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Feel like I am suffocating - catalina - 05-04-2015

Hi everyone!

I just got my machine last week. Took a nasal mask since I cannot sleep with my mouth open. I started on Thursday (had a bit of a leftover sinus cold left) and was not able to sleep with it. After two hours I took it off. Friday and Saturday I keep it on for about 90 minutes. I have this suffocation feeling when I have it on.

I'm a side sleeper and I have leaks towards my eyes so I have to reajust my head position constantly. The air that circulated in the mask around my nose is bothering me. I feel trapped.

Yesterday I slept 4 hours with it, which is much better. But I still had that suffocating issue with it on.

I was wondering if a nasal pillow would be better??
Or should I tough it out and get use to it?


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - worn_out_in_lebanon - 05-04-2015

The nasal pillow may very well help get rid of the air sensation around your nose, and the leaks around your eyes.

Some people say this style helps with sinus congestion issues too.

What pressure(s) are you using? If the pressure is too low (less than 7 or 8) it can cause a feeling of not getting enough air.



RE: Feel like I am suffocating - catalina - 05-04-2015

For some reason I cant seem to save my profile to show my stats.

I have a Resmed AirSense 10 with a Wisp Nasal mask.

My settings are on auto but if memory serves me right the pressure is at about 10.


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - OpalRose - 05-04-2015

(05-04-2015, 10:59 AM)catalina Wrote: For some reason I cant seem to save my profile to show my stats.

I have a Resmed AirSense 10 with a Wisp Nasal mask.

My settings are on auto but if memory serves me right the pressure is at about 10.


After filling out your profile info, go to bottom of page and hit update profile.

If you are using an auto machine, what range are your pressure settings? If lower than a starting pressure of 7 or 8, your will feel air deprived.



RE: Feel like I am suffocating - trish6hundred - 05-04-2015

Hi catalina,
Didn't you say in your profile that your pressures were set at 4-12? If that's where they are, you might raise your minimum pressure to 7 and leave your maximum at 12.
Hangin there for more suggestions and much success to you with your CPAP therapy.


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - Sleeprider - 05-04-2015

(05-04-2015, 10:37 AM)catalina Wrote: Hi everyone!

I just got my machine last week. Took a nasal mask since I cannot sleep with my mouth open. I started on Thursday (had a bit of a leftover sinus cold left) and was not able to sleep with it. After two hours I took it off. Friday and Saturday I keep it on for about 90 minutes. I have this suffocation feeling when I have it on.

I'm a side sleeper and I have leaks towards my eyes so I have to reajust my head position constantly. The air that circulated in the mask around my nose is bothering me. I feel trapped.

Yesterday I slept 4 hours with it, which is much better. But I still had that suffocating issue with it on.

I was wondering if a nasal pillow would be better??
Or should I tough it out and get use to it?

If you are using Ramp, turn it off. Your profile shows a pressure range of 4-12. Increase the minimum pressure until you are completely comfortable and eliminate the feeling of air starvation or suffocation. Please let us know if you need help in accessing the settings to do this.


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - Quila - 05-04-2015

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.


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - PaulaO2 - 05-04-2015

Also check the exhale relief. On the A10s, is it still called EPR? Make sure that is adjusted to where you need it.

Sit up with it on during the day. Read a book, watch tv, whatever. Get used to the sensations of the air and the mask. That way when you lay down, you're not fighting it as much.

Nasal pillows are less invasive looking and feeling but some people feel even more smothered with them just due to the design.


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - Sleeprider - 05-04-2015

(05-04-2015, 03:06 PM)Quila Wrote: 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?


RE: Feel like I am suffocating - Quila - 05-04-2015

(05-04-2015, 08:11 PM)Sleeprider Wrote:
(05-04-2015, 03:06 PM)Quila Wrote: 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.