Waking up Choking

Hi all,

I've had my cpap for 3 years and have been pretty spotty with using it. Last week though I started having multiple episodes each night of choking or not being able to swallow while when first falling asleep. I know that's a pretty common thing for people suffering from sleep apnea. I started being more diligent about using my machine this week and it hasn't helped with the choking sensations. They're just as bad. Also it feels like it clogs my ears while i have it on (like when you have to yawn to "pop" them).

My story is similar to other people's I'm sure. I have acid reflux and actually just had a endoscopy done about two weeks ago and doctor said nothing looked abnormal. I do have allergies, always feel a little stopped up.

I've tried playing with some of the settings (airsense 10, nasal pillows), like ramping up sooner rather than later. It only seems to happen when I'm first trying to fall asleep, but it's happening 3 or 4 times each time. Choking sensation, feel like i can't swallow my saliva, jumping up out of bed, shaking. Would a sleep specialist be the best person to go see? Maybe they need to change the settings since it's been 3 years since i first started with it. I thought about adjusting the settings (it starts at 4 and ramps up to 11), but I'd rather let a professional handle it since I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know if i just need time to adjust to using the cpap again, if the settings aren't right for me, or what it could be. The mask fits ok and I'm usually sleeping on my back. I even have one of those elevated pillows for acid reflux.

Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated. I'm 34, exhausted, an anxious mess, and feel desperate to get some rest. Thanks for taking the time to read this

Crumb wrote:Hi all,

I've had my cpap for 3 years and have been pretty spotty with using it. Last week though I started having multiple episodes each night of choking or not being able to swallow while when first falling asleep. I know that's a pretty common thing for people suffering from sleep apnea. I started being more diligent about using my machine this week and it hasn't helped with the choking sensations. They're just as bad. Also it feels like it clogs my ears while i have it on (like when you have to yawn to "pop" them).

My story is similar to other people's I'm sure. I have acid reflux and actually just had a endoscopy done about two weeks ago and doctor said nothing looked abnormal. I do have allergies, always feel a little stopped up.

I've tried playing with some of the settings (airsense 10, nasal pillows), like ramping up sooner rather than later. It only seems to happen when I'm first trying to fall asleep, but it's happening 3 or 4 times each time. Choking sensation, feel like i can't swallow my saliva, jumping up out of bed, shaking. Would a sleep specialist be the best person to go see? Maybe they need to change the settings since it's been 3 years since i first started with it. I thought about adjusting the settings (it starts at 4 and ramps up to 11), but I'd rather let a professional handle it since I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know if i just need time to adjust to using the cpap again, if the settings aren't right for me, or what it could be. The mask fits ok and I'm usually sleeping on my back. I even have one of those elevated pillows for acid reflux.

Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated. I'm 34, exhausted, an anxious mess, and feel desperate to get some rest. Thanks for taking the time to read this

It could be one or more of those questions.

For me, I have had the popping noise. (I just assumed (I have no fear of assuming. LOL) that it was an air pressure thing. Something I did not understand but reasonable since I invited hurricane winds up my nose. I also had a couple of nights of the choking/. Again, for me, allergies have been much worse this year. I have lots of saliva and lots of post nasal drip(and asthma and acid reflux...all those goodies). I take off the mask, try to address the allergies, give it a few minutes, and then see if anything improved. If not, I add another pillow to raise my head. None of this is scientific. Just trying to figure out things too.

For acid reflux it's best to raise the head of the bed with blocks. I assume you are taking meds for the reflux. I would turn off the ramp...starting at 4 may not be giving you enough air thus causing you to choke. Sounds like you are depending on your doctor to make adjustments to your therapy....Take control and do it yourself.

I can't use a ramp. My airway collapses the second I fall asleep and I have the same experience as you.

You might try shortening the ramp time or turning it off completely.

I also don't use ramp. I want to make sure that I am not leaking and I am breathing comfortably BEFORE I fall asleep.

Your description of symptoms matches mine from before treatment and also if I have my starting pressure too low. With proper cpap treatment my acid reflux has totally disappeared.

What are your starting pressure, ramp time and therapy pressure settings?

airsense 10

Which model?

AirSense 10 AutoSet
AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her
AirSense 10 CPAP
AirSense 10 Elite

Before we can give you good advice, we need to talk about the results of the data your machine generates. Tell us which model you are using. Do you know how to get to the data?

I strongly suspect your "spotty" usage is responsible for your symptoms.
Since you are not used to using the cpap, you are like a new user, plus 3 years of damage from infrequent therapy.
Disciplining yourself to stick with it is going to be harder because you goofed off the first time.
Results will not happen overnight, unless you are scared enough to really apply yourself this time.

I had this problem it took me about a year to get used to sleeping with the CPAP full time leading up to my sleep study and that year I had lot of daytime breathing problems like shortness of breath, and choking. My regular GP did some test to rule out anything serious with my lungs after I started CPAP therapy all my day time breathing problems went away. My doctor thinks all the snoring was causing irritation to my bronchial tubes, and throat. You need to make sure your using CPAP full time it will make a big difference.

When I read your post I felt as if I posted it. I have been on and off my machine for 3 years as well. I thought perhaps it was my mask and have been through a couple - finally settled on a full face mask and it feels quite comfortable and easy to get on and off. This was my second night on it and I woke up choking. It felt as if there was no air flowing through my mask however I have to remember I'm waking up suddenly so I "think" that is what happened. I have an AirSense 10. My first night I was on it for 3 hours. Not able to fall back asleep. Last night I woke up choking after only 1 hour on it. So it would be really helpful to hear others peoples experiences like this. I'm willing to keep trying if that's what it takes but suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

dazzep wrote: ↑

Sat May 08, 2021 4:45 am

suggestions are welcome.

Start your own thread. Piggybacking on another thread, especially a zombie thread, is not a good way to get help.

You can copy and paste what you wrote above into your own thread.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:18 pm

dazzep wrote: ↑

Sat May 08, 2021 4:45 am

suggestions are welcome.

Start your own thread. Piggybacking on another thread, especially a zombie thread, is not a good way to get help.

You can copy and paste what you wrote above into your own thread.

and yet, you managed to help.

Granny just can't help herself.
Gotta love her

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:19 am

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:18 pm

dazzep wrote: ↑

Sat May 08, 2021 4:45 am

suggestions are welcome.

Start your own thread. Piggybacking on another thread, especially a zombie thread, is not a good way to get help.

You can copy and paste what you wrote above into your own thread.

and yet, you managed to help.

+1