First night results..and a question.

mjohnson31909 · Post by **mjohnson31909** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:42 am

Well I just had my fist night at home with CPAP. Hard night to sleep and all, but I expected that and am ready to work to get used to it.

But something surprised me a bit last night...I woke up several times thinking I was suffocating. After the initial shock and resisting ripping the mask off for air I calmed down and was able to lie down and go back to sleep.

Now I did notice that when I started breathing last night that the exhaust holes had a pretty steady flow of air coming out of them, I wondered if that was causing a backup of CO2? or if the air escaping was normal with the respironics comfortgel mask?

I also wondered if it was just me getting used to a mask?

Thanks for any help!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:58 am

Hi!

You could be correct on all counts. Yes, the exhaust holes are necessary to get rid of the bad air (in with the good, out with the bad, right?). So it stands to reason that if they get blocked during sleep, there could be some problem. If you were able to settle down and sleep, I'm guessing some of it could be you just getting used to the mask and the way the air works. If the feeling of suffocation continued consistently, then I would worry about the pressure and the settings. But I'm guessing you are ok.

Linda

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:24 am

mjohnson31909 wrote:But something surprised me a bit last night...I woke up several times thinking I was suffocating. After the initial shock and resisting ripping the mask off for air I calmed down and was able to lie down and go back to sleep.

I wouldn't be alarmed, but I'd recommend following your first instinct on this. You're probably sleeping better with the CPAP now, but you could still be having apneas. If you get the Encore Pro software you can monitor this yourself to see if your pressure is controlling the apnea the way you want.

You didn't mention your pressure, but a number of folks here have complained about feeling suffocated at low pressures. If this turns out to be the case for you then the solution may be to raise pressure to a more comfortable level.

Then again, it may just be that you just aren't used to the mask or it isn't comfortable for you. Your call.

Regards,
Bill

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:24 am

Ditto to what Linda and NightHawkeye said.

I'd add this... the Respironics Comfort Gel mask is notoriously leaky for a lot of people. It's a mask that probably felt good against your face when you were at the DME being fitted for a mask while sitting up. Mask fittings really should be done with the person lying down in sleeping position for the final adjustments, and tested by the wearer tossing and turning in their usual sleep positions AND with the machine going at their prescribed pressure.

I personally think the gel warms as the night goes on and may soften to the point that it can't hold a seal very well. Little leaks can spring out. Most machines (including your Pro 2) can compensate for some leaks, up to a point, but if you're getting large leaks your treatment air is going out into the bedroom instead of down where it's needed to keep your throat open.

Same holds true if you're breathing through your mouth while wearing a nasal (covers the nose) or nasal pillows mask. If you're leaking massive amounts of air out of your mouth, that could sure wake you up with a suffocated feeling.

Did they give you a heated humidifier for your machine? If so, did they show you how to turn the humidifier on? The humidifier doesn't turn on automatically when you turn the machine on. Did they show you how to adjust the heat settings? Some people find that their nasal passages get stuffy and they have trouble breathing through the nose if they don't use heated humidification with CPAP treatment.

mjohnson31909 · Post by **mjohnson31909** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:28 pm

Thank you all for your help so far! It has given me alot to go on.

My current pressure setting is 10Cm/H2O. Not sure if that is low or not. I use the comfortgel mask right now since it was the one I was tested on and seem to sleep ok with it...no leaks from the mask on the face, but the air coming from the exhaust had be a bit worried.

I do know how to turn on the humidifier, but did not last night (had water in the tank, but no heat) since here in the south it is pretty warm and humid already! lol I was thinking about taking the tank off tonight and just try straight air, then build up (I have always hated humidity anyhow, but do not want to go the total dry route)

I think the software might be a good idea to see what is going on if this does not subside as I get more familiar with the mask.

It was nice not to need a nap today!! I woke up with no headache and already feel a difference in my energy level, and that was with all the waking up. Can't wait to get used to all of this!

Thanks again!!

mjohnson31909 · Post by **mjohnson31909** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:12 pm

Update:

i was testing out the gear today to figure out where there was a leak in the mask (turned out to be normal) and tried the mask and such without the humidifier...actually felt a HUGE difference. I could feel the pressure working with my inhale and air filling my lungs...

Could the problem be that I had water in the tank but did not turn the heat on?

lol, I might need to stop thinking and just try.

Thanks again for all the help so far!

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:53 pm

Among the uncomfortable nights in my short CPAP career were one with heat and no water in the humidifier, and another when trying too high a heat setting (with water this time). In the first case the heated dry air left me with a sore throat like after a night of heavy snoring. I kept waking up thinking that I must be mouth breathing. Too much humidity had me bailing out the mask, swabbing my face, and changing the pillow cover (spraying moisture though the exhaust - lucky for me the vents weren't aimed at my wife) at 3:00 in the morning. The lesson for me was to not jump more than one setting per night.

I have found for me that a low setting (2) offsets the drying effect of the machine working the air and the air movement itself. Of course, unless its raining, we rarely have high abient humidity in western Montana so it may be different for you.

You can have your DME download the Smartcard to check how you are doing. I found that with all the problems I had with the Comfort Gel (finally found out it was sized wrong) that I wasn't doing too bad.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:28 pm

There is one detail you may already have noticed or maybe not so don't shoot the messenger if you already noticed. There is a connector which goes on the machine to join it to the humidifier tank. It has to be taken off for the mask to fit. If it is not on the machine there will be a HUGE leak at the loint and not providing the pressure you need. The adaptor is a cream colored sleeve with a metal washer part between the ends.

Maybe the suffication you felt was really caused by low flow to the mask.

TerryB

G Man · Post by **G Man** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:14 pm

When I sleep on my side with the tubing running horizontal up toward the head of the bed its easy for my pillow to block the air vent on the mask.
I've figured out if the hose would be suspended above me and the hose hung vertical the little vent hole would swivel and sit a little higher off the pillow, less chance for blockage. Its also more noisier when the pillow blocks it.
I'm considering one of those hose hanger contraptions I seen on cpap.com
59.99.. I'm worried my bedroom will take on the look of an intensive care suite.

mjohnson31909 · Post by **mjohnson31909** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:09 am

well second night and I slept GREAT!

I turned on the humidifier and left it on 1. only woke up once at 6:30am for bathroom and that was it!

Even went back to sleep for another couple of hours, feel great, no headache or waking up exhausted. Still feel a little tired, but I think that is just from not sleeping well for years.

Thank you all for all your help!

First night results..and a question.

First night results..and a question.

Re: First night results..and a question.

Re: First night results..and a question.