Feeling of choking

[bluenjade2472]

Hi I'm new to this site and I have a question on choking. I have had my cpap machine for 5 years. I use it every night and usually get a decent nights sleep. This past week I have been waking up several times a night feeling like I'm being choked and my mouth is very very dry. So dry that I can't swallow. I have never had this problem before. The only two things that I can say that have changed recently are the fact that I have been exercising every morning and now that it's getting colder we have been keeping the temperature low at night because my hubby, son and I get too hot during the night. We have never had the temperature as low in recent years. I don't know how either one of these things would affect how the machine works but I know the exercising makes me really tired as does keeping the temp lower. I have a ResMed Elite S8 machine with a 3i humidAire. I do not use the humidAire. When I did use it, it was set too high and I always felt like I was drowning. I turned it down and still felt that way, so the doctor told me to just shut it off. I never had any problems with it being off. The pressure is set at 9 cm H20. I also use a nasal mask. I have tried the other type of mask and I wasn't comfortable with it. So my question is, why am I choking? Thank you.

[Julie]

Your humidifier might not have worked well for you, but you sound like you definitely need to be using it now (or else another one... how old is your machine?) as symptoms are classic. Indoor humidity is very low in winter due to central heating and cold, dry air, and you have to address it somehow. If the DME cannot help you with your machine, look into another one or else use a floor (whole room) humidifier.

[bluenjade2472]

Thank you Julie. My machine is 5 years old that I know of, they told me it was new when I received it. I did forget to mention that last night I did turn the heat up but I still had the choking sensation. I will try to use the humidifier and see if that helps.

[Julie]

Turning up central heating makes things drier... and at 5 yrs of age, your machine should be due for replacement with almost any insurance companies.

[Pugsy]

I always suggest to look for the easiest and obvious and hopefully cheapest solution when there is a problem.
Julie already mentioned the humidity might be a factor...so play with that to see if it helps.

Also, your S8 Elite is a full data machine and even if you don't have the software or card reader needed to utilize the data it gathers there is still decent data available on the machine's LCD screen.
There's always the chance that apnea events are causing the choking sensation...Do you know how to access the data on the machine to see what it looks like?
The two things to look for...AHI and leak. The leak number shown on the machine is a 95% leak number which just means you were at OR below that number for 95% of the night. The number you want to avoid with your machine is 0.4 L/sec. If you are below that number then it is unlikely that leaks are an issue. If leaks are high then it might be letting apnea evens slip past the defenses so that's why we look at both. If leaks are acceptable and AHI is high..you may be in need of a pressure adjustment after 5 years.
Of course it may not show anything but it is always a good thing to rule out any possibilities when we can.

If you don't know how to access the data available on your machine's LCD screen you can go here and request a copy of the provider manual for the S8 Elite and they will send it to you. The manual explains how to get to the data that the machine can show on the LCD screen.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

To see the onscreen data you will need to check before 12 Noon since a new reporting day starts at noon.

[bluenjade2472]

Thank you Pugsy. I didn't know how to access the data, but with what you sent to me I do now. I will see if the humidifier will work and I will check everything you suggested. I know that I probably do need a new machine but unfortunately I don't have insurance and can't afford it nor can I afford to buy a new machine. So using this one is my only option, that I know of, for now. Thank you again.