Maxed out on humidity, but still dry & sore

[spiralpasta99]

Hello folks. I’m a new CPAP user & have found this board and all the previous threads so helpful! Thank you to everyone who shares here. Had a good search for my issue but couldn’t find the answer, so thought I’d ask...

My CPAP is making my mouth and throat sensitive and dry. The back of my throat starts hurting/lightly burning within a few minutes of putting it on - being new, I’m still lying awake for quite a while, so have lots of chance to notice this.

I’ve cranked the humidity up to fixed and 5 (max), and the same with my heated hose, and can’t really tell any difference. Is that normal? I guess I was imagining something a bit more steamy or something . I checked the plate this morning and it was slightly warm, and the water has gone down. But all this hasn’t resolved the throat issue, and I’m waking feeling really dry in my mouth too.

I know these things are usually a sign of mouth breathing/leakage, but as I’m awake when it starts I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve not ventured into Sleephead data yet, but according to the machine stats my mask fit is 100%, which I think supports the no mouth breathing theory(?) too.

Does anyone have any idea about why this discomfort is occurring? Is it just an adjustment reaction thing?
I read elsewhere on the internet that an in-room humidifier might help, but a bit concerned that might be bad for my machine!

Also potentially relevant: I keep my bedroom really cold (windows open year round) because I have an unrelated health condition that makes me feel v hot. So the air it’s taking in right now is colder than usual room temp.
Ramp is off, set my minimum to 7 as I felt a bit air staved below that.

[gmsmith]

Have you tried introducing a humidifier to the room itself? I have found that if the room itself isn't dry, then I tend to be better. Also, this may be purely coincidental, but if I am well hydrated (80-100oz of water a day) I don't experience dry mouth as much as when I ignore my water during the day.

[babydinosnoreless]

Maybe turn down the heated hose a bit if your not getting rainout?

[sleepye]

With my old Resmed S8 Autoset, I used to not get enough humidity even when it was turned all the way up. Turned out my humidifier was not connected well to the machine. I took it off and reconnected and the heating plate got much warmer. After that I had to turn the humidity down some. Maybe there is some connection you could try to reseat on your setup?