New to Cpap, how to breathe? Feels like I'm suffocating

What kind so mask are you using? Which machine do you have? Turn off the ramp,feature as the pressure may start out too low for you as that is what happened to me when I first started out. Your pressure of 7 is what I started out with and it might not be high enough. Are you set up for a titration sleep over? You might need something higher than 7.

Don't give up! We all went they many challenges and frustrations in the beginning. I went thru like 8 masks before I found my perfect mask. So keep trying.......
Carrie

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I will try them all out. This is just so unnatural and uncomfortable for me. I just don't know if I can actually do this every nite.

I don't have much advice, but just wanted to offer support. I'm right there with ya! I've learned for me that the suffocating feeling is purely mental. I don't know why my mind can't seem to grasp that and make it physical, but it does. I.e. I need to yawn (but can't), cough (but can't), pull the mask off to gasp in some air, etc. It was so bad for me that I panicked during my titration and walked out because I couldn't mentally pull myself together. I have NEVER had a panic attack or any kind of anxiety issues. I wasn't even nervous (the first sleep study was a breeze). But they put that mask on me and I just wigged out! It's upsetting to me because I normally adapt well to things.

First, I think the type of mask makes a HUGE difference and everyone likes something different. I can't get enough air through my nose (confirmed by ENT) so nasal masks and pillow DO suffocate me. The full face masks make me feel VERY claustrophobic and the pressure on my nose makes me clog up. I just got the Innomed hybrid mask and it's so much nicer for me. But I am still struggling with the suffocation feeling.

I know it is mental because as soon as I put it on (or wake up) I am gasping for air and needing to yawn. But if I watch TV with it on or read a book and my mind stops thinking about it, I breath perfectly fine. It's just that I can't keep my mind off of it for very long, lol. I have only tried with the new mask for a few days now and I will say it is slowly getting better. The sleep doctor also told me not to worry if I take it off. But to not give up and keep trying a bit more each time. He also told me to just sit in the living room with it on and watch TV. I do think these things helped.

And for me, I also find I hate the ramp feature. I like more air, not less. And I don't like the air warm, I like it cold. So I keep the humidifier down low. But for others, it's the opposite.

Anyway, hang in there!

My two cents

----anything below a pressure of 9 makes me feel like im not getting enough air. Anything above 12 makes me feel like im getting too much.

---APAP saved me, or cflex in the older system. Exhalation relief is essential to mimic the breathing process. If you "pushing out" to exhale,
then youre going to be exhuasted quick.

--You HAVE to know if you belong on bipap or cpap.

---for a lot of people losing the nasal system and just getting full face can solve various problems.

---make sure as always not to sleep on your back. Use elevated pillows if you can.

--keep the air cool in your room. I dont even use heated humidity. COLD air is best to feel like youre breathing. If your room is 72 and youre
heating the water, geez youre basically breathing in a sauna

Like anything new, there is an adjustment period. With the nasal pillow, for me I have to be really tired to put it on. So I always read before I go to bed. My pressure is only at a 5. Doc told me no chinstrap. So I just had to teach myself to keep my mouth shut. Give it time, and sometimes a nasal mask is better than the nasal pillows, so you can breathe normally. I have both and switch off. Good luck to you

Can you really breathe at 5? I couldn't and would certainly reset my pressures to a little higher (were you only prescribed 5?).

i started at a pressure of 5 and felt like i was suffocating. compliant patient that i am i tried to stick it out for a few weeks but eventually increased my pressure to an 8.6 and now it's very comfortable for me. it took a little experimentation to get the right pressure and i played around between 6 and 9. i use nasal pillows also and find them very comfortable. i think part of the trick is to teach yourself to relax and not fight the cpap. i always thought i was a mouth breather too and wouldn't be able to use the pillows but as my doctor explained something about the pressure changes the position of the soft palate and allows you to breathe better with your mouth closed. good luck