How to battle the dreaded throat tickle?

I've had a CPAP machine for a while now, but have never gotten used to it and have battled (and abandoned it) off/on the whole time (about 4 years). I am a lifelong mouth breathing sleeper who sleeps on his side, so I eventually abandoned the nasal pillows and went with the FFM. I am again attempting to make an effort to use the machine, but have been having issues every night with a tickle in my throat. It only happens when I use the machine, but once it starts to happen, it won't go away until I abandon it for the night. The tickle starts small and slowly gets worse until I cough so much I think it will make me sick. I replaced all the equiptment, turned up the humidifier, tried saline nose drops, and took maalox, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I am finally going in for another consult with a new doctor shortly, but would like to keep trying to work through this in the meantime. Is there anything I can do to avoid this dreaded tickle?

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Forgot to mention, I have a Philips Respironics System ONE

I use a throat spray. Either Equate or Chloraseptic brand. A saline spray up each nostril, followed by just enuff Propel or Gatorade to wet the mouth then followed by a spray or two of the throat spray. All kept right at bedside. When the dry mouth wakes me up another small sip of the drink and back to sleep.

I know you said the tickle happens only when using the machine, but in case there's another contributor, I just wanted to mention that the blood pressure med Lisinopril is known to cause a tickle in the throat for some people. Are you unable to breathe through your nose in the daytime either? Just wondering if the air hitting your throat could be causing the tickle, and if a hybrid style mask where some of the air goes up your nose would be enough of a change to help. Just throwing stuff out in the wild here, but have you tried a numbing throat spray such as Chloraseptic? Good luck finding what works for you.

Guest wrote:I use a throat spray. Either Equate or Chloraseptic brand. A saline spray up each nostril, followed by just enuff Propel or Gatorade to wet the mouth then followed by a spray or two of the throat spray. All kept right at bedside. When the dry mouth wakes me up another small sip of the drink and back to sleep.

Thanks, I'kk have to give it a try!

kteague wrote:I know you said the tickle happens only when using the machine, but in case there's another contributor, I just wanted to mention that the blood pressure med Lisinopril is known to cause a tickle in the throat for some people. Are you unable to breathe through your nose in the daytime either? Just wondering if the air hitting your throat could be causing the tickle, and if a hybrid style mask where some of the air goes up your nose would be enough of a change to help. Just throwing stuff out in the wild here, but have you tried a numbing throat spray such as Chloraseptic? Good luck finding what works for you.

I am actually on Lisiopril, so that is a VERY good hint..... I don't breathe great through my nose during the day, but it is much easier than when I am laying down.