New CPAP, weird feelings & congestion

Hey all,

I've been on a CPAP at a pressure of 5 for the last 6 years. I just got a new machine at a level of 6 and I'm waking up throughout the night a lot. Last night I woke up and the area between my nose and throat was on fire. Every morning that I have woken up my chest feels like someone is sitting on it and my throat is full of mucous. When I put on the mask I feel I have trouble breathing in deeply or out at all. In comparison to my old machine, it feels like it's blowing like a hurricane. The humidifier totally emptied after two days, so the air is getting "wet".

Does anyone know why I might be waking up so much? On my old machine I didn't wake up at all. Also, anyone have tips on stopping the cough/chest tightness/mucousy throat/burning airway?

Thanks!

Lower your humidity setting and see if it helps (give it a day or two of course). You may be giving yourself a cold! Machines don't behave the same as others all the time and what's a #4 on one may equate to a #1 (or 7) on others. And the same may go for your pressure setting(s) - what was enough pressure on the old one may need bumping up on the new one.

It would help if we knew what kind of new machine you are using now and what humidity level you are using. Like Julie says....These newer machines have sensors and adjust humidity delivery based on ambient humidity in addition to the selection chosen so they do things a lot differently than machines from 5 or 6 years ago.
Plus you may have a heated hose (common options today) and that complicates things even more.

If you plan to hang around the forum please take time to register and add your equipment to your profile like I have mine.
It helps us to help you better when we know exactly what you are using...saves time and gets you more specific ideas.

Example...if your old machine was a Respironics machine and you got a new Respironics machine without a heated hose...that newer machine delivers much less moisture than the older machine at the same setting. If you got one with a heated hose it becomes even more complicated.

Oops, didn't know I already had an account here. I've added my information.

The humidity is at 3, and I've always had a heated hose. My old machine was a Sleepstyle 200.

Thanks for your help!

So your humidity's at 3, but that doesn't mean much if it's too high (or low) for YOU, so play with it.