SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
JEFFB4SLP
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SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by JEFFB4SLP » Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:03 am

I have been using a CPAP full face mask for about 15 years. I am a veteran and the VA supplies me with all the latest CPAP machines masks and hoses, regularly. Lately, on very rare occasions, such as about an hour ago, I am awakened in the middle of my sleep with a complete lack of oxygen. It's as tho someone puts a hand over my mouth and nose...and I cannot breath. It is very frightening. I ripped my mask off, gasping for air....my mouth and throat were as dry as the desert., my heart was beating rapidly....as I was trying to recount in my head what happened. This same thing has happened, maybe, 4 times in the last year.
The digital readout on my machine indicates no malfunction, no seal leak, no nothing. I always sleep in my side. When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea, the director of the program at the VA in Palo Alto, CA, back in 2003, said I had the worst case of sleep apnea that they had ever seen. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.

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Jas_williams
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by Jas_williams » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:22 am

We need more information, what machine are you using ? What. mask type ? Can you download sleepyhead and show us a daily graph

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D.H.
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by D.H. » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:50 am

Please fill out your profile with the exact equipment that you are using.

If you're using a fifteen year old CPAP machine, it's time for a replacement. Even if your machine shows no malfunction, it may not be consistently delivering the correct pressure all night.

I guess keep the old one as a spare.

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Rubyslipperss
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by Rubyslipperss » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:23 am

JEFFB4SLP wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:03 am
I have been using a CPAP full face mask for about 15 years. I am a veteran and the VA supplies me with all the latest CPAP machines masks and hoses, regularly. Lately, on very rare occasions, such as about an hour ago, I am awakened in the middle of my sleep with a complete lack of oxygen. It's as tho someone puts a hand over my mouth and nose...and I cannot breath. It is very frightening. I ripped my mask off, gasping for air....my mouth and throat were as dry as the desert., my heart was beating rapidly....as I was trying to recount in my head what happened. This same thing has happened, maybe, 4 times in the last year.
The digital readout on my machine indicates no malfunction, no seal leak, no nothing. I always sleep in my side. When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea, the director of the program at the VA in Palo Alto, CA, back in 2003, said I had the worst case of sleep apnea that they had ever seen. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
Funny that you and I just posted “similar “ things! The biggest difference is that it happens to you when you use your CPAP and it happens to me when I am not. Mine died a while back but i get my new machine today. It is truly terrifying both when i dream it is happening and even worse when i finally wake up and it really is happening. I can still breathe both in my dream and when I finally wake up but am very short of breath. It is a horrible feeling and i know it is worse for you. At least I can still breathe though with difficulty.

Let us know what you find out.

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kteague
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by kteague » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:11 am

As has been suggested, looking at your treatment in detail might be helpful. Even if your machine is functioning properly and the mask is not leaking, we still don't know how many events slip past the machine's defenses or the duration of those events. Even if you had few events over the course of the night, if there was a long one it could cause what you describe. Maybe you need a pressure change at this point in life - our needs can change over time. In the event you find absolutely nothing significant about your data, you may want to consider other possible causes of waking up in the state you describe. A couple things that come to mind are reflux and vocal cord dysfunction. Good luck sorting things out.

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LSAT
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by LSAT » Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:16 am

D.H. wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:50 am
Please dill out your profile with the exact equipment that you are using.

If you're using a fifteen year old CPAP machine, it's time for a replacement. Even if your machine shows no malfunction, it may not be consistently delivering the correct pressure all night,

I guess keep the old one as a spare.
He said he has been using a FF mask for 15 years...He did not say his machine was 15 years old.

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mesenteria
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by mesenteria » Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:29 am

We need some evidence, something we can all read and interpret together. Here, that pretty much means sleepyhead.org's beta version from sourceforge.

I'll lower my butt flap on my pj's and let my guess hang out there in the wind...a long and otherwise undetected central......? Maybe two or more in succession that left your mouth essentially dry...........?

D.H.
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by D.H. » Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:45 am

LSAT wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:16 am
D.H. wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:50 am
Please fill out your profile with the exact equipment that you are using.

If you're using a fifteen year old CPAP machine, it's time for a replacement. Even if your machine shows no malfunction, it may not be consistently delivering the correct pressure all night,

I guess keep the old one as a spare.
He said he has been using a FF mask for 15 years...He did not say his machine was 15 years old.
I think that if he's been using a CPAP mask for fifteen years, he's been using a CPAP machine for at least as long (he might have used a different type of mask before that). What was not stated is how recently - if ever - the mask or the machine has been replaced. I doubt that the mask wasn't replaced at some point, but some of those older machines - which are just fixed pressure bricks - are real workhorses.

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Pugsy
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by Pugsy » Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:06 pm

D.H. wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:45 am
What was not stated is how recently - if ever - the mask or the machine has been replaced
Actually I kinda thought he covered that part well enough for my understanding.
JEFFB4SLP wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:03 am
I am a veteran and the VA supplies me with all the latest CPAP machines masks and hoses, regularly.

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prodigyplace
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by prodigyplace » Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:12 pm

We still need to know what machine & mask are being used & the pressure settings in order to even comment intelligently.
SleepyHead graphs would be needed to give even better advice.

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Pugsy
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by Pugsy » Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:19 pm

prodigyplace wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:12 pm
We still need to know what machine & mask are being used & the pressure settings in order to even comment intelligently.
SleepyHead graphs would be needed to give even better advice.
Yep, sure do and that's what I have been waiting for.

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prodigyplace
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by prodigyplace » Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:16 pm

I just wanted to emphasize the need to that information.

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palerider
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by palerider » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:26 pm

D.H. wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:45 am
What was not stated is how recently - if ever - the mask or the machine has been replaced.
That's just because your brain hasn't functioned for 15 years... if ever.

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lamar2217
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by lamar2217 » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:28 pm

Children - Please behave yourselves. Thanks.

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palerider
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Re: SUFFOCATING WITH CPAP MASK ON

Post by palerider » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:39 pm

lamar2217 wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:28 pm
Children - Please behave yourselves. Thanks.
Busybody, please mind your own business.

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