About 6 weeks ago I had a pretty bad upper respiratory infection (I was out from work for 2 weeks). Since then, I haven’t felt 100% but it seems to be getting better. Yesterday I went home from work due to exhaustion and body aches (no fever or coughing). I slept on my back with the APAP humidifier turned one up from usual (6 out of 10), and I use a full face mask, which I usually sleep very well with. I woke up with a solid mass of mucus and blood (not dry) blocking my esophagus. Could this be from something from the machine, or do I need to get it checked out separately?
That sounds pretty concerning I would definitely get that checked out by a doctor rather than assuming its just the CPAP. The blood mixed with mucus especially after a long illness feels like something you should not ignore.
This is unlikely to be caused by the APAP itself. After a bad upper respiratory infection, irritated sinus and throat tissues can produce thick mucus with some blood, especially with higher humidity and sleeping on your back.
However, blood mixed with mucus shouldn’t be ignored. It’s best to get this checked separately by a doctor or ENT, especially since you’re still feeling exhausted. In the meantime, keep your CPAP equipment clean and return humidity to your normal setting.