Feel like I am suffocating

greenham · Post by **greenham** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:45 pm

First. I am new to the group. I am a 43 you male w/ moderate to severe OSA.

I had my Titration sleep study last night. After the initial 3 hrs baseline study that revealed a 30-40 breathing stoppages per min. The technician came into the room and fit me with a FFM and appropriate head gear.

HOLY COW!!! I thought I was gonna die. I have never been particularly claustrophobic (sp?) but I panicked. The tech helped me calm down and concentrate on my breathing. I was able to get 2 hrs of sleep and some of that was REM. I woke up after that 2 hrs period AGAIN IN A PANIC. I had to rip the mask off. I never got back to sleep.

Now my paranoia is in full blown anxiety mode. How did you guys get used to this? Has anyone had the feeling I am speaking of? My equipment hasn't been ordered yet as the study results haven't been finalized and approved by insurance.

I really need someone to talk me down. I want to try but I am having trouble with the psychological aspects of this treatment .

Please help

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Titration

WindFlyer · Post by **WindFlyer** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:58 pm

Hi Greenham:

First of all, welcome to the group. You'll find lots of friends here. Next, remember that being masked isn't as bad as you think it is. I always recommend doing what I did to get used to it: The first night you bring your equipment home, before you go to bed- while you're still up watching TV or whatever- strap on the mask, turn on the machine and just sit there and experience it for awhile. Try getting the mask straps adjusted just right, etc. The key is to do it while you're awake so that your body gets used to the idea.

There's no big huge difference between regular breathing and mask breathing. When I mask up at night- after a few deep breaths I'm breathing normally and when I wake up I feel as though I'm not masked at all. After a while you get used to it. But like I said- try it first while you're awake with the lights on and you feel safe. That will make it a lot easier.

RachelM · Post by **RachelM** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:02 pm

I can identify with you.

My initial titration experience during sleep study was bad,bad,bad. Tech kept it at a low 6 for me to adjust to feeling. Could not escape claustrophobia, feeling of short of breath, headache set in. Could not get to sleep and they finally removed CPAP equipment and let me be the rest of the night. I felt like a CPAP failure.

What helped me was getting the equipment in my own bedroom, relaxing, and experimenting on my own. On suggestion from someone in this forum, I tried the mask for several minutes at a time during the day and just laid down and tried to relax without going to sleep. This helped adjust to the feel of the mask on. With the temporary help of Ambien I finally got where I could go most of the night. It's now 3 months later, and I can go all night, every night. The improved quality of life has been the effort worthwhile.

Keep in touch with us all and we're rooting for you. You'll find lots of helps, hints, and encouragement here.

Slow progress is still progress.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:15 pm

If my first mask experience had been a full face mask, I think I would have had similar difficulties. I panicked when they put just a nasal mask on me, so they switched to nasal pillows for my titration. Many months later I tried a nasal mask and was actually just fine with it. Never had the opportunity to try a full face mask, but I think by now the realization that I can snatch it off in a split second if necessary would help me adjust.

If you are a mouth breather, you may need a full face mask. Or do like many here and use a nasal mask or pillows and take steps to see that your mouth stays shut. But if not a mouth breather, you may not need a full face mask. I'm able to relax about my pillows and/or nasal mask just knowing if I feel the need I can breathe through my mouth.

Keep in mind this "thing" is what will prevent you from feeling suffocated in your sleep with the apnea, and could save your life. If we had a crystal ball I bet we'd see you down the road writing in here telling some claustrophobic newbie the story of "how I got over". Let us know what mask you end up with and how you progress with it. Best wishes.

Kathy

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:22 pm

I had a few claustrophobic attacks during my sleep study -- the first one was about two minutes after the technician left the room.

When I had my own mask/machine at home, I still had the attacks for a couple of nights. I was told to try wearing it for an hour or two the first night and gradually work up to all night. I didn't want to do that though. Once I had a super night's sleep a few days later, my mind relaxed to the fact that I had my face covered with the mask. It's like a switch was flipped. Now it doesn't bother me at all. Well, that might not be totally true. Sometimes I want to breathe in cold air so I have to lift the mask (if I'm wearing the full face) to take a breath of fresh air. It's easier when I am wearing the nasal interface because all I have to do is open my mouth and take a breath.

I am so claustrophobic that I have a hard time watching anything filmed underwater (even cartoons).

If you do get a full face mask, make sure you practice taking it off a few times before you go to bed. KNOWING how to quickly remove the mask will help you gain control over your panic attacks.

Kimberly

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:25 pm

Welcome to the forum.

There are two things that can "enhance" CPAP claustrophobia....one is a pressure that's too low and the other is a pressure that's too high (initially).
As "WindFlyer" mentioned, don't wait till you go to bed the first night to try this stuff out. I received my equipment early in the week and I waited until the following weekend to start "playing" with it......and during the daytime.

It DOES take a bit of getting used to......this new way of sleeping and breathing.....but after a little while we can't imagine sleeping without it.

Best wishes,

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:27 pm

greenham,

I feel for you.

You could feel like you are sufforcating because the pressure is not high enough for you, or the mask you are using needs a higher pressure, or to much carbon dioxe. Or maybe other reasons.

I am claustrophobic.

I had a panic attack trying on an activia mask because I could not breath properly trying on the mask

Having something in front of my face is nto good, I need to see in the distance.

I could not calm myself wearing the masks that something infront of my face, even the ComfortLight 2.

So I just went with interfaces that do not have anything infront of the face.

