copd exacerbations caused by cpap machine??? Is there a solution...I have to sleep with cpap, but keep getting lung infections!

I have copd and sleep apnea. I use a cpap machine and am becoming convinced that it is the machine that keeps setting off lung infections in me.  Every morning or whenever I wake up with mask on, I am choking and it hurts to take a breath.  My mouth is completey dried out and I cough for a half hour before I can begin to inhale without coughing.  Is there a solution for this...I can't use a nasal mask because I have deviated septum and automatically open my mouth when I sleep.

[regil]

Could be the machine, or that there is not enough moisture in the air it is giving you.
The machine I use has a water resevoir on it so that the air going in is not dry, I know these machines can be expensive, but it might be worth looking at.  Maybe check with your Doctor see if he thinks it might be that.

[cindy501998]

I USED A BIPAP MACHINE THAT WAS NOT SET AT THE PROPER LEVELS AND WREAKED HAVOC WITH MY HEALTH.  I WAS ALSO DRY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A WATER RESEVOIR.  MY APNEA WAS BAD, OVER 60TIMES PER MINUTE AS I WAS TOLD.  I WAS OBESE AND USED O2 WITH THE BIPAP AT NIGHT, AND DURING THE DAY.  MY O2 LEVELS WERE TOO LOW WITHOUT IT.  I HAD BARIATRIC SURGERY, WHICH OF COURSE HAD IT'S RISKS, MY LUNGS WERE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.  I HAVE LOST OVER 100 LBS AND NO LONGER NEED O2 OR BIPAP OR MEDS FOR COPD.  I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN STAY OFF THE MEDS, I DO NOT SNORE NOW, CONFIRMED WITH A NEW SLEEP STUDY, BUT FOR NOW, IT'S A BLESSING NOT TO HAVE TO BE TETHERED TO AN O2 MACHINE, OR A BIPAP AT NIGHT.  HAVE YOUR MACHINE CHECKED FOR THE RIGHT PRESSURE SETTINGS BY A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST.    HOPE THIS HELPS,