having troube with tickling in the back of the throat

[robslady]

after trying several different mask I finally have the swift lt nasl pillow which I like alot still having trouble with taking it off during the night but that will come in time my problem now is that after about 10 or 15 minutes of having it on just about the time I fall asleep I start getting this tickling in the back of my throat just like when you have post nasal drip then I start coughing to the point that I have tears running down my face then I don't want to put the mask back on cause it keeps waking me up can someone tell me if they have experienced them same problem and what can be done about it

[roster]

What position are you sleeping in? Do you have any nasal congestion? What is your machine pressure? What is your bedroom humidity and are you using a CPAP humidifier and if so, what setting are you using?

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[robslady]

I'm sleeping on my back the humidity in my bedroom is 37% the one on my machine is set on 5 and air pressure is at 5

[roster]

Of course I don't know what is causing the "tickling" but here are some things for discussion:

1. You are using a nasal mask. Are you breathing through your mouth at times during the night? This could cause dry throat and worse it could cause loss of therapeutic pressure and you could still be having apneas.

2. A humidity setting of 5 is the highest setting. Why do you have it set at 5? When the relative humidity is 37% in my bedroom, I set the CPAP humidifier at the lowest setting which is 1. When the humidity in my bedroom is 45% or higher, I do not use the CPAP humidifier. Too little humidity is not good, but too much is also bad.

3. A pressure setting of 5 is very low (4 is lowest). Many people report they have a "suffocating" sensation if the pressure is set below 6 or 7. Was the setting of 5 determined during a sleep study?

[Guest]

breathing through my mouth I have no idea but I will have my husband keep an eye out for that tonight I know before I got the machine I did my pressure was set at 6 I was having difficulty with feeling suffocated so my doctor switched me to a five which is comfortable to me no one really explained the humidity thing to me so I will set it at 1

[kteague]

First, I say ditto to what's already been said.

Also, for the 1st few minutes after I mask up, I know there will be sinus drainage and coughing so I plan on dealing with that. If I had dozed off then woke up with a coughing fit, that would distress me too. I did that A LOT before cpap and realized later it was apnea events. Just wondering if your pressure is so low it is allowing events. Are you using the ramp feature? Because if you are it would have to be at 4, and at the time you describe this happening could be during ramp time if it is turned on.

Was your titration in the lab a successful one, meaning you slept enough and they got good data? Do you have a copy of that report to give us some information?

Hope dropping the humidifier setting helps. I feel like I'm suffocating when it's too warm, but everybody's different. Let us know how you progress.

[robslady]

no I didn't get a report I had my five week follow up this past tuesday he did show me the report I'm not real pleased with this doctor he knows I'm having difficulty adjusting to this cpap machine and mask but yet he doesn't want to see me for a year he did tell me that I should be using the machine 70% of the time and I'm only using it 20% cause I keep taking the mask off in my sleep he did say that people have a hard time adjusting to the machine but after 5 weeks I should be getting use to it and I'm not so I don't know if he got pissed off at me and said the heck with her or what the last thing I need is my doctor giving up on me with me trying to adjust to everything I'm trying to get myself well I can't help what I do during my sleep time the one thing I do know is I'm terrified to death that I'm going to fall asleep at the wheel and hurt some innocent person I also know that yes I do still sleep with my mouth open so I'm wondering if I need a full face mask I'm new to all this any help that you all can give me is greatly appreciated

[roster]

no I didn't get a report I had my five week follow up this past tuesday he did show me the report I'm not real pleased with this doctor he knows I'm having difficulty adjusting to this cpap machine and mask but yet he doesn't want to see me for a year he did tell me that I should be using the machine 70% of the time and I'm only using it 20% cause I keep taking the mask off in my sleep he did say that people have a hard time adjusting to the machine but after 5 weeks I should be getting use to it and I'm not so I don't know if he got pissed off at me and said the heck with her or what the last thing I need is my doctor giving up on me with me trying to adjust to everything I'm trying to get myself well I can't help what I do during my sleep time the one thing I do know is I'm terrified to death that I'm going to fall asleep at the wheel and hurt some innocent person I also know that yes I do still sleep with my mouth open so I'm wondering if I need a full face mask I'm new to all this any help that you all can give me is greatly appreciated

If you are sleeping with your mouth open you are losing the therapeutic pressure and you may be having as many apneas as without CPAP. Definitely get a full face mask and learn to use it.

As far as the doctor goes, he is pretty damn sorry. But don't worry about that too much - many of them are sorry. If you want to be successful, you have to learn and take charge of your own therapy. None of the regular posters here are doctors but most of them know more about implementing an effective CPAP therapy than their doctors do. Learn from the members and put yourself in that same position. I would have died if I had waited for a doctor to get this therapy right for me. Doctors are just not in the position to do it for us.

[KatieW]

Welcome to the forum. I noticed this is your 1st post.

I've had this throat tickling for years, I think due to allergies. I found that using plain saline nasal spray really helped with this. I use 1 spray in each nostril, about 30 minutes before bedtime.

I'm sorry your sleep doc isn't giving you the support you need. Mine didn't either. Do get a written copies of your sleep study and titration, and your prescription, for your personal medical records. Then read and learn as much as possible here. And ask questions when you need to. Many of us have taken this route.

[montana]

I changed my humidifier to 2 or 3 depending on room humidity. Pressure set at 2 . I also use prescription Flonase nose spray every night for post nasal drip. Sometimes .. That tickle can also be due to acid reflux. Report back if any thing suggested works. ...it may help others with same problem.

[roster]

no I didn't get a report I had my five week follow up this past tuesday he did show me the report I'm not real pleased with this doctor

If you want to take control of your own therapy, you need to know the answers to the following important questions:

Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study
by CPAPtalk member rooster

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

3. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

4. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

5. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

6. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

wiki/index.php/Sleep_study

[SleepyMary21]

First, I say ditto to what's already been said.

Also, for the 1st few minutes after I mask up, I know there will be sinus drainage and coughing so I plan on dealing with that. If I had dozed off then woke up with a coughing fit, that would distress me too. I did that A LOT before cpap and realized later it was apnea events. Just wondering if your pressure is so low it is allowing events.

You are singing my song. I have the exact same problems. My problems have been stem from being a mouth breather. To combat that I use a moisturizing mouthwash before I go to bed, and I have been using Vic's nasal spray. So far it has taken care of everything but that dry tickle at the back of my throat. My next try will be to use a saline rinse.

My ramp starts at 5 and sometimes I use that and sometimes I start at full pressure which is 13, so far it doesn't matter which one I use I still end up coughing, and frustrated and take my mask off.

In March under my doctor's recommendation, I will get my deviated septum fixed, but he says I really need to sleep long with my mask on, but waking up every 2 hours from coughing is driving me crazy