CPAP makes me cough

[notsleeping]

Never dry. And your right it could be an allergy.

[chunkyfrog]

Some of the most common allergies/sensitivities are to cleaning products.
You would not believe the garbage they put in cleaners, or even cosmetics.

[kteague]

Does your cough come with any congestion? Curious how turning off the humidity works out for you. I do best with water in the tank but no heat. I'm one of those users who the warmer the air gets the more sinus drainage, hence coughing. Best wishes in finding a way to make this usable for you.

[lazarus]

Here's a list of possible factors, some more common than others, and none of which may apply to you at all:

It takes time for some people's throat and bronchial tubes to get used to the mildly pressurized air of CPAP. Time often solves that once humidity is consistent or the body adapts. Consistency of using the CPAP is the key to lessening the sensitivity to it.

Long-time PAP users genrally don't have to worry much about cleanliness. New users do. Start out vigilant, but then over time become as lazy as everyone else.

Dumping out your water each morning and using new water each night is generally recommended. Again, something long-time users often ignore.

At risk of raising a controversial issue, if you are using tap water, then sometimes (rarely) the tap water can cause issues for new users. Some municipalities, for example, load it up with treatment chemicals like chlorine, which can be an irritant to some people much more than to others. Letting such water sit for a while uncovered before using it can allow the water to, in a sense, outgas. This is generally not an issue if you are using a good quality tap water or water from a source other than tap.

Finally, CPAP doesn't just stent the airway; it also increases lung volume. That means it can sometimes (rarely) unmask lung issues deeper in the lungs, such as fluid-related ones. So if the problem continues, it might be worth speaking to a pulmonologist about it. They do actually come in handy sometimes.

But don't give up on CPAP. It is worth the effort to get it right.

[notsleeping]

Thanks everyone for your help. I have a question for kteague. How do you leave the humidity on and the heat off? I didn’t fill the h2o tank last and I didn’t seem to cough as much today.

[zonker]

Thanks everyone for your help. I have a question for kteague. How do you leave the humidity on and the heat off? I didn’t fill the h2o tank last and I didn’t seem to cough as much today.

go here to find the clinicians manual, NOT the USER manual, and it will tell you how-

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

good luck!

[notsleeping]

Last night was my fourth night back on the CPAP. I turned down the humidity and heat for the last couple of nights. Coughing uncontrollably this morning. This is normal, after four or five nights the coughing kicks in, the headaches kick in and it’s brutal. Luckily I have no patients scheduled this morning because there’s no way I can stop coughing long enough to have a conversation with anybody. I’m going to have to find a new sleep doc, mine moved to New Zealand and I have not established a relationship with anybody else yet. None of my colleagues have a clue what might be happening. They all look at me like I have three eyes.
Just want to thank everybody for their suggestions. I’m going to figure this out if it’s the last thing I do. i’ll let everybody know when I do. Thanks again

[zonker]

I’m going to figure this out if it’s the last thing I do.

if i were to be buried instead of cremated, i think i'd want that on my grave marker.