Confused!

Gee the more I read on this forum the more confused I become. I have just read that the CPAP machine can cause chest pain. I didnt know that and have had bad chest pains some days. Humidifiers - to use or not to use? I use mine at 2 and that seems to work well. Since starting using the machine a few weeks ago I noticed crackling noises in my throat/behind my nose. I now have a cough and a cold and have been steaming my face a few times each day. This seems to have reduced the crackling sounds. The night before last I slept well (waking up two or three times to cough) and my AHIs were 2.2. However last night I also slept well (didnt wake up to cough at all) and my AHIs were 16.2. This is all too much for my brain. Just cannot figure it out. Altho last night I used purified water and the night before I used distilled water. Could distilled water be that much better? Also my husband says I slept on my back most of last night and he could hear me snore with the mask on. Dont know what to try next!

If you're still snoring even when using your CPAP device, contact your doctor for a new study - you may need your pressure increased.

The type of water you use won't affect your AHI readings. But water that isn't distilled water may cause respiratory infections and may cause mineral build up inside your machine.

It makes good sense that when you slept on your back you snored and your AHI was higher. Most people obstruct worse on their back, and it sounds like you do too. It suggests that you need your pressure increased slightly to account for this. As suggested above, talk to your doctor. It should be pretty easy to address.

Many thanks for your responses sleeptech and psilver. Good to know the type of water used doesn't affect my AHIs. I'm going away next week for six weeks and will see the doc when I get back. I have to give the machine a break for a couple of nights as I have a sore nose again. Saw the GP yesterday who said a capillary had burst in my nose. Could this be from the CPAP?