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COVID-19 and CPAP?

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Cavalia +0 points · about 4 years ago Original Poster

I'm in a higher risk category for complications from COVID-19. My question is - if I use my CPAP, (using nasal pillows) forcing air in, would I not be sending the virus straight down into my lungs? I'm going to contact my clinician Monday and am not using my machine til then. Anybody know?

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Hi Cavalia

I understand your concern.

Probably the majority of CPAP users would be on the endangered list.

What I don't understand is where you anticipate that the virus would be coming from.

However you breath whilst awake or asleep the air is going into your lungs.

I can't see how the CPAP would make any difference unless it is in an infected environment or being used by an infected individual.

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Cavalia +0 points · about 4 years ago Original Poster

Yes, thank you Gremlin. I have not been able to get a test yet but have all the symptoms. So I am assuming that the virus is already in my nose (as that is one of the sites they swab from when they test.) Does that make sense?

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

I am not a medic but it seems to me that if the virus is in your system then how deeply you breath is largely irrelevant.

I am asplenic and generally unfit and unwell so anything that can lead to pneumonia is potentially lethal for me.

One of the symptoms of this virus seems to be difficulty breathing and the resultant stress, especially on the heart.

I rarely have anything good to say about CPAP but it may well be your best friend if you have this virus.

Either way seeking medical advice would be a good idea.

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Cavalia +0 points · about 4 years ago Original Poster

Thanks, Gremlin. I will definitely seek professional advice on this - the stakes are too high to mess around.

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Sierra +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Patron

COVID-19 is very contagious. If you have it in your mouth or nose you are going to get it. It is a done deal. The CPAP machine will not make a difference. They test in you nose because that is where it can survive and replicate. I believe there are some bacterial type filters you can put on a CPAP that might stop it from coming in from the room air, but if you have it in the room air, you are going to get it anyway.

We returned from travel in Mexico in early January. That was when it was just beginning to be an issue in China, but nowhere else. About 4-5 days after we got back we got a real nasty "cold", or at least that is what we thought it was. Now that the symptoms of COVID-19 are everywhere, it was the same symptoms, but no significant fever. I got a deep dry cough that made it impossible to sleep. I bought some Benylin Dry Cough Night syrup and it made a world of difference. I also feel that the CPAP helped me breathe a lot better. The Benylin and CPAP got me through it.

But, in my non medical professional opinion, there is no way a CPAP can give you COVID-19 or increase your likelihood of getting it.

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HonestCarmineCattle2572 +0 points · about 4 years ago

I have a friend who asked a doctor about their CPAP machine. It was their opinion that in a pinch the machine could be useful as a ventilator type device, increasing airflow to compromised lungs. We might be lucky to have them perhaps

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Cavalia +0 points · about 4 years ago Original Poster

Thanks so much! All great advice. Hope everyone escapes this nasty virus!

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Lol I don't think there is much chance of avoiding this one in the long run but I think the trick is to get it after the insanity subsides and at a time when the hospitals and doctors are not in panic mode.

Also after most other things have been put in place like immunisations for pneumococcal, influenza and perhaps even shingles and meningococal infections.

Not because they are directly related but because you don't want them piling on top of each other.

The virus is only really getting started here (Australia) so I expect that chaos will intensify over the next several weeks and not really subside till June. Only guessing of course.

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Sierra +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Patron

I recall that in the last couple of days Canada had one traveler from Australia come back with COVID. I would guess that Australia is just coming into flu season and it could get bad. Pneumococcal (both Prevnar 13 and pneumococcal 23) are a really good idea. The potential for death from flu or COVID typically comes when there is a subsequent infection of pneumonia.

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

We could send a few more your way if you want.

We seem to be getting a lot of infected people from the USA at the moment and our government seems unwilling to acknowledge that they are a risk.

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Sierra +0 points · about 4 years ago Sleep Patron

The US is a significant source of infection for returning visitors in Canada as well. However I think a large part of that is just the volume of travel. Apparently at least in normal times, 400,000 a day cross the Canada/US border. Unfortunately the US seems to have fumbled the ball big time with testing. In Canada we have had 1 death and 300 confirmed infections. In the US they have had about 60 deaths and 3000 confirmed infections. At the same ratio of infections to deaths as Canada, the US should have about 18,000 infections. Suspect it is much worse there than is being reported, due to lack of testing kits.

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