suffocating at midnight!

[goofyfever]

Last night was my second night on machine. After the first night I felt was pretty awesome. Last night however, I awoke at midnight feeling like I was suffocating. Took mask off for about half hour and put it on again. It felt like not enough air was coming thru. I feel terrible this morning and a bit congested. I am soooo tired. I do remember dreaming so I know I did get some sleep, but why did I feel like I was suffocating and now I am congested in the chest this morning. I sure hope this gets easier, because this apnea is kicking my butt. Hard! Any ideas or advice as to why this happened I would appreciate it.

[sleepycarol]

What is your humidifier set at?

For me too much humidity is far worse than none at all. I have asthma and use my humidifier (when I use it) in pass over mode. Means the heat is turned off. If I turn my humidifier on, even at low, I often feel like I can't breathe.

This may or may not be your problem.

Others will chime in with their thoughts.

[cflame1]

Have you pulled your numbers off the display (or software if you have it) for last night... if so what are they?

[goofyfever]

My machine does not have software. It only has card for insurance compliance that I am in fact using the machine.
I have my humifier set at 4-5. They told me 3 was normal but if I felt it wasnt enough to set it higher. I believe it goes up to 6

[sleepycarol]

Turn your humidifier way down tonight and see if that helps. Try it on 1 or 2.

[RiverDave]

What's your prescribedd pressure and what is your machine set to? I had the same feelings and it wound up being that I wasn't clearing enough CO2 from the mask before the next breath. I had to bump the pressure up to at least 7 cm before the problem resolved itself. If your DME enabled the feature, you can access your data via holding down the left and right arrow keys for about 3 -4 seconds. The display will read efficacy data. You can look at daily/weekly/monthly pressure, AHI, AI and HI data. If the feature isn't enabled, we can tell you how to do it.

Good Luck

[goofyfever]

My prescription is 13. I am told that the ramping feature starts out lower and works its way up to 13 based on the time I choose. I have not been using the ramping feature, but instead just going right at it at the full pressure which should be 13. I will have to look tonight when I get home to see if the feature you are talking about is enabled. Not sure what AHI, AI and HI data is. Can you explain?

[RiverDave]

Check out the announcements thread by Jules. There are links to detailed definitions. Here is a short list with the general idea of the definitions:

AHI = apnea/hypopnea index = number of times you quit or have restricted breathing each hour
HI = hypopnea index = number of times you have reduced air flow (75% of normal or less) each hour
AI = apnea index = number of times you have low or no air flow

[Hawthorne]

People have asked about your pressure setting(s). As some have said, with a pressure that is too low it is difficult to breathe. At 13cm, that is not likely your problem.

I'm with sleepycarol. I think your humidity is too high. As she said I would turn your humidity setting down to 1 or 2 or even off and have passover humidity (the air just passes over the room temperature distilled water in your humidifier). Too much heat can make some people congested by swelling the nasal passages and making it difficult to breathe.

[sleeprite]

I know what you're going through. I'm been on my machine for 1 week and have been through virtually everything that I've read on this board. My suffocation feeling came on the third night and was primarily because of the congestion/swollen nasal passages resulting, I think from too high a heat setting (I have the same machine and 13/9 setting. I also had bad problems on night 5 due to feeling that my mask was putting too much pressue on my nostrils. But last night was much better. In order words, I go from highs to lows from one night til the next. I guess that's part of the adjustment period.

[goofyfever]

Well, I think the recommendation helped. I feel pretty good today. I remember dreaming and actually feel like the fog has lifted this morning. Dont know how tonight will be, but one day a time is how I am taking this. I lowered the humidifier to 2.5 last night and I also wore a bandana for some cushion on my forhead until my padcheeks come. I dont remember waking at all last night and knowing that I actually dreamt tells me something worked last night. Thanks for all of the advice. I am definitely glad I found this site. It is going to make these first few weeks alot easier to get thru.

[john_dozer]

For me, I need the cooler dry air (cooler in relative terms, I mean not much above room temperature) or I can get a sense of suffocation. I suspect in the back of my brain registers the cooler dry air as fresh air. The warmer moist air registers in my brain as my re-breathing my own air even though that's not really the case.

Another theory to build on what others have said, you are sleeping more lightly because of the new gear. You may have still had an apnea event. But because you're closer to being awake and the effect of air that is too warm and to humid mentioned above, you were roused to a more conscious level with a sense of panic.

[goofyfever]

For all newbies that are reading this.... dont be afraid to post your questions. These guys on here Rock!! I am only going on my fifth night, but my fourth night was awesome. I awoke so refreshed and have gotten so much done at work today. It has been so long since I felt good. If I had not asked the questions above, I may not be already on my way to help. Dont hesitate to ask something. Very resourceful site. I am so glad I did.

ps.... I am dreaming again, I didnt realize I wasnt doing so before.

[sleepycarol]

Glad we could help you out!!

Hey congrats on the great night you had and here is hoping you have many more to come!!