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Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - Mjungle773 - 08-16-2015
Using cpap full mask 3 days including naps. Having sleep paralasys every time feel like suffocating. I am scared to death to use again but always so tired, making depression worse. What can I do feeling very hopeless
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - Tez62 - 08-16-2015
Welcome Mjungle773, I lot of people suggest having it on while awake watching TV or reading to try to get used to it and have you spoke to your Sleep Specilaist about it or at least the DME?
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - me50 - 08-16-2015
(08-16-2015, 08:02 PM)Mjungle773 Wrote: Using cpap full mask 3 days including naps. Having sleep paralasys every time feel like suffocating. I am scared to death to use again but always so tired, making depression worse. What can I do feeling very hopeless
Do you know what specific machine that you have? It should tell you on top of the machine. Also, what is your pressure? If you feel like you are suffocating, it may be because you have the ramp on and it is too low of a starting pressure or your pressure is just too low period.
We really need more info to help you better.
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - Mjungle773 - 08-16-2015
I don't use the ramp feature. I put it on at least 30 min before going to sleep to try and calm down and relax. It's a respironics with full face mask, amara full face mask. I am at 10.0 cm h2o. I fall asleep fine, it's just about 2 hrs in I have the worst nightmare ever. Feels like suffocating, can't move and can scream all I want and nobody can hear me. Pressure was set after my second sleep study. Don't see sleep doc for another month, can get ahold of respiratory theripast a little over a week if I throw a fit.
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - trish6hundred - 08-16-2015
Hi Mjungle773,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I'm sorry you are having such a rough time with CPAP therapy.
Do you have ramp turned on on your machine? If you do, you can either decrease the time on it so it doesn't take so long to get up to your pressure, or, you can just turn it off.
Much success to you with your CPAP therapy and hang in there for more responses to your post.
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - zonk - 08-16-2015
(08-16-2015, 09:13 PM)Mjungle773 Wrote: It's a respironics with full face mask, amara full face mask. I am at 10.0 cm h2o. I fall asleep fine, it's just about 2 hrs in I have the worst nightmare ever. Feels like suffocating, can't move and can scream all I want and nobody can hear me.First of all, identify your machine, if the machine is data capable, we can have an idea of going on, things like AHI
Downloading SleepyHead going to be great help to see whether the nightmares coincides with clusters of apneas
WARNING: Remove the water tank from your CPAP machine before turning the machine over or moving it.
![[Image: PR-model-1.jpg]](http://www.apneaboard.com/PR-model-1.jpg)
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - me50 - 08-16-2015
(08-16-2015, 09:13 PM)Mjungle773 Wrote: I don't use the ramp feature. I put it on at least 30 min before going to sleep to try and calm down and relax. It's a respironics with full face mask, amara full face mask. I am at 10.0 cm h2o. I fall asleep fine, it's just about 2 hrs in I have the worst nightmare ever. Feels like suffocating, can't move and can scream all I want and nobody can hear me. Pressure was set after my second sleep study. Don't see sleep doc for another month, can get ahold of respiratory theripast a little over a week if I throw a fit.
30 minutes is a long time to build up to 10 and that may be part of why you feel that way. I would suggest that you shorten your ramp time a lot or turn it off completely. I would also suggest that you download SH and take a look at what happens when you have the nightmare and feel like you are suffocating. Are there big leaks? Are there some events happening?
If you want to post the graphs here, we can help you better.
In the meantime, you can take your machine and go to the place that you purchased it from and ask for the manager if you can't see a RT and let them look at your data and see if they can help you. I wouldn't wait a week. If you want to throw a fit, do it while you are in the waiting room or reception area where it makes more of a difference than throwing a fit on the phone. I would not throw a fit until you give them a chance to look at your data and see what they can suggest to help you. But, if it were me, I would be at their office the minute it opens.
Hope this helps.
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - archangle - 08-16-2015
Can you describe the experience you are having?
Any chance you can convince your sleeping self that it's not a horrible thing and that it will pass? One suggestion is to try wiggling your toes or fingers.
I occasionally get something similar, but it's mild compared to what I've heard about. I'm not even sure it's "real" sleep paralysis. Mine is usually a "dream" that I've got my fingers laced together behind my head and can't pull them apart. Unfortunately, I'm not coherent enough to relax or try to work my way out of it. Luckily, it's not that severe or uncommon.
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - quiescence at last - 08-17-2015
@Mjungle773 - has sleep paralysis been something you experienced much of before you think you developed apnea? It definitely sounds like it is related to REM sleep, and how you particularly do REM sleep. hyperventilation is quite common in REM and can cause breathless or suffocating feeling.
@me50 - OP does not use ramp at all, but wears the mask for 30 minutes leading up to bedtime, as some suggest for getting used to the feeling of having the mask on.
You may profit from sleepyhead software after you get to know it a bit. It would at least show whether you are actually breathing or not when you believe you cannot, and whether you had been experiencing the effects of hyperventilation I am guessing.
QAL
RE: Help, Sleep paralysis nightmare devastating - OpalRose - 08-17-2015
Mjungle773,
I have experienced what you have described, but that was prior to using CPAP. Have not experienced it since I've been on CPAP.
I know the feeling of being somewhat awake, and not being able to move, or speak. I remember trying to call out to my husband, but could not. It is a frightening experience. The most interesting thing is that the brain is functioning well, and somehow I was able to reason myself out of the "sleep paralysis".
Also, was not able to recall any dreams prior to the experience, but I believe it has something to do with REM sleep. If you Google this, you will find some information on the subject.
I never felt as if I were suffocating, just felt paralyzed, so the feeling of suffocation may be due to your pressure settings not being optimal for you.
Download sleepyhead software, as quiescence at last has suggested.