Dry Throat

[debbluebird]

I started using clap machine in 2009. I switched to bipap in about 2014. Since it has been this long, my sinuses and throat have become very dry. Plus if I sleep past 5 to 6 hours I run out of water. I usually don't sleep that long because of that. Every time I wake up, I fill the tank.
I have RLS and leg spasms which reduces my sleep, but since Thanks Giving I got meds adjusted and have sleeping better. Tonight so far is 6.5 hours, so mach in is dry. I will be going back to sleep.
My throat feels like it's going to close up. I have tried lowering the setting water which is set at 4, heat is set at 5. My tube heats up, otherwise it's too cold. I have tried using a humidifier, but then my filter gets wet and the machine stops working.
I'm going to turn the heat down to 4 and see if that helps. I drink lots of water and every time I wake up too. My Doctor does not have any suggestions. I will call the machine company tomorrow, but I doubt they will help. I have tried increasing the water setting, but then there is water in the tubing. I do turn it all down during the summer, but I still run out if water at times.
Thank you



Machine
Phillips Respironics
20/17 cm/H20
Tamara full face cushion mask

[Julie]

Can you please give the full name and model of your machine - the brand name doesn't tell us enough to go by and the name in your profile/signature doesn't match.

Do you like the Amara mask (some people find it too leaky)?

[debbluebird]

I thought I had it all.

Dreamstation Bipap Pro DOM
Phillips Respironics

The mask is fine. I can't tolerate the ones on the bridge of my nose and cheek bones. I can't do nose pillow, I'm a mouth breather. This is the only one that works. I've tried many. The Doctor has looked at the sleep report, it doesn't leak.

[Pugsy]

Your equipment profile comments refer to an older style of machine.
When you have time you might want to update your profile to reflect he new machine.
Machine would be
DreamStation BiPap Pro
Humidifier would be
DreamStation Heated Humidifier
both are available in the equipment drop down menu

You might also remove the System One reference in your comments section.

What is the ambient humidity in your house/bedroom? Do you know? Where do you live?
It's unusual for the machine to run totally dry after 6 hours or so unless it is really dry where you live?

[debbluebird]

I think I fixed the profile. I live in Colorado, 8,000 feet
I have put a humidifier in the room, all it did was get my filter wet so that the machine would not work.

[Pugsy]

Well....adding a humidifier shouldn't add enough moisture to the point of messing with the machine.
Lots of people use humidifiers with cpap with the issues you had.
Where did you place the humidifier in relation to the BiPap? Real close maybe?

It is also important to know what humidity you are starting with in the first place.

Do you use some sort of wood heat that dries the air out more?

You can get a little gadget to measure the humidity in the bedroom for less than 10 bucks. I got one off Amazon that tells me the ambient humidity as well as temperature for 8 bucks delivered.

[debbluebird]

We have a device that measures humidty. It says 50%. We do not have a wood stove. When I tested it with a humidifier, it was sitting 3 feet away. I was in a small room at the time. My filter got wet so the machine stopped working.
I called the company for the machine and my supply company. They could not help me.

[Pugsy]

The amount of water consumed is affected by
1...ambient humidity in the bedroom
2...humidity setting on the machine
3...pressures used
4...amount of large leak

Sounds like your primary culprit is going to be your high pressures.

Do you take any medications that might make dry mouth and throat worsen?
Mouth breathing also makes dry mouth/throat worsen....do you have nasal congestion issues that force you to mouth breathe a lot?

[debbluebird]

Yes, I take meds every 8 hours that dry out my mouth and I'm a mouth breather. No stuffy nose. I've even tapped my mouth shut. It always opens. I'm doomed.

[debbluebird]

It didn't work at a lower number. Now my sinuses hurt. Going back up. Will try humidifier experiment now that I'm in a larger room. Will try to borrow one for experiment.

[debbluebird]

I'm sorry there weren't many suggestions. Mostly remarks of correcting what machine I have.

[debbluebird]

I have turned my tubing heat to 1 and humidity to 5. I've talked to my Doctor. His only suggestion is is stop using machine. The humidity in my house is 50%. When it goes above that my machine stops working and filter gets wet. I have no options.

[Julie]

Have you tried lowering (or even omitting altogether) the humidity itself?

[Pugsy]

Well...you do have options but you may not like them.

Your machine shouldn't be just stopping because the air in your bedroom is humid. This problem really bugs me...makes me think your machine is malfunctioning...heck I have washed filters and not dried them and stuck them back in the Respironics machines without drying them and the machine works just fine.

It also shouldn't be using up all the water in 4 or 5 hours even at your pressures.

You could get a spare chamber and keep it full of water and swap it out with the dry chamber.
You could get a different machine to see if the problem is machine related.
You could get a different brand machine.
You could just accept the dry mouth and throat and add maybe some moisturizing products like a lot of cpap users do.
You could find a new doctor who isn't such a non helpful idiot if his only idea is just stop using cpap.

[zonker]

You could find a new doctor who isn't such a non helpful idiot if his only idea is just stop using cpap.

this literally had me laughing out loud!!