Woke up not breathing

I originally went to a sleep doctor because I wasn't breathing at onset of sleep and wanted help, I first went to my regular doctor who knew little about apnea and gave me ambien for sleeping.

I tried sleeping without ambien last night. I was breathing heavy and steady while trying to fall asleep. I only slept briefly but finally fell asleep for over an hour. I woke up, mouth and throat were parched (this is usual as my humidifier doesn't work) and wasn't breathing! although my mask was on. I'm still not sure if their was air in my mask but I assume that there was air. My mask was on tightly to prevent leaks.

I knew I wasn't breathing any air and wasn't aware that there was any air inside my mask. I ripped the mask off, took deep breaths, noticed that my I was 14.8 but my E was still at 11.0....My lowest pressure is 13.0 I and 11.0 E, sometimes but not that often the inhale will rise higher than 2 over the exhale and my highest I is 20.0. I felt numbness in my left arm, felt lack of air in my throat............I got up, went to the kitchen and had some Crystal Light, came back and saw that my I on the machine was now 14.4 (of course my mask was off my face) and E was 11.0...........I put on the mask, tried to sleep again, my body wouldn't let me sleep. I noticed that my pressure was now 14.0 I and 12.0 E.

I stopped trying to sleep as I knew sleep wouldn't happen right now.

Any idea of what's going on?

Also wanted to add that i'm not sure if this was OSA, I had the feeling that it was a central and that I think I get centrals or may suffer more from CSA.

Riv wrote:I originally went to a sleep doctor because I wasn't breathing at onset of sleep and wanted help, I first went to my regular doctor who knew little about apnea and gave me ambien for sleeping.

I tried sleeping without ambien last night. I was breathing heavy and steady while trying to fall asleep. I only slept briefly but finally fell asleep for over an hour. I woke up, mouth and throat were parched (this is usual as my humidifier doesn't work) and wasn't breathing! although my mask was on. I'm still not sure if their was air in my mask but I assume that there was air. My mask was on tightly to prevent leaks.

I knew I wasn't breathing any air and wasn't aware that there was any air inside my mask. I ripped the mask off, took deep breaths, noticed that my I was 14.8 but my E was still at 11.0....My lowest pressure is 13.0 I and 11.0 E, sometimes but not that often the inhale will rise higher than 2 over the exhale and my highest I is 20.0. I felt numbness in my left arm, felt lack of air in my throat............I got up, went to the kitchen and had some Crystal Light, came back and saw that my I on the machine was now 14.4 (of course my mask was off my face) and E was 11.0...........I put on the mask, tried to sleep again, my body wouldn't let me sleep. I noticed that my pressure was now 14.0 I and 12.0 E.

I stopped trying to sleep as I knew sleep wouldn't happen right now.

Any idea of what's going on?

Also wanted to add that i'm not sure if this was OSA, I had the feeling that it was a central and that I think I get centrals or may suffer more from CSA.

Riv,

The description leaves a ton of guesswork for anyone reading. I gather you have a Bipap AUTO ?

DSM

Yes, Respironics BPAP w Auto.

Riv,

What are your normal settings ?

DSM

20/11. I start at 11 and my machine usually goes up (more and more lately) to higher pressures. My 7 day 90% pressure has risen to 17.6/15.5. Is this significant?

Riv wrote:20/11. I start at 11 and my machine usually goes up (more and more lately) to higher pressures. My 7 day 90% pressure has risen to 17.6/15.5. Is this significant?

Riv,

This is a suggestion - Set the Auto to start at 14 but use 15-20 mins of ramp starting with 10 or 11 CMs
See what that achieves.

DSM

Riv, I would not underestimate the effect of not having the humidifier. Is the heater broken, or the water tank itself? You can always use it in passover mode, with no heat.

I'll ask my new doctor about raising my pressure, I'll be seeing her for the first time on Nov 5. Also i'll try the passover humidifier as my humidifier doesn't work.

Thanks for the advice and I hope I'll be doing better on the machine.

Riv,

Recently I had more problems when the humidfier part of the auto-flex Respironics leaked. It wouldn't work in bi-pap mode and was stuck at 11/11 rather than 11/8. tThe humidifier has been changed to a better sealed chamber. I wonder why they don't have to follow the same recall as the automobile industry. Your home health equipment supplier can help you get the better chamber. Liz

My DME gave me the same kind of chamber when I told them the humidifier wasn't working. It's a long story but they sent me an incompetent tech who knows how to scream and then lie and cover himself when I fight for my rights and he makes ME look bad to his bosses at the DME.

It may sound like I'm making excuses but I've had terrible luck, both with the doctor I was recommended to and the DME that he picked for me.