CPAP machine is making me sick and causing me lung problems

[Camai]

I have had my cpap since 2005. Am on my third machine and tolerate it well. I put it on and go to sleep. Am honestly addicted. The problem I'm having is new. I wake up with a very dry mouth and what I think is asthma. I'm just breathless a lot of the day and my lungs feel dry. Not sure if I am infected ( am not coughing anything up) but it sure is taking a toll on my health. I bought one of those new expensive cleaners and LIKE IT. Have put water in the humidifier but not turned on the warmer because I am afraid of growing mold. Any suggestions? Just concerned because this is all new.

[zoocrewphoto]

I have had my cpap since 2005. Am on my third machine and tolerate it well. I put it on and go to sleep. Am honestly addicted. The problem I'm having is new. I wake up with a very dry mouth and what I think is asthma. I'm just breathless a lot of the day and my lungs feel dry. Not sure if I am infected ( am not coughing anything up) but it sure is taking a toll on my health. I bought one of those new expensive cleaners and LIKE IT. Have put water in the humidifier but not turned on the warmer because I am afraid of growing mold. Any suggestions? Just concerned because this is all new.

Did you start using the new cleaning thing before or after the start of breathing problems? If it was before, you may be reacting to the ozone it produces.

Another possibility is a new mask. Did you recently get a new mask?

Anything that would start an allergy problem? I know my allergies are worse again this week. But it is mostly during the day.

[chunkyfrog]

. . . I'm just breathless a lot of the day . . .

This might be reason enough to make an appointment with your doctor.
If the symptoms started after you started using the "new machine", you may blame it, but see the doctor anyhow.

[zoocrewphoto]

. . . I'm just breathless a lot of the day . . .

This might be reason enough to make an appointment with your doctor.
If the symptoms started after you started using the "new machine", you may blame it, but see the doctor anyhow.

This is a good point. THere may be something about the different machine, or it could be a coincidence.

I started cpap in April of 2012. In June, I started having a really bad cough which lasted a month. It returned again in July and last 8 weeks. I went to the doctor each time and was prescribed cough medication. No reason for why I had the cough. During that time, I suspected my cpap and did a deep clean, but no improvement. I think I even asked about it on the forum, but I was doing well with the cpap and the improvement in sleep and energy was more important than the cough.

In October, I got hit with the cough again, and my dad made a comment. "You always come back from trips sick." My response, was no, and I listed the trips that did not involve getting sick. And I made the connection. Those trips were in somebody else's car. The June, July, and October events were all in my mom's minivan. When did the bottle of fertilizer spill in the car? Late May? How well did it get cleaned up? Not well enough. It went under the passenger seat and smelled for weeks.

We deep cleaned the car (including removing the seat), and I used allergy meds for the next few trips in that car. The cough NEVER returned.