Dry Mouth and Throat

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
goldeneyes
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:49 am
Location: Bay Area

Dry Mouth and Throat

Post by goldeneyes » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:19 pm

I have been using a Remstar Auto with a full mask and a humidifier for over 2 months now. My problem is I have a dry throat and mouth and it wakes me up in the wee hours of the morning. Does anyone have this problem? Any solutions? Thanks.

chrisp
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Location: somewhere in Texas

Post by chrisp » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:30 pm

Sounds like you are opening your mouth in your sleep. That cpap can blow alot of air through you mouth if you let it. Can you tape your mouth shut or use a chinstrap. Can you turn up the humidifier to a higher setting ?

Point is all that air is blowing into your is mouth drying it out. If the humidifier was originally set when the ambient air was more humid it may need adjusting.

The humidity may make a nasal mask more tolerable.

Cheers,

Chris
Last edited by chrisp on Sun Feb 20, 2005 12:01 am, edited 2 times in total.

jdschooler
Posts: 99
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 5:37 pm
Location: Devils Lake, ND

Post by jdschooler » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:33 pm

I use the ResMed Auto Spirit with a heated humidifier. At home the humidifier is set on 4 and at work it is set on 3. Do you have your humidfier turned up all the way? Is it a heated humidifier? What kind of mask are you using? I find the Nasal Pillows dry me out more that the Nasal Mask does because of the increase air pressure through the pillow lumens.

Also try using AYR Nasal Gel...if works better that just saline spray. It seems to stick in the nose good and last all night. The added moisture may just be enough to help. Otherwise maybe you are just real sensitive to this side affect.
Jeff,
The No-Longer Sleepy Medic

ResMed AutoSet Spirit w/ heated humidifier
Ramp 20 min, 8cm to 20cm H2o
ResMed Activa Nasal Mask
Respironics Comfort Gel Nasal Mask
ResMed Swfit Nasal Pillows Large

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loonlvr
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Location: Kirbyville, Missouri
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Post by loonlvr » Sat Feb 19, 2005 12:41 pm

Chrisp. I dont know if your trying to be funny, but the reason I use a full face mask is because I have to.I m a mouth breather, darn it.

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dwells2
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:36 am
Location: Newark, DE

Post by dwells2 » Sat Feb 19, 2005 3:11 pm

Is your (humidifier) a heated one?

I found unheated (humidifiers) to be useless.

gailzee
Posts: 454
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:35 am

Re: Dry Mouth and Throat

Post by gailzee » Sat Feb 19, 2005 4:19 pm

Do you have a htd humidifier? It's a must. I just got the new H20, and went from a 2-3, down to a 2. Last night I lowered it to about 1 1/2, and I was dry this a.m., so I know I have to push 'er up a little tonight.
Also, do you have a regular room sized humidifier? They are fairly inexpensive (esp. now at the end of heating season, walmart, Costco), and add some humidification to a bedroom. Keep room cooler, if you can.
I bought a new chinstrap, and it's better than the universal hunk of crap......

Check out cpap.com's product list.
good luck...
goldeneyes wrote:I have been using a Remstar Auto with a full mask and a humidifier for over 2 months now. My problem is I have a dry throat and mouth and it wakes me up in the wee hours of the morning. Does anyone have this problem? Any solutions? Thanks.