RE: Drowning sensation?
This may be true as I get this wheezing and feelings of drowning with my COPD/Asthma diagnosis. I take inhalers daily with a rescue inhaler traveling everywhere I go. I also have a home nebulizer that is used as needed.
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RE: Drowning sensation?
I am relatively new to PAP therapy, but I started with nose pillows, as is the typical recommendation. I found that though I had a good seal, I wasn't really getting results and found myself waking up some nights feeling really starved for air, almost suffocating rather than drowning, it was NOT a nice feeling. I realized within 2-3 weeks that I actually have fairly chronic sinusitis. What feels normal and good for me is in fact not really very good, I just didn't know how bad it was until I started using my nose for PAP therapy.
I had to switch to a full face since I just couldn't pull the volume through my nose with the nose pillows. I'm working to remedy my nasal issues but in the meantime I am stuck with a full face. Sounds a little similar to what you experienced, but once I woke up and took the mask off things went back to normal pretty quickly.
I suffer from asthma along with the Sinusitis, and like Unicorn Rider said that sounds an awful lot like an asthma attack, odd that you would have never experienced one before and it would be brought on like that though, but you never no. Could be a coincidence or maybe there was something in/on the mask, dust, pollen etc from sitting around that triggered it?
You are probably loathe to use the nose pillow again, but maybe give it a good clean then sit with it on while watching TV for a few hours and see how it feels?
RE: Drowning sensation?
Okay, let's start off this new page with an Oscar chart that shows us if you're experiencing central apnea and what your settings are. No chart, I don't know. A drowning sensation can occur when you have high mask leaks. It is like trying to breathe with a strong wind in your face. There are other reasons, but without the information, it's just a guess.
RE: Drowning sensation?
It sounds like you have an old mask? That might very well add to your woes. Masks and headgear stretch out, and don’t fit the same as when they’re new. The pillows/cushions may have degraded a bit. Also, an old mask might have some nasty growth. This could definitely have an impact on your lungs.
You could take a photo of your mask. Almost certainly, someone can identify it.
