Sore Throat

Wookie · Post by **Wookie** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:04 am

I've been using my CPAP machine for about six months and it has changed my life. Until the last week, I had not experienced any problems getting used to my machine. Here's the problem now. Over the past week, I have been waking up with an extremely sore throat. I do not believe I am opening my mouth while I sleep because my mouth is not dry in the morning (My CPAP does have a humidifier). I notice that when I take a deep breath with my CPAP, the tissue in the back of my throat vibrates kind of like I'm snoring. Do you think it could be this vibration that is causing my sore throat? I was thinking that maybe my pressure might be too high or too low as my body has adjusted to the machine. I'm a little perplexed as to why these problems would arise after using the machine for months.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:01 am

Wookie,

Our bodies go through lots of changes with this therapy and new way of sleeping. Lots of times they're coincidental.
The first year I started therapy, I had colds or the flu about every other month (even before I started therapy).....but so did many other people around here. I haven't had a cold or the flu since Thanksgiving week of 2005. < knocks on wood >

Don't know if that helps or not, but you're not alone in these new "experiences". Hope it improves.

Best wishes,

Den

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:09 am

Hi Wookie, sorry you are feeling badly. You've been luckier than most up to now. Here are a few of my thoughts regarding your sore throat.

1. Don't rule out Strep -- you might want the doctor to take a culture.

2. You are aware of the vibration because of the pain. It's probably always there, you just normally don't feel it.

3. Allergy/pollen season -- depending on your location.

4. Air conditioning always gives me a sore throat. Again, depending on your location.

5. A cold coming on -- or the flu. Last November I got the flu which started with a sore throat.

6. Acid reflux -- my husband gets a sore throat with acid refux.

7. And maybe you just need to turn up the humidifier.

Hope you get it resolved.

Lepeu63 · Post by **Lepeu63** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:05 pm

I was going to suggest #7. That did it for me when I was experiencing the same issue.

Wookie · Post by **Wookie** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:09 pm

Thanks for the feedback. It's great to have a resource like this available without having to call my doctor (who I don't particularly like).

I keep my humidifier on the second highest setting, so I don't think that's the problem. (FYI - I use a Remstar Plus M series CPAP or something like that) I do have allergies, but I don't think this is the problem since I usually sleep with the window closed and use a HEPA air cleaner. I don't think it's the onset of strep throat or a common cold because my sore throat quickly goes away when I'm awake and breathing normally. This morning, I woke up a couple hours early because of the sore throat and I fear that this could become a recurring problem that could interfere with my previously heavenly sleep. It's only happened in the last four days or so. Hopefully, the problem will resolve itself.

On an unrelated note, do any of you use a battery backup for your CPAP machines? The thought of a power outage in the middle of the night is kind of freaking me out.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:17 pm

Well then, another guess would be that you are snoring. I had many sore throats pre-cpap.

Or it could be sinus drainage.

Here's a link for battery info:

viewtopic.php?t=9682

Mask