after yourself.

All the best

Keith

P.S.  I am about 7 hours ahead of the States - thus, when it is night-time there, it is daytime here - if you can't sleep and need a chat - feel free to PM me - it's horrible suffering all alone, isn't it?  Family and friends are great but sometimes it does help to speak to another SA sufferer.         


_________________
CPAP since 29th September 2007 - ResMed Autoset S8 Spirit with Fischer and Paykel nasal mask.
http://www.bretondiary.com

Try nasal irrigation, there is a sticky about it at the top of this forum.  If nasal irrigation isn't enough, try some Afrin, but only use once a day, about a half hour before bed time, and for no more than a few nights at a time.  I wouldn't use Afrin for more than three nights at a time and no more than four or five times a month.

I have found that using a steroidal decongestant, such as Flonase, daily also helps; this is something that you have to do every day and it requires a prescription.

I have had good luck using an occasional half or full dose of Nyquil (sp).

I have also found it wise to keep yourself hydrated so that the nose fluids can flow.

Another thing that has occasionally helped (not for the faint of heart) is about half a clove or so of raw garlic taken in small bites (raw garlic bites!!!).  As I munch I try to spread it arround a bit.  It seems to clear up the breathing for the whole night.

May you find the right answers for you!

Todzo

I have a backup full-face mask. Also, when I"m congested, I sleep on a wedge. It helps the mucous to drain, leaving you with less congestion and coughing. and nasal irrigation.

One way to take raw garlic is to chop up one or two cloves of garlic very finely.  During a meal, put the garlic back onto the base of your tongue and then swallow it.  Make sure that you are eating food while you do this and do it between swallows of food.  The garlic has to be fresh, raw, and  very finely diced in order to release the chemicals.  Dry garlic or cooked garlic doesn't work very well.

I happen to enjoy eating raw garlic, so I just put the garlic on whatever food I am eating.  A spread made of a couple of cloves of fresh chopped garlic, olive oil, hot sauce, and a sprinkle of salt goes great on a piece of toast.

We should all probably be taking extra vitamin c. As our bodies do not make it.
so we need to take extra to help fight infections off. I take about 2000 mg a day when I am not
sick when I am I usually up it another 1 -2000 mg until better.

My nose was all stopped up from allergies, Had to turn off my humidifier, that seemed to help,
as it let my nose dry out. Am going to try the humdfier again tonight.

If you have outside allergies like from plants you can also try to find some raw locally grown honey.

It is suppose to help with allergies. But it has to be local so that the honey is make from plants that are from your area.

Penny