I feel like I'm suffocating!

I've gone through the very same thing. My pressure out of the box was 4-11 which was way too low. Changing it from 8-20 resolved my feeling suffocated at the beginning, although there does seem to be a period of time (in the first minute of starting therapy) where my S10 needs to "learn" my breathing (?), then after that short period of time I get adequate pressure and feel fine. And yes, the ramp is turned off.

A question that sometimes isn't brought up about feeling like you're suffocating is when are you? When you first put on the mask, at full pressure and still awake, wake up while in use and feeling like you're suffocating. A rare situation of a patient feeling of suffocating was her start pressure was too high. Her feeling of not being to exhale related to the feeling of suffocating. A reduction of start pressure and increase in ramp time was needed for her to relax and fall asleep. *Main thing is don't be afraid to experiment. Too many patients feel this is what the doctor prescribed and are not educated about what they can do for yourself.

When you exhale, some of your exhaled air goes back up the hose. When you inhale on the next breath, you're breathing some stale air, which can make you feel like you're suffocating. It's a bit like breathing into a paper bag with a hole into it. There is extra CO2 and lower O2 in the air you're rebreathing.

Your mask leaks air all the time to allow fresh air to come into the system. This is called your leak rate. Your leak rate is higher whenever the pressure in the mask is higher. The masks are designed such that they leak enough air to keep you safe when you have 4 cmH2O of pressure. However, you may have enough stale air in your airstream that you feel like you're being suffocated.

Unfortunately, most DME's and doctors don't seem to understand that and have "lower pressure is more comfortable" branded on the front of their brains.

Getting less sleep at first is a mater of time and, figuring everything out. There lots of little things that when you add them all up can make CPAP a big pain but once you get used to them they become less of of an issue or no issue.

A few things to consider with the feeling like your "Hyperventilating" do you have a feeling of claustrophobia? or is this more an air issue? Example - if you take the mask off your machine and put it on your face with no air hose - do you get that feeling like you can't breath?

Not enough air can make you feel like your re-breathing your own air and that will make you feel horrible - too much air can make it harder to exhale and that could make you feel uncomfortable as well.

As to condensation in your hose - that is a variable thing as well.
Somethings to think about

How cold is it in your bedroom? "colder means more rain out"
How high did you set your humidifier on your machine? "Higher numbers mean hotter water and more moisture will evaporate into the tube" More possible rain out, but also less dry mouth/nose etc. It's a balancing act."
Were is your Machine and how are you running your hose? "Position of your Machine can help allow condensed water to drain back in to the machine or onto your face or cause it to gather in the hose making that annoying glug glug noise that wakes so many of us up." Heated hose can help prevent condensation from forming in the first place - or you can try a hose cover to help insulate the hose from the cooler outside air.

The torture device will usually become less of a problem as you become used to all the little things that are new and little mistakes. Once you have more experience with it, it does get easier for most people.

You just may be suffocating. There is a function in the AirSense 10 that is little talked about here. It's the EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief). You may feel a slight sensation of air being pushed at you when you begin to inhale. In fact, you may not be able to exhale completely. This would lead to a sensation of suffocation and, for some people, a hyperventilation. I've been on Auto C-PAP for over ten years. Have had the best sleep and the nicest dreams. Got this new AirSense 10 three weeks ago and haven't slept a decent night since. Turned off the EPR function completely and still wake with forceful air blowing my mask loose. Doesn't seem to make the AUTO-adjustments properly. This machine is going back.

James S. wrote:You just may be suffocating. There is a function in the AirSense 10 that is little talked about here. It's the EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief). You may feel a slight sensation of air being pushed at you when you begin to inhale. In fact, you may not be able to exhale completely. This would lead to a sensation of suffocation and, for some people, a hyperventilation. I've been on Auto C-PAP for over ten years. Have had the best sleep and the nicest dreams. Got this new AirSense 10 three weeks ago and haven't slept a decent night since. Turned off the EPR function completely and still wake with forceful air blowing my mask loose. Doesn't seem to make the AUTO-adjustments properly. This machine is going back.

Might want to start a new thread since this one is over a year old.

Is your new machine running the same settings as the old machine? Do you have the clinician's manual so that you can check and make adjustments yourself?

I too am very excited to get a CPAP, as I am dying for a good nights sleep. During the 2 sleep studies that I had, I slept very well and felt so good the next morning. But now that I have my own, I am having some road blocks in getting comfortable with it. Last night I felt like I was suffocating and panicked and took it off.
Possible causes:
I decided for the first time to start at 4 instead of 8.
I turned the heated tubing off with the humidity level at 5.
Wearing a small when I think I should be wearing a medium mask.

So I will address these issues tonight and report back with my results.

Thanks for posting your issue with suffocating. I was discouraged but this makes me want to keep trying.

stella bell wrote:I too am very excited to get a CPAP, as I am dying for a good nights sleep. During the 2 sleep studies that I had, I slept very well and felt so good the next morning. But now that I have my own, I am having some road blocks in getting comfortable with it. Last night I felt like I was suffocating and panicked and took it off.
Possible causes:
I decided for the first time to start at 4 instead of 8.
I turned the heated tubing off with the humidity level at 5.
Wearing a small when I think I should be wearing a medium mask.

So I will address these issues tonight and report back with my results.

Thanks for posting your issue with suffocating. I was discouraged but this makes me want to keep trying.

It may have been a mistake to lower your pressure. Many people have a problem at very low pressure. I feels like you are not getting enough air. What machine are you using? Was the 8 prescribed by your doctor as a result of a sleep study?

I am clausterphobic. Wearing a full face mask is horrifying for me.

mmo wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:59 pm

I am clausterphobic. Wearing a full face mask is horrifying for me.

If you don't open your mouth, you can use nasal pillows, which is very small, just on your nostrils. If you do open your mouth, you can try a hybrid mask hat has the nasal pillows and a small bubble around your mouth. Both are less on the face, and you can't see much, so they are less claustrophobic.

Practicing during the day can help you get use to the mask. If you tell us what machine, mask, and settings you have, we can help you get it more comfortable for you.

mmo wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:59 pm

I am clausterphobic. Wearing a full face mask is horrifying for me.

Me too! And a fear of suffocation! Click on my full-face mask in my signature to see it; has pillows and covers mouth so no loss of therapy airm comes with 3 sizes of each. I cannot see it when it is on so it does not trigger my claustrophobia.