New Cpap user--waking up suffocating, help!

Hi.
I'm a new CPAP user and I'm having a problem. Hope some of you veterans can help me.
I've been using the machine for a week. I'm finally use to wearing the mask and I'm falling asleep and sleeping well until this happens. Around 2 or 3 am I wake up with a start with the sensation I can't breathe and I'm suffocating. When I look at the machine the pressure is at the highest setting the technician set it for (12.) It feels like I can't exhale against the machine and that's why I'm waking. It's actually a little scary and then I can't seem to go back to sleep afterwards.
Can any of you tell me what's happening here? It also happened during my sleep study and I called the technician. When I told him what happened he said he's turn the pressure down. But when i got my home machine they said not to try to change any settings until I come back to the office in a month. I'm calling them tomorrow to say I need to get in sooner cause this sensation is really scary.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

In order for us to help you we need to know a little more about the equipment your using. Please update your profile to include this information and the suggestions will come flowing in!

Chuck

Please fill out your profile and list your equipment so we can help you better. Some of the systems have the capability of being set to lower the pressure when you exhale. Why did your DME set your system at the Max?

Hi Luigi, welcome to the forum. The best thing to do now to allow us to help you would be to go the "Profile" on your member page and fill out the information on your equipment (look at other posters' notes and see how they do it... the blue part under the notes) so we know what you're using, and it will show up automatically every time you post. Put the FULL name of your machine (all the words on top, not just an 'icon') down, and whether you use a humidifier, plus settings for both, as well as exactly what mask you're using, and if you use the Ramp feature. Someone will then get back here (probably a bunch of someone's) with help. There are machines that can help with exhalation BTW.

If you can't exhale against the pressure, you need to let your RT and Doc know that right away.

The anxiety of a half asleep brain realizing something is on your face and your breathing is different will also create the same effect. Remember your brain has decades of training to wake y0ou up to keep breathing and stay alive. It is not going to turn down the panic factor in one week.

Well, I took off work this afternoon to go into the doctor's office and the dispensor person told me he had never heard of someone having trouble like I described. (!?!). I asked him about settings and he was not very forthcoming but said that my EPR setting was at 3 and the air pressure at 12. It's on continuous cpap. Does any of that help?

He gave me a new mask to try--Micro Mirage Nasal Mask. He ran off all the records and took them into the nurse. They said I was having a lot of air leaks.

I'm supposed to try this one out for the rest of the month and see what happens.

This is very frustrating since I don't have any idea how this whole thing is supposed to feel and when i describe the problem I don't seem to be communicating with the staff.

I was so tired and sleepy on my commute home I almost fell asleep at the wheel again. I had the air conditioner up full tilt. I sure hope I get the hang of this soon.

Hi Luigi,

I had the exact same problem last night and I use the same machine (but with pressure setting as '8'). I started using CPAP just four days ago.

Did you get a resolution? Can you please post it for my (and others like us) benefit?

Thanks

I had/have the same problem. It's getting better, but it's not gone.
I have asthma & COPD, and that may be part of my problem. I'm also a mouth breather using a nasal mask. When I'm awake, I'll breathe through my nose like most people, for the most part. Every few breaths, I have to breathe through my mouth to get enough air.
You might try using a full face mask. It allows you to breathe through your mouth as well as through your nose. I tried it, and it did help alot.