Gasping for air and waking up with anxiety when falling asleep

Hello,

I've bee using a cpap machine for 12 years. But recently I have nights where it is really difficult to fall asleep. As I'm about to sleep, I wake like gasping for air, like I'm falling and feeling really anxious. I thought maybe it was anxiety, but once asleep, no more problem, I sleep fine. Am I having event because the pressure is to low. I tried to increase a little bit the presssure but to no avail. It is really weird. I don't seem to have a stuffy nose. What could it be? Ideas?

Talk to your MD...

leonecharron wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:20 pm

Hello,

I've bee using a cpap machine for 12 years. But recently I have nights where it is really difficult to fall asleep. As I'm about to sleep, I wake like gasping for air, like I'm falling and feeling really anxious. I thought maybe it was anxiety, but once asleep, no more problem, I sleep fine. Am I having event because the pressure is to low. I tried to increase a little bit the presssure but to no avail. It is really weird. I don't seem to have a stuffy nose. What could it be? Ideas?

welcome to the zoo!

please read the following. we need a lot more detail to go on. which machine you are using and mask.

viewtopic/t172378/StickyIf-you-want-CPA ... Gquot.html

something that jumps out at me though...have you been using the same machine for 12 years?

leonecharron wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:20 pm

Hello,

I've bee using a cpap machine for 12 years. But recently I have nights where it is really difficult to fall asleep. As I'm about to sleep, I wake like gasping for air, like I'm falling and feeling really anxious. I thought maybe it was anxiety, but once asleep, no more problem, I sleep fine. Am I having event because the pressure is to low. I tried to increase a little bit the presssure but to no avail. It is really weird. I don't seem to have a stuffy nose. What could it be? Ideas?

I’m having, not exactly, but a similar issue to you. I’ll have what I describe as a “mini apnea” right as I’m dozing off and it keeps me from falling asleep. It’ll happen over and over and then my anxiety starts kicking in and I can’t fall sleep. I’ll struggle for two to three hours before I finally fall asleep and then I’m good for the night.

It’s weird because I was on CPAP therapy for years before I experienced this. The first time it happened was about three years ago. It lasted every night for about 2 to 3 weeks and then suddenly stopped as soon as it started. I had no issues since and then all of a sudden it began again earlier this week. I’ve had the issue every night except for one. I end up eventually having to take a Xanax to fall asleep. When I went to my sleep doctor about this issue the first time it happened a couple of years ago he couldn’t give me any explanation for it.

leonecharron wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:20 pm

Am I having event because the pressure is to low. I tried to increase a little bit the presssure but to no avail. It is really weird. I don't seem to have a stuffy nose. What could it be? Ideas?

You have asked a bunch of questions but not provided any sort of data that might help us formulate some sort of idea as to what is maybe happening.

It could be any number of things I suppose but the first thing that comes to my mind isn't some sort event caused by pressure being too low....(might be nice to see what the pressure actually is doing and what your breathing is doing when this thing happens).....
is maybe a sleep transition central apnea causing a wake up instead of letting you transition on into full sleep. They are known to do that and they have nothing to do with pressure be it higher or lower.