Chest discomfort, tightness

I am into my second month with my cpap machine and have developed chest tightness that wakes me around 5 am each morning. Usually the discomfort is such that remaining in bed is very uncomfortable. Usually 15 to 20 minutes of sitting up will greatly reduce the tightness. My therapy hours are down from 8 to 6 and my AHI is currently under 5. My doctor has gradually increased the pressure from a low of 8 to 14-20. I am not sure I will be able to continue with this therapy until my chest tightness goes away. Any advice out there . . . or at least similar situation.

My experience (up until the chest tightness) has been very positive and encouraging. Never missed a night and even took my clap on a 5 day vacation. Chest discomfort is disheartening.

Harvey

Harvey..........Go see your doctor....chest tightness is nothing to fool with......In fact....go to the ER and have it checked out.....NOW!

Harvey, Im a newbie and I have not ever seen any other posts that speak of chest tightening but if you were my husband, I would have taken you into emergency the first time you mentioned it.
Unless a more experienced person with SA can tell me that I am wrong and what you are experiencing is normal, I would not personally be sticking around to wait for such an answer.
(that said I can't imagine HOW it could be considered normal)



Edit:

The poster below me is whose advice you should follow 100%

First of all...don't ever mess around with unexplained chest discomfort...see a doctor now.

Second...once you do see a doctor and assuming everything checks out in the heart department there is a possible explanation to the chest discomfort that goes along with increasing the cpap pressures.
It isn't uncommon for people to have chest wall discomfort from the muscles in the chest wall being worked more than usual when the extra work of exhaling against the xpap pressures. The higher the pressure the greater the extra work for the muscles and we all know that when our muscles get exercised or work more.....they get sore.
Most often this discomfort presents itself more on inhale as that stretches the muscles a little more.
It's very similar to what costrochronditis feels like if someone has ever had that problem.
This problem usually goes away with time as the muscles get used to the extra workload.

BUT, do not asssume what Pugsy said about Cpap to be your problem because it's easier than dealing with it - you must absolutely get checked out before you (potentially) check out without warning. Wouldn't you want a family member to do it rather than have to deal with irreversible consequences?

It may be GERD - acid reflux.

I recently had an upper chest tightness but also a tightness in my throat. ENT look down via a scope and diagnosed Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and perhaps GERD.

And it may not be... let a doctor decide.

It could be GERD, a panic response related to a cluster of apneas or hypopneas, muscle fatigue that Pugsy mentioned, or arterial blockage. No way to know until you rule out the possible causes. Rule out the most dangerous first...