2nd night, breathing stops when I start falling asleep

[MissScooter]

To begin with, I generally have insomnia, and never fall asleep within 30 minutes.

It was only my second night on CPAP, but I absolutely couldn't fall asleep with it. During my titration test, sometimes as I was falling asleep, I would relax and stop breathing, and then I'd sort of realize it, and be startled wide awake and take a large breath. Well last night, I had this happen again. It was always right as I was dozing off, so I never actually end up falling asleep. A lot of times. After 40 minutes I got annoyed, as I have a big test today, and removed the mask around 40-45 minutes in. (It stated I had AHI of 15, although I was awake the whole time). Night before was okay, I fell asleep within 30 minutes I think, it stated 7.1 AHI for 4.5 hours.

It seems like as my body relaxes into the "I'm about to fall asleep" mode, it just gives up on breathing. I'm actually awake enough to realize, hey I'm not breathing, but I don't seem to even try. My pressure isn't that high, 9, I've been told this is average for females. (I'm female, 25, normal weight, AHI somewhere around 6.5 for the first test I did). Did anyone else experience this when they were new to the mask? I'm sort of worried my pressure is off. During my titration test, I fell asleep once for 30 minutes, and another time for 40 minutes. The tech was a little worried she didn't have time to find the correct pressure because I slept so little.

[leeuniverse]

My machine auto-adjusts according to needed pressure, being new I'm surprised you don't have the same?

It's strange you're not breathing, because that's the whole point of the CPAP is to force you to breath.
It's possible you might have "brain related" apnea, where your brain is stopping you from breathing.
You need to talk likely your sleep doctor about that and your problem. Others here might have more info, good luck.

[MissScooter]

I can ramp mine, from 4 to 9 over 30 minutes, but generally because I don't seem to fall asleep quickly, I assume there will be many nights it ramps to 9 before I fall asleep. The first night I was pretty exhausted so I fell asleep within 20 minutes. I could always ramp it multiple times, but it seems like that would generally keep me awake longer, constantly checking to see if I need to ramp it, seems like it would just keep me up longer.

I don't think the techs had seen anything about "brain related" apnea during my first test, and I can't ever remember having this issue before. It's almost like breathing against the airflow is too much for me in my "about to fall asleep" state.

[Julie]

Cpap does not force you to breathe at all, it just helps keep your airway (in your throat area) open enough so that you can breathe when your brain and respiratory system tell you to. Why not educate yourself a bit more by reading some of the info at the top of the main page under the lightbulb - lots of good stuff there.

[OkyDoky]

In order for us to give more helpful information we need you to fill in your Equipment profile. Here is a link that will help. wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile
If you machine doesn't show up just type it into the Comment section. Once we have your machine we can tell if it is data capable and point you to your Clinical Manual and free computer software that will show you what is happening when you sleep.

[Gcfcos]

I'm also Having similar problems. Just as I'm about to drop off to sleep I wake
Up gasping for air and have to take deep breaths and sometimes panic and have to take the mask off. I've only been on the machine 3 nights so far and do have a cough/cold

[MissScooter]

Added my info! Although not sure what to put for humidifier, it's whatever comes with the dream station :S

It seems like it's odd, waking up gasping is a sign that you have apnea, but I only have had this when wearing the mask. I'm curious how it will go tonight.

[icipher]

I had this same thing happen to me a lot my first year or so on ASV. It happened before my diagnosis as well and was the main reason i went in to get checked out.

Just as I would slip into unconsciousness i would pop back awake as if i'd stopped breathing.

It rarely happens anymore.

[MissScooter]

I had this same thing happen to me a lot my first year or so on ASV. It happened before my diagnosis as well and was the main reason i went in to get checked out.

Just as I would slip into unconsciousness i would pop back awake as if i'd stopped breathing.

It rarely happens anymore.

So you had this before you had the mask? Did it get worse at first on the mask? Did you change anything before it went away, or did it just go away on its own?

[icipher]

I had this same thing happen to me a lot my first year or so on ASV. It happened before my diagnosis as well and was the main reason i went in to get checked out.

Just as I would slip into unconsciousness i would pop back awake as if i'd stopped breathing.

It rarely happens anymore.

So you had this before you had the mask? Did it get worse at first on the mask? Did you change anything before it went away, or did it just go away on its own?

I didn't change a thing. I kinda just stuck with it, and it eventually just went away(mostly). I think my body and brain took a while to adapt to a new way of breathing. I kinda fought the machine for a while. are you on ASV, cpap or bipap?

[Sleeprider]

Several here are describing sleep transition centrals (a.k.a. sleep wake junk). This is a frequent discussion topic on the forum https://www.google.com/search?q=Sleep+w ... 8&oe=utf-8

These generally are not considered "real" apnea events, and a sleep study would not score them since you're not asleep. They are like central apnea, and are likely pauses in breathing that coincide with the handoff of breathing from a conscious state to autonomic breathing. Most of the new members complaining of this problem stabilize as they adapt to CPAP. There are some however that actually have CPAP induced complex apnea, which is a more serious problem that may affect up to 15% of CPAP patients, however the problem for these people is not limited to the period of sleep transition.

[OkyDoky]

If you have chosen the correct machine ( DreamStation CPAP) and not the DreamStation Auto Cpap, your machine the DreamStation CPAP is what we call a brick. While it will deliver your therapy it does not give use useful data to help solve problems. It only gives compliance data.
Here is what Respironics says.
Daily Progress Feedback displays a simple trend of patients’ nightly use to help track progress on the path to adherence. Basic AHI/Leak reporting.
Modes Fixed CPAP, Features N/A, Flex Comfort C-Flex, Advanced Event Detection N/A, Flow Waveforms N/A
I don't know how long you have had this machine or if there is a possibility of getting your doctor to order the DreamStation Auto it would be a better machine. Like Icipher said it may just be where you are still getting used to the therapy.

[MissScooter]

If you have chosen the correct machine ( DreamStation CPAP) and not the DreamStation Auto Cpap, your machine the DreamStation CPAP is what we call a brick. While it will deliver your therapy it does not give use useful data to help solve problems. It only gives compliance data.
Here is what Respironics says.
Daily Progress Feedback displays a simple trend of patients’ nightly use to help track progress on the path to adherence. Basic AHI/Leak reporting.
Modes Fixed CPAP, Features N/A, Flex Comfort C-Flex, Advanced Event Detection N/A, Flow Waveforms N/A
I don't know how long you have had this machine or if there is a possibility of getting your doctor to order the DreamStation Auto it would be a better machine. Like Icipher said it may just be where you are still getting used to the therapy.

How do I know which version? It seems the manual I have lists three different DreamStation versions (I think DreamStation, DreamStation Pro, and DreamStation Auto (not sure if this is just because they share the same manual?)

[OkyDoky]

The manual is for all models. I haven't actually seen one of these models to know if the name is written some where on it. If you take the water out and turn it over and look on the bottom or back for model numbers, I might be able to match them.

[palerider]

the whole point of the CPAP is to force you to breath.

this is completely, 100% WRONG.

cpap NEVER, EVER forces you to do anything, it can't, it's constant pressure and all that does is hold your airway open.