pain in chest after using cpap, anyone else have this prob

[Guest]

after waking from a full night sleep using cpap i have a full heavy chest, it is sometimes painful, if i dont use the cpap, i dont have the pain, it is only when using cpap that the pain reappears in morning, anyone else have this problem

[BlackSpinner]

many people have this. Muscle pain from breathing out against the pressure. It goes away just like sore legs after running does.

[JohnBFisher]

after waking from a full night sleep using cpap i have a full heavy chest, it is sometimes painful, if i dont use the cpap, i dont have the pain, it is only when using cpap that the pain reappears in morning, anyone else have this problem

Pain in chest ... you know, regardless if it is due to breathing against pressure, you REALLY should talk with your doctor about this. Much better certain than not.

[dae3dae3]

I had this. It slowly went away over about six months.

Let your doctor take a look at you to make sure there isn't something more serious causing the pain.

[FeistyWifey]

Your soreness very well could be muscles getting a workout they haven't had before but (not to alarm you at all) just as a caution, please do get checked out. We had assumed my husband's chest heaviness and soreness was from the Centrals he was having, but it turned out that the chest symptoms were from the cardiac arrhythmia he has which is linked directly to his Centrals. Diagnosis took some bloodwork, a treadmill test, an EKG and an echocardiogram to establish this -- nothing nightmarish, and now he knows what's going on with his heart. Talk with your physician, both the sleep doctor and your other doctor(s). And we are very happy you are getting started with cpap! It's a lifesaver (literally)!

[tattooyu]

I had this big time. Definitely have your doctor check you out, but your muscles are just getting use to breathing against the air. If your machine as C-Flex/A-Flex (Respironics) or EPR (Resmed) it will help drop the pressure on exhale. Ask your sleep doctor, DME or someone on here about it.

Please take the time to register (it's free), and then fill out your equipment profile so we know what machine and mask you are using.

Welcome!

[araminta]

I also had that problem for a long time after I started cpap treatment.
But after a while, it eventually stopped being an issue.

[torontoCPAPguy]

Pain in the chest, regardless of what you might suspect as being the cause, is reason for a visit to the emergency department at your local hospital and do not be shy. GO!

In my case it was a result of low humidification (like none). As soon as I got humidification going it went away. You also need to make sure that your filters are clean, your hose and mask are clean and that your are using pure distilled water for humidification. Imagine the crap that you are blowing into your lungs otherwise.

At first I was pretty sure it was my wife whacking me with he elbow as I use a nose mask and tend to open my mouth just enough so that I whistle and wake her up... she sees the drool on my pillow and BINGO BANGO WHACK! Fortunately in my case the bruising on my ribs was indicative of the cause of the chest pains.

In all seriousness... straight to emerg and an ECG!!! (Even if it 'goes away'). Especially if you are at all obese or have any history of heart problems in your family including yourself.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.


Even angina will 'go away' after a while. That's why they make nitro spray spritzers.

[sleepsalot]

So this will eventually go away? That is a relief, right now is the uncomfortable part of getting used to CPAP I am guessing for me. So i am right there with you! Does it feel like someone stood on your chest or something? Let us know if it gets better, because I gotta know!

[Bear100]

Had the same issue early in CPAP use, really worried me. I knew it was the CPAP because I stopped using it. Had a full cardio check up - everything fine. Then after a few weeks, it went away never to reoccur. It can't hurt to be safe and go through a cardio check up, but in my experience it is realted to the CPAP.

Bear 100

[letchworth]

At first I was pretty sure it was my wife whacking me with he elbow as I use a nose mask and tend to open my mouth just enough so that I whistle and wake her up... she sees the drool on my pillow and BINGO BANGO WHACK! Fortunately in my case the bruising on my ribs was indicative of the cause of the chest pains.

I feel your pain, torontoCPAPguy-- I feel your pain-- (literally- I was laughing so hard at this paragraph that I almost fell out of my chair)

Seriously, guest--- take tattooyu's suggestion and register bot yourself & your equipment-- that will help the kind, knowledgeable people on this forum help you even more (& don't be afraid of them, they are all nice people, many with lots of experience). In registering, you only have to give as much information as you wish to give- your anonymity is safe.

Good luck as you begin the journey (and inform your doctor of your experiences along the way- he works for you)
letchworth

[berrington3rdesq]

I have been using the CPAP machine for just over that year, and in that time both my lungs have collapsed! Now i have spoken to my doctors about it and they reckon it is nothing to do with the machine, but my GP and the nurses think that I shouldn't use the machine.
Before using the machine, I had no previous problems with my chest or lungs.