New Glitch While Waiting to Sleep

If you are exhaling through your mouth, perhaps there is a bit of congestion.
Either that or stress; maybe from events in your life or a new health "thing"
See if you can describe how it feels in more detail. Then maybe somebody will hear a bell.

Not sure if it is the same, but I used to have spells where it felt like was short of breath. I would open my mouth to inhale deeply (wearing nasal pillows mask) and exhale real hard. Usually took a few of these breaths before things settled down. Never knew why they happened or why they got better. Rarely happens these days.

My first thought to rule out is if your machine is at too low of a pressure starting out.

kteague wrote:Not sure if it is the same, but I used to have spells where it felt like was short of breath. I would open my mouth to inhale deeply (wearing nasal pillows mask) and exhale real hard. Usually took a few of these breaths before things settled down. Never knew why they happened or why they got better. Rarely happens these days..

What you are describing is claustrophobia. Your brain doesn't believe it can get enough air when you need it, so you have to prove to it that you can. One of the advantages to the nasal mask as compared to a full face mask is that you can do this.

Amazing... when did you get your long distance medical license?

I wasn't providing a diagnosis or recommending treatment. just explaining the phenomenon. I get the same thing. Considering that people on this forum are always recommending prescription changes, I hardly think this qualifies as practicing medicine.

scooterpie wrote:I would do a search for this, but I don't know what to call it. After about 5 years of "no big deal" to fall asleep--mostly well over that time--I have begun to catch myself somehow taking in air and perhaps blowing it out. My nose is not congested. I use the Pilairo nasal pillow mask. I close my mouth and then this thing repeats. I'm fully awake, but it seems to be keeping me from getting to sleep. And it's just a pain after starting about three nights ago.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I don't know if I'm describing it well enough to make sense. Please chime in if it sounds familiar or you have a thought or solution for me.

Thank You!

You might try taping your mouth for a few nights to see if that urge to blow it out goes away

I have the same problem, use a pillow mask and mouth taping doesn't help this problem, in my case. I tape every night, even when I am not using APAP.

Something is preventing me from falling asleep and it probably is the air that somehow gets into my mouth. I wish I could solve this problem.

PEF, I'm not positive of what you and scooterpie are describing, but it sounds as if air pressure is escaping into your mouth from the back of your throat. If so, the only thing I know for sure that will stop this is a full face mask. Tape will prevent the pressure from escaping the lips but it could lead to a pressure build up in the mouth causing "chipmunk cheeks". For years, I could not wear a nasal mask because of this phenomenon, but recently I have switched to nasal pillows and by concentrating on preventing this by tongue placement* while I'm awake, I seem to be learning to control it while asleep. At least, it no longer wakes me and my leaks are acceptable.

*With your lips parted, exhale through your mouth and see what stops it. Like the tip of tongue to the roof of mouth behind front teeth and/or the tongue as if making a "k" sound. While waiting to fall asleep, practice holding this position(s).