I did not bring any interface home that I would need to calm myself down. I ended up trying the Swift and comfort curve. I then tryed and love the Nasal AIre II.

For a full face mask for cold season, I bought the Hybrid, because it has nasal pillows. It covers the mouth. When I first put it on, sometimes I need to calm myself. I needed to practice undoing the clips quickly so panic would not over take me.

I think once you get an iterface, you should not sleep with it right away. Wear it waching TV, get very comfortable taking it off with your eyes closed, so you will not panic in it.

SelfSeeker who can't register

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:50 pm

all completely normal, even ripping the mask off. The sleep lab experience especially the first titration one (wearing the mask) is the worst you will experience. The mask was probably too tight, much tighter than you would wear it afterward, then there is a lot of anxiety from being in a strange unfamiliar place with wires all over you.

you will get over it, think of that mask as a really cheap pair of Chinese made tennis shoes from Wal-Mart with the plastic price tag thingee still attached, hard to walk in at first but the good news is you can always take them off in the morning.

The suffocation feeling can be from them simply titrating you, what they do is increase pressure and watch the apnea events as they happen, they should wait 5 minutes or more before increasing pressure from last change so they don't cause an arousal, when they go too high with pressure it can blow a central event which completely wakes you up. At that point the test is pretty much over. they then have to revert to the last found pressure offering good quality sleep.

Some people feel really great after their PSG, I didn't I felt really bad after all my titrations, had to go home and sleep.

greenham · Post by **greenham** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:27 pm

Thanks to all of you!!!! I stumbled across this site and it is already offering me a lot of support.

deebatt · Post by **deebatt** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:37 pm

I had a similar experience with my titration study also. Was off to a great start, no problems with the swift nasal pillow they put on me, i fell asleep quickly and comfortably. Oh...FYI i am so NOT claustrophobic (I am an MRI tech and i deal with claustro patients daily, i actually LIKE confined spaces lol)

Well, about 2 hours into the study i jumped up in bed and tried to rip the mask off. The tech came in and i mumbled a string of Bleepedy Bleep words and ripped the mask off......I felt like I was choking and couldnt breathe at all. I still dont think it was true claustrophobia, but it was one hell of a major anxiety attach (which ive never had before either). The tech let me get up to use the little girls room, then i came back and tried again. Not even 2 minutes after lights out again i was up ripping the mask off with the same anxious feeling. I think what had happened too was that i tried to open my mouth and found that i couldnt, or else i could open it and i had no control of my breathing. About 5 minutes later i was calm, resumed the titration and slept the rest of the night. I woke up feeling better than i have felt in years!!!!!!!!!!

SO.......like everyone else is posting....hang in there..this too shall pass!!!!!!!!

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:02 pm

I had a similar experience when they tried a mask that went over my nose. Kept breathing with my mouth cause I was not breating at all through my nose. They tried a pillow and that problem went away.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:54 pm

michael_schaap wrote:I had a similar experience when they tried a mask that went over my nose. Kept breathing with my mouth cause I was not breating at all through my nose. They tried a pillow and that problem went away.

Same experience as Michael. The headgear that covered my nose drove me crazy and I had all the feelings you are talking about. Nasal pillows are the cure in my experience.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:54 pm

You'll get used to the full-face mask. I had the same experience during titration. They had to give me some sleeping pill to help knock me out, in fact.

Once you're used to it, it's a non-issue entirely. You put it on, and you're asleep in minutes. When you wake up, you often can't even feel that you're wearing anything! You have to reach up and feel the mask to make sure you're wearing it!

So, relax, this will all pass. In the meantime, leave the TV on at a low volume. It may help you get to sleep. Instead of dark silence that lets you concentrate on those bad claustrophobic thoughts and feelings, watch a TV show... transition from the show into sleep. It's a distraction that offers little time to think the bad thoughts.

You'll look back on this and laugh, trust me. The titration night is as bad is it gets, and you'll never have that experience again. Soon it'll be nothing at all.

leholst · Post by **leholst** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:02 pm

Try to relax and read all these posts again.

I JUST started APAP with a ComfortGel mask. Although I've ordered a FFM for emergencies, I'm using the CG now.

When I received my equipment I tried it on and did the adjustments one afternoon before my first night. The sound of Velcro is history. Here's what helped for me during the first night:

When I put the mask on I imagined myself as a fighter pilot at 20,000 feet cruising along with nothing in sight and only the sweet sound of my breath in the gear. No where to go and no stress whatsoever........just flying along with my new mask and all the oxygen I needed. The sounds were wonderful.....and very faint. Every time I took a breath, all the air I wanted was there. When I exhaled, there was no back pressure. It was sooooo sweet. I was above the clouds, ox mask on and just soooo relaxed......... .

This scenario helped me get through the first couple of nights. And when I am a bit stressed, still does. I LOVED IT! Please don't think of the mask as enemy.....think of it as beloved friend. Welcome it.......play with the settings.

I found that my C-Flex was a "1" with my APAP set at 7.5 - 15. My Rx is a straight 8. I'm in HEAVEN with my setup. PLEASE DON'T STRESS ON THIS ..........Just FIND THE RIGHT settings and adjustments. At first my RT had the machine set on 4............:::::: That's suffocation!!!!!!!!! I quickly realized it and set it to 6 and after a night or two set it to 7 and then to 7.5.

Night time now is almost surreal...........It almost takes me back to the sixties. Why? Because I sleep so soundly. Ain't done that since MJ and big late nights...........and 40lbs less weight.

Keep writing and letting us know what's going on. The MASK is a FRIEND.

Lloyd

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i

Machine	Humidifier

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