Can't breathe, can't sleep

[EO_123]

Middle of the night cpap problems. I am trying very hard to get back on CPAP after a 2ish year hiatus. Some nights are better than others. The last 2 nights were fantastic, I felt great and wondered why I ever stopped CPAP to begin with. Tonight I woke up at 2 with the sensation that my mask was suffocating me. Sometimes I feel like I just can't get enough air. Of course I check the mask and the air is flowing full blast, but the sensation is that it's hot and stuffy and I can't breathe. Why some nights and not others? I know there are a variety of things I can try to fix this (humidity etc) but for now I'm frustrated and remembering exactly why I quit. I'm one of those people that once I wake up... I'm awake. (and it's still only 3 am)

[Julie]

What are your pressures set to - the lower one may need to be raised slightly, and if you do have a cold and can't breathe through your nose that would certainly explain a lot - you could be losing Cpap air out of your mouth when asleep, which is why it's a good idea to keep a full face mask handy for when you're sick... but raising the pressure at those times can be counterproductive as it would increase the mouth breathing rather than helping.

[archangle]

Welcome back. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Do you use SleepyHead? It can tell you a lot about what's going on.

[EO_123]

I'm not congested. My pressures are set at a range of I think 6-10. You're right that I'll have to pull the data to see what's really going on. It's just been so long I forget how to do all of that.

[englandsf]

Pillows feel less claustrophobic (P10s are the big hit) but you should also check pressures first then try high, low and medium humidity.

You'll crack it - it takes a month or so to get it right usually. Hang tough

[JimP]

I'm not congested. My pressures are set at a range of I think 6-10. You're right that I'll have to pull the data to see what's really going on. It's just been so long I forget how to do all of that.

Since you haven't used your cpap in a while, have you checked your filters?

Regarding humidity, what's your weather been like lately and what is your humidity setting on your machine?

[stealth2600]

Hey,

I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling. I'll start off by saying I'm really new to CPAP, just started treatment a week ago. That being said, I felt the same way my first couple of days on the machine. I found the following things helped me: If your using a really wide pressure range like 4-20cm, try increasing your minimum pressure to 6.0 or 7.0. When I first started using my APAP I found it very difficult to breath at a 4.0 pressure, it was like breathing through a straw. 2. Does your machine have some sort of EPR setting that decreases the pressure when you breath out? I found this very helpful in eliminating difficultly exhaling due to the air being forced down my nose. 3. Lastly, are you using your ramp feature? I know some folks here love it, and some folks hate it (just like EPR). I've found that using ramp makes it easier for me to fall asleep since the starting pressure is lower (usually your minimum pressure) and it is gradually increase as you fall asleep. 4. As other folks have already said, check to make sure your air filter is clean as well. Anyways, I hope some of this helps, good luck and stick with it! It gets easier, it just takes time and patience.

[Oughtsix]

I used a dumb CPAP for 10 years with the humidifier set on the top setting. I always had rain out issues. A couple of weeks ago I got a new CPAP with a heated hose and I set the humidifier and hose heater on full blast. In the middle of the night I woke up feeling like I was going to drown! WAY too much humidity... I could not breath (But no rain out!). I set the humidifier down to the half way point. After about a half hour the water in the humidifier cooled and all was well.

It sounds like you are getting too much humidity. Do you have a heated hose? If you do not have a heated hose I purpose that the ambient temperature in your bed room might have changed affecting the amount of heat lost from the pressurized air running through your hose affecting the amount of humidity you received in your mask. Even if the temperature in your room did not change maybe your hose was under the covers being kept warmer by the covers giving you warmer air and more humidity.

You might try a heated hose to better regulate the temperature of the air in the hose and the amount of humidity you receive at a more constant level. You might also try a hose cozy to better regulate the temperature and humidity in an unheated hose.