Waking up gasping for air with cpap

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Robynl123
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Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by Robynl123 » Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:35 am

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea recently, started using a cpap (full face mask as I breathe thru my mouth) for a few days now. But tonight I’ve woken up 3 times gasping for air, hands and arms numb, panicking feeling and heart racing. It happens just as I start to fall asleep.

My mask is on right, and it was at the full level when it happened (an 8 for me)

I thought the cpap was supposed to stop this from happening? I’m terrified now and with my severe anxiety disorder I’m scared of sleeping now.

Any advice?

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:39 am

Sounds like it IS the anxiety.
Ask your docs for whatever you need to use cpap.
A temporary chemical "crutch" might help.
Effective therapy has helped with some anxiety, but you have to use it first.

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zoocrewphoto
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by zoocrewphoto » Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:40 am

Sounds like your pressure is too low.

It could be that it is too low for comfort, and you feel starved for air. Or it could be too low to prevent events, and that is why you are gasping for air.

What is it starting at? 8 isn't that high, so if you are comfortable with 8, try starting at 8 and allowing it to go higher.

I would also recommend getting sleepyhead and posting graphs of a typical night. There is a great post for beginners at the top. It has directions for how to do this.

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Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

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JayDee
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by JayDee » Sun Sep 09, 2018 6:48 am

Robynl123 wrote:
Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:35 am

"...tonight I’ve woken up 3 times gasping for air..."
The first night, I had a similar feeling - as if I wasn't getting air. Immediately started googling and thankfully stumbled across this forum. A bit of reading and I had the clinical manual to get into the device settings. First things I did was turn the "Ramp" feature completely off and increase the minimum pressure to a more comfortable level for me.

Listen to the good folks here. They have the experience and knowledge to get you where you need to be. You will be fine.

Good Luck!
-JD
If you're not having a good time, *DO* something about it.

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Grace~~~
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by Grace~~~ » Sun Sep 09, 2018 2:14 pm

Hi Robynl123~~~

It's so great you found cpaptalk so soon in to your cpap adventure. These people will help you optimize your treatment and get you on the road to the right masks and settings. They are SO much more helpful than most busy medical folks many of us have access to.

One little tip they gave me early on was to wear my mask any time I could. If I was reading, if I could use the computer in bed, or watch TV, etc.

This "tip" helped me bond with my mask, which I now see as the ultimate sleep luxury devise. I put that mask on and my body says "time for some good sleep!".

It also helps get in the compliance hours that some folks are required to do. Getting those compliance hours in will lessen anxiety as well.

I'd really recommend you read the WEALTH of information here on cpaptalk and ask questions if you get stuck and don't understand the "WHY" behind anything. I seriously doubt there is a more informed 'gathering of eyes' on all things cpap in the world.

Good Luck!
:D

~~~grace
Began XPAP May 2016. Autoset Pressure min. 8 / max 15. Ramp off. ERP set at 2. No humidity. Sleepyhead software installed and being looked at daily, though only beginning to understand the data.

blastercbi
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by blastercbi » Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:54 am

Hello Robynl123,
Did you fix the problem?
I am having the same problem, wake up gasping for air as soon as I fall asleep with CPAP.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Oct 27, 2019 8:06 am

blastercbi wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:54 am
Hello Robynl123,
Did you fix the problem?
I am having the same problem, wake up gasping for air as soon as I fall asleep with CPAP.
Read the replies.
Robyn never came back.
Will you?

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JayDee
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by JayDee » Sun Oct 27, 2019 8:16 am

blastercbi wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:54 am
I am having the same problem, wake up gasping for air as soon as I fall asleep with CPAP.
You don't mention what machine you have and the setting names can vary, so I'm referring to the ResMed Airsense 10 Autoset machine here:
Learn how to open the "Clinical Settings" menu on your machine (it's where you can adjust your pressures).

Make a note of your original, pre-adjustment settings so you can return to them if desired.

Try the following...

Put your mask on, turn on your machine and test, preferably while laying in your normal sleep position.

Turn the Ramp feature off to get to your "Min" pressure immediately without waiting to "Ramp" up.
Adjust the "Min" pressure until it "feels right" for you (varies person to person). This may ultimately need to be adjusted higher than you think, but a good starting point is where it feels comfortable for you, where you aren't starving for air.
You can also try different settings for EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief), or even turn it off. That controls the exhale pressure you feel.
Once you have found your preferred "Min" pressure setting, you can try turning Ramp back on.

None of these settings are chiseled in stone. You can play around with them as you wish and you may need to from time to time. Things change over time. I would not consider these machines a "set & forget forever" device. You may need to adjust pressures/settings every once in a while as needed. You are allowed to take ownership of your therapy and make any needed mid-course corrections from time to time and as needed.

Good luck!
-JD
If you're not having a good time, *DO* something about it.

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zonker
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by zonker » Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:30 am

blastercbi wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:54 am
Hello Robynl123,
Did you fix the problem?
I am having the same problem, wake up gasping for air as soon as I fall asleep with CPAP.
welcome to the zoo! if you would, could you start your own thread, please? what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else.

please see the link in my sig below for guidance on how to post a thread.

and if you could, even if you do nothing else, please fill in your equipment profile. this is crucial. everyone of us is different. we need to know what machine and mask you'r using.

good luck!
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
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blastercbi
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by blastercbi » Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:32 pm

Thanks, I will. But I am interested to know if anyone else who had the same problem was able to solve it. I have seen three threads with people similar to my problem and none of them had any indication that they were able to solve it. Specifically feeling the need to gasp for air as soon as I fall asleep. This happens consistently with me, I increased and decreased the pressure and same problem. I have a full mask and am very comfortable with it, so no fear of suffocation or panic attack. It's very strange. I can't breathe well through my nose so I am wondering if that's what people having this problem have in common.
CPAP: prisma SMART - Lowenstein Medical with full face mask

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zoocrewphoto
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by zoocrewphoto » Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:13 am

blastercbi wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:32 pm
Thanks, I will. But I am interested to know if anyone else who had the same problem was able to solve it. I have seen three threads with people similar to my problem and none of them had any indication that they were able to solve it. Specifically feeling the need to gasp for air as soon as I fall asleep. This happens consistently with me, I increased and decreased the pressure and same problem. I have a full mask and am very comfortable with it, so no fear of suffocation or panic attack. It's very strange. I can't breathe well through my nose so I am wondering if that's what people having this problem have in common.
Lots of people have had this problem AND solved it. But you need to start your own thread. The original person on this thread did not come back, but each time this post gets bumped to the top, people read and respond to THAT post and then see your post later. And then we have two different situations being responded to at the same time. We promise to help you, but please start your own thread.

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Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
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Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

Robynl123
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Re: Waking up gasping for air with cpap

Post by Robynl123 » Tue Aug 18, 2020 9:31 am

I posted this question like 2 years ago? Lol but just remembered this website so I would like to post that I still have these problems but they only happen randomly And rarely, last night it was awful but I’m guessing it’s just anxiety because most nights I’m fine with my CPAP but like I said I do suffer from panic attacks and anxiety. I hope anyone else who also has this issue has found relief.

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