I'm new to this forum and wanted to ask if anyone might have had the same problems I'm having. The first 4-5 days on cpap worked well for me and I slept through each night. Now I seem to be waking up and feeling like I can't breath and have to almost rip my mask off. I wear a Repironics comfort classic mask. I tried nasal spray last night, but still had the problem.I can't understand why the first 4-5 nights went without incident and now I'm having this problem.I have a deviated septum and don't know if that could have anything to do with it.
panic attacks-claustaphobia
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1
JWATT,
It seems to me that feelings of claustrophobia and hyperventilating and quite common among new CPAP users. As to why the first 5 nights were ok? Who knows? Maybe it was just your body being grateful for a good night's sleep after a long hiatus.
I experienced severe symptoms such as you describe from the very first moment they put a mask on me in the sleep clinic. When I received my equipment at home, the Mirage Activa mask that I was given seemed to be a big improvement over the heavy, tight, enormous thing they tried to get me to wear in the sleep clinic, but it spent the first 3 weeks fighting with it. Things seemed to be ok when I first went to bed but, exactly as you described, I'd wake up after a few hours gasping for air and ripping the mask off. To make matters worse, I would sit there and berate myself for the ridiculousness of the situation, knowing full well that the machine was helping me to breathe, not making it more difficult.
It was until I complained that I was feeling worse -- more exhausted with the machine than without -- that other, smaller masks were suggested and delivered by my DME. I tried the Mirage Vista which was a marked improvement and helped me to realize that part of my sense of claustrophobia was waking up and not being able to see clearly around the larger masks. Having a clear sightline is more than just a novelty for improved reading as far as I'm concerned. I also tried the Swift Nasal Pillow, but had troubles with the machine fighting me to exhale -- definitely didn't improve the hyperventilating sensation. I have finally settled on the Respironics Comfort Curve, about which you can and will, if you wish, read more negative than positive reports on this forum. However, for me it has made a major improvement and I'm pleased to say that, after 6 weeks of CPAP therapy, I'm finally 100% compliant -- sleeping through the night with the mask on and waking up feeling rested. Hallelujah!
If you're experiencing nasal congestion and think that it may be causing difficulty, especially in light of your deviated septum, I would suggest trying a Breathe Right strip in addition to your mask. Not sure if your model will give you a good seal with the strip on, but it has really helped me out on several nights when I was stuffy.
Know that you're not alone and that this is a perfect place to find helpful information and moral support. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions or concerns.
Good luck!
Kurtchan
It seems to me that feelings of claustrophobia and hyperventilating and quite common among new CPAP users. As to why the first 5 nights were ok? Who knows? Maybe it was just your body being grateful for a good night's sleep after a long hiatus.
I experienced severe symptoms such as you describe from the very first moment they put a mask on me in the sleep clinic. When I received my equipment at home, the Mirage Activa mask that I was given seemed to be a big improvement over the heavy, tight, enormous thing they tried to get me to wear in the sleep clinic, but it spent the first 3 weeks fighting with it. Things seemed to be ok when I first went to bed but, exactly as you described, I'd wake up after a few hours gasping for air and ripping the mask off. To make matters worse, I would sit there and berate myself for the ridiculousness of the situation, knowing full well that the machine was helping me to breathe, not making it more difficult.
It was until I complained that I was feeling worse -- more exhausted with the machine than without -- that other, smaller masks were suggested and delivered by my DME. I tried the Mirage Vista which was a marked improvement and helped me to realize that part of my sense of claustrophobia was waking up and not being able to see clearly around the larger masks. Having a clear sightline is more than just a novelty for improved reading as far as I'm concerned. I also tried the Swift Nasal Pillow, but had troubles with the machine fighting me to exhale -- definitely didn't improve the hyperventilating sensation. I have finally settled on the Respironics Comfort Curve, about which you can and will, if you wish, read more negative than positive reports on this forum. However, for me it has made a major improvement and I'm pleased to say that, after 6 weeks of CPAP therapy, I'm finally 100% compliant -- sleeping through the night with the mask on and waking up feeling rested. Hallelujah!
If you're experiencing nasal congestion and think that it may be causing difficulty, especially in light of your deviated septum, I would suggest trying a Breathe Right strip in addition to your mask. Not sure if your model will give you a good seal with the strip on, but it has really helped me out on several nights when I was stuffy.
Know that you're not alone and that this is a perfect place to find helpful information and moral support. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions or concerns.
Good luck!
Kurtchan
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1