hard to breath

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
gspencer
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:36 pm
Location: ME

hard to breath

Post by gspencer » Tue Jan 05, 2010 5:30 pm

Does anybody find it hard breath when they first take their mask off.

_________________
Mask

User avatar
Spirit
Posts: 433
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:27 pm
Location: Central Tx

Re: hard to breath

Post by Spirit » Tue Jan 05, 2010 5:58 pm

Yes, I do. Feels like I suffocate for a bit, then breathing normalizes.

User avatar
xiola
Posts: 101
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:50 am
Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Re: hard to breath

Post by xiola » Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:08 pm

yes! sometimes when i wake up ill take my mask off, and while im laying there gathering the will to actually get otu of bed, im... uncomfortable. i feel like i have to work harder to breathe

it passes quickly though

harry33
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 12:14 am
Location: melbourne, australia

Re: hard to breath

Post by harry33 » Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:09 pm

I dont and wonder what the cause might be
is it only nose breathing thats harder
australian,anxiety and insomnia, a CPAP user since 1995, self diagnosed after years of fatigue, 2 cheap CPAPs and respironics comfortgell nose only mask. not one of my many doctors ever asked me if I snored

User avatar
gspencer
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:36 pm
Location: ME

Re: hard to breath

Post by gspencer » Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:13 pm

I have been diagnosised with asthma .Maybe that has something to do with it. No it's mouth and nose.

_________________
Mask

User avatar
Muse-Inc
Posts: 4382
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:44 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: hard to breath

Post by Muse-Inc » Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:27 pm

During my first month or so, when I took the mask off it felt like I didn't know whether to suck in or blow out in terms of effort...felt very strange, lasted for a few mins to up to an hr. Eventually went away tho on really stressful days I am aware of that sensation.
ResMed S9 range 9.8-17, RespCare Hybrid FFM
Never, never, never, never say never.

User avatar
Gerryk
Posts: 1565
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Chicago suburbs

Re: hard to breath

Post by Gerryk » Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:36 pm

It will make a difference when you take your mask off. Some of us won't really notice it and others notice it every time.
As far as having asthma, yes that can make it harder. CPAP's are used on ambulances to treat only a very few problems and a severe asthmatic is one of them.
Usually a pt will have taken their inhaler and many times will have taken a breathing treatement before they call us. Occasionally someone will use an epi pen before calling us. However, we usually give them another breathing treatment while on cpap. This pushed the meds deeper into the lung than the med will go on it's own.

I have had people who said they needed an ambulance and cpap when they called. They knew what they needed because we treated them before.

Gerry

User avatar
secret agent girl
Posts: 574
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:15 pm

.

Post by secret agent girl » Thu Jan 07, 2010 6:45 am

.
Last edited by secret agent girl on Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
sleepycarol
Posts: 2461
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:25 pm
Location: Show-Me State
Contact:

Re: hard to breath

Post by sleepycarol » Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:23 am

Yep, I have had those feelings. Don't know what causes it. I do have asthma.
Start Date: 8/30/2007 Pressure 9 - 15
I am not a doctor or other health care professional. Comments reflect my own personal experiences and opinions.

Judy R
Posts: 181
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:34 pm

Re: hard to breath

Post by Judy R » Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:31 am

I've not noticed it, but then I'm one of those that once I'm awake, my feet hit the floor running, so maybe I'm just not aware of it. I hope this will subside once you get use to being on cpap therapy.

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: She wasn't what you would call refined, She wasn't what you would call unrefined, She was the kind of a person who keeps a Parrot. *Mark Twain*
Judy R.

User avatar
Gerryk
Posts: 1565
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Chicago suburbs

Re: hard to breath

Post by Gerryk » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:07 am

You basically get that feeling because when you use cpap your airway is pressurized.

User avatar
Komodo
Posts: 464
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:29 pm
Location: Zephyrhills FL

Re: hard to breath

Post by Komodo » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:38 am

I felt the same way when I first started, but not any more.

In my early days, I found that if I took the mask off first, then shut off the machine, it wasn't as bad as turning off the machine first.

User avatar
gasp
Posts: 2095
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:20 pm
Location: U. S.

Re: hard to breath

Post by gasp » Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:39 pm

secret agent girl wrote:I wonder if there's any correlation to experiencing this and a person's pressure setting...
I wondered this also. Perhaps the more pressurized the airway is, the more sensation of absence of pressure would be felt.

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Pursleep, Padacheek, Regenesis™ Pillow, Neti Pot, Travel Buddy hose hanger

User avatar
Muse-Inc
Posts: 4382
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:44 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: hard to breath

Post by Muse-Inc » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:32 pm

Gerryk wrote:...I have had people who said they needed an ambulance and cpap when they called. They knew what they needed...
This is so cool! When I read that CPAPs were gonna be added to rescue units, I thought it was such a good idea, so many times breathing is compromised during accidents, acute illness, severe allergic reactions, lots of anxiety. Broke both legs bones in left ankle tho didn't know it at the time, all I knew what that something was horribly wrong...all I was concentrating on was not hyperventilating & I couldn't think coherently. When the paramedics arrived, they wanted me to put wt on it...were they nuts? In the ambulance, they were asking me questions when the pain finally hit me; they asked me when I was born, I said, Say the months and I think I'll recognize it ; it did work & we got som eo fthe paperwork done and it was somewhat distracting. This was long before apnea but I could sure tell my breathing was affected. Nice to see that CPAPs are being used.
ResMed S9 range 9.8-17, RespCare Hybrid FFM
Never, never, never, never say never.

User avatar
Jaylee
Posts: 1080
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:43 pm

Re: hard to breath

Post by Jaylee » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:36 pm

Yes I do but I ususally only notice it when I am sitting still. If sit up and get out of bed right away to get dressed, I don't seem to notice.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressure 18/13.