Chronic cough since CPAP started

[stillaliveca]

I have posted two topics recently and received very helpful responses, so I figured I would try one more.

I have been using CPAP for about 6 months now and ever since I started I have had a chronic, mostly dry cough. I did not have this before and I am sure it is from the CPAP blowing air down my throat all night.

I do not cough during the night, but once I am up and about for the day, I cough a lot, maybe 25-50 times a day. I feel a tickle in my upper respiratory tract and cough to ease the feeling. Sometimes I cough several times in a row. Whatever phlegm gets coughed up is whitish. I do not feel in any way sick.

I have tried different settings of the humidifier but this has made no difference.

I did try a prescribed med for sinuses but it made little difference.

Has anyone else had this experience and dealt with it successfully?

[Sleeprider]

It would help to know your humidifier settings, but since you feel dry, I assume you are on auto settings. Turn to manual, turn up the humidity (start at 4) and control the tubing temperature as needed, but 80 degrees F is a good start.

[stillaliveca]

I have tried the humidity at 4, 5, 6, 7 - no difference. I'm sorry if I gave the impression that I feel dry. That is not the case. I have a dry cough, meaning a non-phlegmy cough. I do not have the heated hose.

[Walla Walla]

Try XtliMelts. They keep your throat moist during the night. You can get them online.

[stillaliveca]

I am getting the impression that this is my unique problem as no one is writing back to say that they share the problem.

[Gideon]

I have a chronic cough but it is not from CPAP. I found I was much more comfortable with the climateline hose and run on auto.

My cough was made much worse recently by cigarette smoke so much so that I have been literally dropped to my knees with vision narrowing at a distance of about 100 yards from a single smoker. Surprisingly pirolsec helps to minimize the impact. There are other triggers I try to avoid as well, insense, perfume, and some cleaning agents. I also did voice therapy to train myself not to cough.

Fred

[Clay L]

I have had a dry chronic cough twice.
First was due to aciid reflux and omneprazole fixed it.
The second was a side effect of a blood pressure medicine - Lisinopril. Fixed by changing to losartan.
Each one diagnosed by an MD.

[sonicboom]

I have noticed recently a cough from nothing that can be explained besides cpap usage. Its not a lot but didn't exist before. You are not alone.