Cpap and bronchitis

[Jslkw]

I've used a cpap for three weeks now . The main reason for using it is tracheamalacia. My airway is damaged from having so many respiratory infections. It prey much closes when I breathe out. My oxygen drops to 76 percent at night. Anyway, I have bronchitis and the flu. Not sure if I should be using the cpap or not. I remember one of the pulmonologists telling me not to use it when I'm sick because it would just push the mucous farther down. I use nasal pillows. I just used Afrin tmooen ip my sinuses from the congestion.

[BlackSpinner]

Turn up your humidifier and use a full face mask. Put some vicks/tiger balm/ eucalyptus on a cotton ball at the air intake. Cpap is the best thing ever for could, flu and pneumonia!

[Jslkw]

I have a full mask but I can never get it to fit without leaking. I tried it earlier but no success the afrin seemed to work enough to use the nasal pillows. Thanks

[BlackSpinner]

I have a full mask but I can never get it to fit without leaking. I tried it earlier but no success the afrin seemed to work enough to use the nasal pillows. Thanks

Use a liner. Make your own out of an old tshirt or a polar fleece scarf. But don't worry about leaks when you are sick. Or your AHI. Focus on comfort and making it through.

When I had pneumonia I even wore it during the day while working from home. The warm humid air was so much easier to breathe.

[Janknitz]

Because of the tracheamalacia, you should check in with your pulmonologist but I can tell you that when I have bronchitis, the only time I can get comfortable and stop coughing is when I'm using my CPAP. I can actually sleep, despite bronchitis. It's like a miracle after spending many years of sleepless nights with bronchitis.

I would think having a nice clear airway all night is preferable to apneas and a constricted airway when you sleep. You certainly aren't going to clear mucous any easier if your airway is constricted by inflammation from bronchitis.

[chunkyfrog]

I used to have bronchitis every year. I have not had it since starting cpap.
Come to think of it, I have not had bronchitis since starting on loratadine, which was earlier.
Whichever it was, I am taking no chances. I continue with both.

[y_not]

I use CPAP and also have COPD, the humidifier helps moisten the mucus and I take Carbocisteine tablets to thin the mucus and a "Flutter device" (Google & YouTube for details) to clear the mucus. Might be worth a conversation with your health professional? Good luck

[Jslkw]

Thanks everyone for your replies. What is a liner for? I don't quite understand it. I was ok with the nasal pillows last night. I will talk to my pulmonologist when I see her at the end of the month .maybe I can get a different full mask for when I'm sick.

[Julie]

Go to Padacheek.com and take a look - liners help seal mask leaks that otherwise might be a problem, and in appropriate cases also protect against skin allergies or irritation and red strap marks after wearing the mask, especially if it's on tight.

[Jslkw]

Thank u so much Julie. The liner sounds great . I'll try to make one today

[SewTired]

I would continue to use the cpap, but make an appointment with your primary regarding the bronchitis since you already have damaged lungs.

This article doesn't exactly address your problem, but I thought it was interesting that they seem to attribute increased lung problems with cpap use specifically to lack of person coughing up mucus and/or not cleaning your equipment. While the article is from 2014, I don't know the details of the study. It could be moot since many people now use apap, which may not cause the same issues. Note, when you go to this page, there is a video that automatically starts up on zika virus.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/sleep-apnea ... ria-270464

[BlackSpinner]

I have been think about this believe that the pressure pushes the mucus into your lungs.

The xpap provides just enough pressure to keep your throat open so you can breathe. You breathe in with help BUT you then breathe OUT against that pressure, so putting more force behind the exhale (you chest muscles let you know you are putting more force behind it because often when you first get your cpap or increase the pressure the HURT) So there is much more force behind the exhale then there is pressure from the xpap. And for every inhale there is a exhale.

Another thing is that you have to put a lot of force behind those coughs to move that mucus, a lot more the breathing against the pressure.

[MrGrumpy]

You should be asking your own sleep doc this question offline, not the people on here. This forum is for general advice, not what could be considered emergencies or borderline emergencies. Nobody here could tell you whether or not to continue using your machine under the circumstances you described. I dont even know what tracheamalacia is. Let the buyer beware at this forum...lot of armchair experts. There are people on here who dont even have a valid CPAP prescription and are using CPAP they buy off the Internet and "self treat" themselves 100%!!!!!

I've used a cpap for three weeks now . The main reason for using it is tracheamalacia. My airway is damaged from having so many respiratory infections. It prey much closes when I breathe out. My oxygen drops to 76 percent at night. Anyway, I have bronchitis and the flu. Not sure if I should be using the cpap or not. I remember one of the pulmonologists telling me not to use it when I'm sick because it would just push the mucous farther down. I use nasal pillows. I just used Afrin tmooen ip my sinuses from the congestion.

[BlackSpinner]

You should be asking your own sleep doc this question offline, not the people on here. This forum is for general advice, not what could be considered emergencies or borderline emergencies. Nobody here could tell you whether or not to continue using your machine under the circumstances you described. I dont even know what tracheamalacia is. Let the buyer beware at this forum...lot of armchair experts. There are people on here who dont even have a valid CPAP prescription and are using CPAP they buy off the Internet and "self treat" themselves 100%!!!!!

I've used a cpap for three weeks now . The main reason for using it is tracheamalacia. My airway is damaged from having so many respiratory infections. It prey much closes when I breathe out. My oxygen drops to 76 percent at night. Anyway, I have bronchitis and the flu. Not sure if I should be using the cpap or not. I remember one of the pulmonologists telling me not to use it when I'm sick because it would just push the mucous farther down. I use nasal pillows. I just used Afrin tmooen ip my sinuses from the congestion.

Except that a lot of doctors know even less then you.

[SewTired]

You should be asking your own sleep doc this question offline, not the people on here. This forum is for general advice, not what could be considered emergencies or borderline emergencies.

While I agree with you on that, I pointed out to the OP that they should make appointment with Primary. The sleep doctor isn't going to help him in any way with a current illness. He'll just pass him back to the primary.