Feel like I am suffocating

[trish6hundred]

I felt like I was being suffocated when I used a nasal mask (Resmed N10) with ramp on and minimum pressure at 5. I now have ramp off and minimum pressure at 8 and no longer feel like I'm starving for air. I'm also using nasal pillows (Resmed P10) now instead of the nasal mask. To my surprise, I had no problem using the pillows while I had a cold last week.

It sounds like you've turned a corner. How many hours are you able to tolerate now?

I didn't post the original comment on this topic, I was just sharing what I went through because it was similar to what catalina was describing. I'm also new to CPAP and I'm learning as I go, mostly from this web site.

Having said that, there was only one time I woke up with the nasal mask still on my face. It would usually come off within two or three hours. I had much better luck with the nasal pillows and of course with higher pressure as well. Turning the ramp feature off also helped a lot for me.

I didn't think I'd be able to be anywhere near compliant when I started to come down with a cold. I thought I might need a full face mask. That's what I really found surprising. I didn't think I'd be able to breathe through my nose all night, but it wasn't a problem at all.

Hi Quila,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's good to hear that you are getting adjusted to your CPAP therapy.
keep up the good work and much success to you.

[catalina]

Thank you so much for the advice everyone.

I dont know how to change the pressure yet ( will look it up today), but it starts at 4, which is way too low and most likely why i feel like i am suffocating.

I removed the gradual also, it did make a slight difference. I am happy to say i slept all night with it!!!

Now i have to try and solve that leak problem. The technician had put the xsmall mask for my nose, perhaps i should try the small/med one!

[Sleeprider]

Catalina, the instructions for making pressure changes are here: http://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-airsens...setup-info

Good luck with everything, and don't hesitate to ask any questions. Sounds like things are better with the ramp off.

[OpalRose]

catalina,
If you haven't already done so, request the clinical manual for your machine (top of page).
You will find instructions on how to change pressure.
Try starting out at no less than 7 and keep the max pressure at 12. Then you should download SleepyHead software and start looking at the graphs to track your AHI and your pressure readings.
Knowing where your pressure is for 90% of the time is the only way to set a pressure range that will be optimal for you.

[truetopath]

Welcome to the board, and I'm glad you're making progress. The mask is the hardest part of therapy for most people. Just remember it's a marathon not a sprint. Best of luck with your continued therapy!

[BadGoodDeb]

I use nasal pillows rather than a mask -- but yes, moving up to a bigger size (I moved to a medium, the DME thinks I look like a smaller size than that) prevents me from feeling like I'm suffocating. I've also had asthma and allergy lung capacity tests (why don't sleep studies do these?) so I know that I have deeper volume in my lungs than many people -- possibly from playing the bassoon and the saxophone in high school. The smaller sizes of masks (or nasal pillows) didn't get enough volume of air into my lungs, and I felt suffocated very quickly!

By all means: try a larger size of mask or whatever breathing apparatus you use! I also stopped using my machine for 1.5 years* until they agreed to push the pressure up from 5 to 8, for the same reason --- not enough air was getting into my lungs. It's your body, and you know what it needs. Be polite, but make sure people listen to you!

* (I was too lazy to ask them to change it; didn't want another sleep study. And hadn't found this web site, or I'd have know about changing it myself!) ((downloads the manual right now, from the above link-Thanks!))

bgDeb