First Ever Suffocation Scare

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:24 am

Well, I had a good 3+ hours of sleep w/the Quattro tonight. And then woke up not able to breathe, grabbed and clawed at the velcro strip on a lower strap to get the mask off. Lay there for a few minutes to calm down and then got out my trusty Simplicity, put it on and could breathe fine w/it as always but ..... can NOT get back to sleep!!!

I wouldn't say I feel panicky now but I just have this uneasy feeling, probably anxiety, something else I've not experienced before, and so hoped that there would be SOMEONE, ANYONE in chat just to ....

Ah well, I'll get over it but I sure don't understand what happened! Pressure was set the same as always. Its not like this is one of my first few nights on CPAP. I've been at 8cms for close to a year now. The only thing different is this is maybe the 7th or 8th time I've worn the Quattro instead of the Simplicity. The Quattro is the first full face mask I've tried.

I'll go back in and check the data in a bit. Maybe that will tell me what happened. I don't remember any dream or dreaming ...

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:18 am

Well, as one would expect, or at least as I suspected, my leak rate was lower w/the Quattro than it usually is w/the Simplicity, altho not all that much. For some odd reason tho, I had about 4 apneas very close together of less than 30 seconds duration and then one at about 45 seconds duration which must the the one that woke me. BUT, I can remember seeing where I had an apnea go off the chart (more than 90 seconds duration) that didn't wake me up in a suffocating panic as this one did.

I"m tired, even sleepy, but I'm just NOT ready to go back to bed yet. Still too uneasy.

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:39 am

Slinky,

I had this happen to me both times I tried to wear a UMFF mask. Each time I would wake up feeling like I was suffocating with heart pounding. It is a very scary feeling for sure. I too could not go back to sleep for a long while after the incidents. In my case, I made a decision never to use the UMFF again. I'm not sure what caused it, but I know I "never" want to experience that feeling again. I've never had that feeling with a nasal mask even though I may have done some mouth breathing from time to time. Maybe someone else can shed some light on the reason we would have experienced that reaction to FFM.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:41 am

Since you are up and awake, come on into live chat, Lavender!

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:51 am

I am so sorry that this happened to you. I had this happen to me during my sleep study. I know the panicky feeling you experienced! I am not sure what the mask was they gave me, I think maybe a F&P 432 FF, did exactly as you did. She wanted me to lay back down, I could not, so they told me just to go home that they had all the data they needed anyway. That is exactly what I did! Went home and went back to bed, without a mask! But have never had it happen since then-with FF or nasal masks.I think at the time, the mask developed a major leak and caused me not to be able to breathe in or out with the mask on. I do know, it is a SCARY feeling!!!

Idget · Post by **Idget** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:00 am

Slinky

I experienced this feeling for a few years on nightly basis the last year before I decided to go on CPAP. This was fully associated with the apneas the feeling of suffication and the adreniline pumping through me as my body alerted me to fact I was suffocating. I thought I had anxiety attacks at night. Since I went on CPAP I only woke up once in that state in three months. I suspect you have difficulties with adjusting the quattro (I started with it and couldn't use it for claustraphobia reasons). Since switching to liberty and then headrest, I have not experience this feeling.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:45 am

Oh, Idget!!! I can't imagine going thru that nightly! I don't even want to go thru it ONE more time! ONCE WAS ENOUGH! In fact, once was five times TOO MANY!

Thank you for sharing, JSmythe. I hope this will be my one and ONLY such experience!!! Years ago I had my one and only panic attack and it had nothing to do w/breathing, tho I had been sleeping. My husband worked 3rd trick and I'd lain down ina sleeping bag on our nice plush carpte w/thick,cushy padding to watch Johnny Carson and fell asleep. Sometime during the night high winds came up - and then the front door blew open!!! The dog didn't bark. She was black so I couldn't see her. I was frozen! I couldn't move, couldn't scream ..... I just KNEW someone had come in the house ..... whew! We live out in a rural area, very rural. Evidently I just hadn't closed the door good when I let the dog and cat back in the house.

Mist, RiverDave, Rem N Ready, FF .... thanks for coming into Chat and chatting w/me!!! That helped. A lot. Sheesh! That panic attack years ago didn't leave me so unnerved and certainly not for so long!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:56 am

Slinky, this is from your "new doctor" thread.

During my January 06 sleep evaluation, altho I slept on both sides and on my back, all of my SDB events occurred whilst supine (sleeping on my back). 5 hours, 49 minutes of actual sleep time.

The last month or so I've noticed that it is more difficult to breathe when on my right or left sides. ESPECIALLy my right side. Tonight for instance, I laid down on my right side for a few minutes and absolutely couldn't breathe for beans. I sat up breathing like I had run around the block

Get thee to a doctor now, Slinky. I don't think its the Quattro. I'm worried about the COPD.

O.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:52 am

Thanks, Ozij. Feeling SOB whilst laying on my right side was a far cry and totally different than this "suffocation" episode.

But yeah, I see the new sleep doc this coming Friday, and Tuesday, God willing and the weather gives the roads a break, I have an appointment at U of M for the COPD clinical trial. They'll do a hearing test and the last PFT for the trial. January will be my last clinical trial visit.

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:07 am

Glad I was awake and caught your post. I know how unsettling it is. Took me a while to settle down after I experienced that. I'm glad you have an appointment with new sleep dr and COPD trial. Be sure and mention the incident to both of them. I hope you never have to experience that again.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:49 am

Thanks again, Lavendar. And I can tell you if it NEVER happens again it will be TOO SOON!!! It really rattled me.

But this morning my girl friend e-mailed me to go "Elf" myself and then my son e-mailed me to go "Scrooge" myself! (Of course, that was AFTER I e-mailed HIM to go "Elf" himself).

That certainly brightens your day! They are funnier than a crutch. You just "ain't" NOBODY if you haven't been e-mailed to go "Elf" yourself and go "Scrooge" yourself this year.

Flippagate · Post by **Flippagate** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:23 am

Sorry you had the scare. Hope it is the last time. I remember waking up so many times with that feeling before I started treatment.

deglorious · Post by **deglorious** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:29 am

Slinky, you need to get yourself to the doctor right away. It doesn't seem normal that you can't lay on your sides because you get out of breath.

Keep us posted, I'll say a prayer for you.

Deglorious

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:28 pm

Slinky,

So sorry to hear about last night!!! In my teens I had an asthma episode that left me feeling like I couldn't get in any air and it was definitely panic-producing. I doubt it was as bad as what you had last night but it gives me perhaps a glimmer.

The only problem I've had with Quattro was when I got totally congested and since I can't really open my mouth when wearing the Q, I woke up feeling like I couldn't breathe and started to panic. Got up and used my Netipot and it was fine after that. It didn't feel like I was congested when I had the mask on but it was easy to tell as soon as I took it off. It doesn't sound like the same as what you had.

In any case, I'm really glad you will be seeing the doc very soon. Take care!

m

Sundown · Post by **Sundown** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:40 pm

Unbelievable!

Last night my husband woke up clawing at his Quattro... he couldn't breath. He said something was wrong. It so happened that somehow.. either saliva... or just blockage blocked up the little exhale holes on his mask... I submerged it in hot water and Lavender Baby Shampoo and just kept rinsing it... not sure if your holes are clogged.. but his were.

Hugs!!!

Machine	Mask

First Ever Suffocation Scare

First Ever Suffocation Scare

Re: suff scare