Anxiety when putting on mask

[Spike9726]

Started about 3 days ago. Turns out I'm Covid positive. Everytime i try to put the mask on I have to pee or feel cotton mouthed or need to swallow or something. Cannot get comfortable. In past it usually means something mechanically wrong w machine. Had simila anxiety issues in beginning and really don't remember how I beat them. That was Oct 2018. Not sure an anxiety med is an option right now.

[desaturator]

You mention Covid -- do you think this current problem is Covid-related? For example, is your breathing more uncomfortable, or your nose more blocked, even without the mask? You also mentioned earlier mechanical problems -- are you sure that you don't have a mechanical problem now? What pressure settings are you using? Are you able to tolerate the machine when you're not trying to sleep?

Do you have a general mask anxiety? I've certainly been in a situation where I feared that the mask coming down was the last thing I'd ever see, so I can understand why they unnerve people. I've not hugely keen myself, to be honest.

[SarcasticDave94]

I'm going to make an assumption based on what you've told us. You're having mask anxiety now, but it began in 2018. Conclusion you've not beat it yet.

I had some amount of mask and PAP therapy issues in the beginning because it was thrown at me with no doctor support. Here's my solution, sit in the recliner or other comfortable chair. Your full PAP and mask is with you as if you're going to sleep, but you're not. You will sit there with mask on and PAP running your sleep settings for at least 30 minutes session 1. Session 2, try to double the time from the last. You will sit there, breathing normally, not fast. You can watch a movie, TV or reading or listening to the radio or whatever.

Try this for a week, again each time increasing the duration. Do not cheat with Ramp or turning it off then on to avoid higher pressures. Turn the PAP on and let it run.

[DaveL]

spike9276 welcome to the forum.

I'm glad you asked this question. The responses help me too. Thank you!