Suddenly feeling claustrophobic / panicky

[CPAP_DAD6]

The past few nights when I've woken up (I only wake once or twice a night) , I've been panicky and literally ripped off my my mask. This is odd because I've been on Cpap for a month now and this is the first I've been like that.

Could it be it's because I'm waking from a deeper sleep? What can I do to prevent another panic attack?

[Diamondminek]

Don't confuse a panicky feeling with a panic attack. Two very different things. And if it is a panic attack I'd see a Dr (unless you are experienced in mental health and are happy to self manage).
Could be a dream or an apnoea, just a noise or something waking you up suddenly,hence the feeling of panic. It might be helpful to recognise what is actually happening - is it nausea, is it a racing pulse - rather than the label of 'panic' - mindfulness encourages identifying sensations and feelings which helps your body to cope with them better (essentially)
There's also nothing wrong with needing to take the mask off, as long as you unit back on. So try to keep it in perspective of a couple of events, not a chronic problem.
If the panic feeling lasts beyond taking a few steadying breaths look into relaxation techniques to help you to sleep again, you tube has plenty to try .

[CPAP_DAD6]

Well ya not panic attack. Wrong term there. Just gasping for air feeling, smothered, claustrophobic feeling. Afterwards I can putvmyv mask back on without a problem.

MY AHI is very low (1-2) so I don't think it's an apnea event but cant rule out the possibility either.

Bipap... pressures are 11/16

[Julie]

And if it fits, try to sleep in a cool room... it can make quite a difference (and it is summer now) though I suggest being careful about being close to an A/C as it can cause dryness depending on local humidity.

[Wulfman...]

Well ya not panic attack. Wrong term there. Just gasping for air feeling, smothered, claustrophobic feeling. Afterwards I can putvmyv mask back on without a problem.

MY AHI is very low (1-2) so I don't think it's an apnea event but cant rule out the possibility either.

Bipap... pressures are 11/16

Look at your Sleepyhead reports and see what happened........don't just "guess".

Are you using Ramp?


Den

.

[Cavalier]

This happened to me. I increased the level of minimum pressure and now life is good. I think sometimes the pressure was just too low and I felt like I was suffocating.

[kteague]

MY AHI is very low (1-2) so I don't think it's an apnea event but cant rule out the possibility either.

What I'd be looking for in the data is the duration of events. An event of longer duration that makes the oxygen drop could cause a panicky feeling. I had a hard time discerning whether I was waking up feeling panicky because of apnea events or an episode of reflux. If you have any indication of reflux you might want to elevate the head of your bed a bit as a preventative. Between that and maybe increasing your pressure if it's determined there is a need, hopefully you'll be able to avoid it happening again. I've only had one such episode in several years (since optimizing my cpap and treating my GERD), but remember them as being quite unsettling.