sore throat/need humidifier?

coolhandluke · Post by **coolhandluke** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:04 pm

I have a bipap with a ultra mirage full face mask. I don't have a humidifier. I've been using it for a week, and I wake up with a very dry mouth, and my throat has been sore, it hurts some to swallow. Do I need to get a humidifer? I don't feel bad otherwise, I'm not sick. Thanks for the advice!
Luke

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:25 pm

k.c.snorzalot · Post by **k.c.snorzalot** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:07 pm

If you are using a full face mask, I would assume you are a mouth breather when you sleep. Sucking in the air from your CPAP machine through your mouth is bound to give you dry mouth and sore throat. I'd think you indeed would need a humidifier to help.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:53 pm

coolhandluke wrote:I have a bipap with a ultra mirage full face mask. I don't have a humidifier. I've been using it for a week, and I wake up with a very dry mouth, and my throat has been sore, it hurts some to swallow. Do I need to get a humidifer? I don't feel bad otherwise, I'm not sick. Thanks for the advice!
Luke

I suspect that since you have a bipap, your pressures are fairly high.
I have a bipap and mine are. Bipaps are typically prescribed for high pressures. So with high pressures especially, you need humidification, and make sure it's heated humidification. For most situations and most people, humidification is definitely needed. The pressurized air is like a fan blowing through your nose, mouth and throat, and a fan dries things out. You need to replenish the moisture which cpaps and bipaps take away. All I know is that I didn't take the humidifier with me over the holidays and truly regretted it, for my mouth became so darn dried out that it was almost impossible to sleep without the humidifier. I won't do that again!

Linda

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:43 am

coolhandluke,

I am of the belief that a heated humidifier should come standard with a cpap, bi-pap or apap. I lived for almost three years without a heated humidifier since the doctor didn't prescribe it and I didn't know how beneficial it would be. During that time I experienced a lot of congestion and soreness in the air passages. My pulmonary specialist, also my sleep doctor, kept prescribing more and stronger medications to prevent the congestion and sinus infections. I have always had major problems with allergies. After a couple of weeks using the heated humidifier the congestion was almost gone. I still have a very minor amount of congestion but now Nasonex spray works for me.

If you have insurance talk with your doctor about a heated humidifier. If you don't go online and buy one as they are much cheaper online. The sponsor of this forum is an excellent resource for such purchases.

Good luck!

Pagarc · Post by **Pagarc** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:38 am

I've been on CPAP for only 8 days now. A few nights ago I fell asleep without turning on the humidifier and I woke up with a terrible sore throat.

If you get a humidifier make sure its the heated type (not passive type).

The only reason I knew to get one was that my sleep tech. gave me the heads up.

Good luck.

coolhandluke · Post by **coolhandluke** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:33 pm

Thanks Guys! I had really thought that was the problem, but just wanted to make sure. Oddly, it isn't as bad today. Now the only problem sleeping tonight will be the big tatoo I got today on my left arm.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:36 pm

He complains about a sore throat but getting a tattoo doesn't hurt? Hello? ..................

coolhandluke · Post by **coolhandluke** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:49 pm

The tatoo hurt like hell after the second hour. I have to go back in a month for the second session to finish it. Do you read much Stephen King (it's an illustration from one of his books)?

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:58 pm

When my teenage son got one (many years ago), more than his tattoo hurt like hell. .... Now I don't sweat the little things in life (unfortunately for my son, he's an adult now).....

I seldom read King, but I did read one of his recently, about a little girl lost in the woods and she kept thinking about a baseball player, "The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon". No, she didn't have a tattoo.

sore throat/need humidifier?

sore throat/need humidifier?

Re: sore throat/need humidifier?