Suffocation Feeling- Longtime Iser

Has anyone experienced feeling suffocated after using the machine for years?

Have been using a CPAP for 4 years. I've been lucky that I really haven't had many issues. Recently, I started having an issue with the suffocation feeling. Never had it before. About 10 days ago it happened for the first time. Couldn't keep the mask on for more than a minute before I had to take it off. Felt totally panicked. Heart racing. Tried a few times that night. Switched masks. Finally slept without it.

Took about a week to get back not getting nervous/anxious putting on the mask, even though I didn't experience the suffocation. Tonight it happened again.

So anyone have the suffocation feeling pop up out of the blue?

I'm using a Phillip's DS Auto, F&P Simplus full face mask, no heated tubing or humidifier, set to 18 with no ramping.

Hello and welcome. Hey, if you are using a machine set to a straight 18 right off the bat, you are a boss! Did you happen to read the tips at the top of the page? You're going to get a lot more questions, and the more you can tell us, the more targeted advice you will get. My first question is if that 18 is in CPAP mode, using that one pressure all night? Your machine is an auto is why I'm wondering. It is common for our pressure needs to change over time. At 18, you don't have much higher you can go on that machine, but you still have some room. If you happen to be using it in auto mode, you might need to look at a lower end increase. Of course it's possible your machine is malfunctioning. Work on getting more info for us and let's see where this goes. Ideally you'll be able to download your machine data into Oscar so folks here can take a look. Good luck with things.

I was a little frantic last night but will start reading though the newccomer's post again amd see what other data I can provide.

I'll add a little more. I do have the Dreamsration Auto, but along the way, I found that the ramp feature was more annoying than help for me and turned it off. Ditto the humidifier. I also adjusted the pressure up from how the sleep doctor set it up. Went from 16 to 18 when got a new machine a couple of years ago. I've been lucky so far in that I really took to the machine. I probably am not doing any favors by changing stuff on my own.

I started with a Resmed machine and swapped out for the dreamstation about 2 years ago. I purchased and set it up myself rarher than mess with the device company. It's probably way past time I go see the sleep doctor. I had an appointment that got cancelled due to COVID. It's fairly hard to get in to see one. The wait for an appointment is about 2 months.

It's just weird to me that I started having an issue out of the blue. Once I got on the machine, the only sleep issue I've had is my restless leg Syndrome.

I get that suffocation feeling when my nose gets plugged due to allergies, this time of year. I will wake up not being able to breath, it scared me the first time it happened.

If you have an auto machine, why are you using one fixed pressure (and such a high one)?

Any chance the vent of your mask is getting blocked by your sleep position or is partially blocked by a build-up of crud (to use the technical term)?

Have you recently traveled to a foreign country, or been close to someone who has?
How is your sense of smell?
Are you wearing a face mask when grocery shopping?

Thanks to everyone trying to help me out.

Some answers to the questions posed:

Definitely not the mask vent being obstructed. That was one of my first thoughts.

As for why I'm running the pressure I am, and at a fixed pressure, my prescription was for 16 and the machine was originally set to auto with ramping. At one point I was concerned the machine wasn't putting out enough pressure. I took it off auto and bumped up the pressure a little. I got comfortable like that and never set it back. In hindsight, probably not the best way to handle it. I think I'm going to go back to the original setup and see if the problem pops up again.

I've been thinking a lot about the possibility of COVID. I think my liklihood of getting it is pretty slim, but always a possibility. Wife and I are both working from home. We're taking the social distancing thing seriously (though it seems like we're about the only ones in our town that do). We leave the house very rarely with the exception of daily dog walks, and maintain distance when we do. We get delivery or curbside pickup on almost everything and wear masks on the rare occasions we do have to go in some place.

My medical provider is really trying to limit in person visits, but I'm going to start pushing for an in person visit. I have a feeling it has less to do with the machine, and more to do with something either physical going on or maybe something mental.

PunknDisorderly wrote: ↑

Sat May 23, 2020 7:39 am

Once I got on the machine, the only sleep issue I've had is my restless leg Syndrome.

It is not unusual for those with RLS to also have PLMD (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder). Do you have that issue?

You should not have stopped using the auto mode vs plain cpap (especially at such a high setting). There is usually no benefit to doing that and I think you need to go back and talk to a sleep doctor (not the technician/dealer) who understands how the machines work and start over.