[Moose72]

I just woke up- thankfully. I was dreaming that I was suffocating- and I probably was. I started a cold yesterday. I have a face mask, or I wouldn't be able to use my cpap at all. Now its 5 am and I'm never up at this hour. It will catch up with me later, I'm sure. What do you do when you have a cold? I hesitate to take decongestants just because they OVERLY dry you out. I was dreaming that I was suffocating. I had the humidity up on the highest setting -5-- of my Phillips Respironics A-Flex. No fun at all!! I really couldn't breathe. now I'm afraid to go back to sleep- and that won't help the BP.

[kindachaotic]

Moose, My husband uses a nasal mask with his Cpap machine & also keeps the humidity up high, always. He is actually sick now with the latest upper resp bug, but says he never feels like he's sufficating. He has MDD & his thing is he sleep all the time. A whole other story...

Hope you feel better very soon & quit having these bad dreams.

[Gus1234U]

moose, sometimes the mask will come off in the nite, or your sinuses might have swollen up and made it hard to breathe. i believe most nitemares are related to something that has happened, or been preying on your mind. hope the cold is short, maybe you can get that new antiviral, either from your doc or over the counter,, best wishes,, Gus

[Moose72]

I wonder if I was having a sleep apnea episode on top of having a cold. I really felt like I was suffocating.

[dillpickle1983]

I use a Fisher & Paykel CPAP, I have to wear a full mask that covers my nose and mouth and chin. I have a host of issues mentally, but I have never felt like I was suffocating, while the machine has been on, but I toss and turn and have ripped the hose from my mask before, and then felt breathing discomfort. (has a one way air valve, but with tiny holes in the mask) I have my humidity set at a 1.5 out of 5.

[Yoda]

My mask covers just my nose so if my nasal passages are swollen I can't use the CPAP. I think my cat, Marla, wants me dead - she keeps walking on the CPAP machine buttons at night and turns it off.

[Anneinside]

I have a mask that covers my mouth and nose as I frequently have a stuffy nose so the nose-only options don't work. Finally I can keep it on all night. I always woke up in the morning with mask of when I had the nose mask/pillows. Since getting the new mask I haven't felt like I was suffocating. It has been wonderful and my "compliance" with using the cpap is almost 100%!!

[Cariad]

I also use a full face mask and I'm actually in love with it It means I'm no longer scared to go to sleep and I sleep through the night -- mostly. I haven't had a cold since I've had it (3yrs) so I'm not sure what it would be like with a runny or blocked nose. The worst that has happened to me is a couple of power outages during the night and then I've woken suddenly wondering whi I'm not getting air. I don't use a humidifier so not sure how that would affect having a cold.

Hope the nightmares go away.

[Moose72]

I tried a decongestant last night. Didn't work. I have a nose spray- helps for a few minutes but not long. Woke up with mask off. I always wear my mask but I guess I couldn't breathe well again. Its a face mask, too, so theoretically it should be fine.

[bigrockman]

Hi, I'm new here and I see that many people have the same problems with sleep apnea that plagued me, I would panic when putting on the mask and ripping it off in the night, not good. After a little accidental research My apnea is GONE. While looking for Australian news, there was a reference to apnea treatment and the didgeridoo, the funny sounding instrument played by native Australians. Following up on the reference there is a treatment for apnea that works! There was an article by a Swiss MD, an informative video from the AU medical service, and several on YOUTUBE. To make a long story short I played the digeridoo for about 3 months and asked for a retest of my apnea and I was found to be marginal, the tech did not find a symptom they could treat, and the apnea mask went into the back of the closet. Yeah!!!

ONE NOTE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE CIRCULAR BREATHING AS STATED IN THE VIDEO FROM THE MD. INSTEAD I USED A PURCUSSIVE STYLE ( PUFF, PUFF ETC) THAT WORKED FOR ME.

The didgeridoo is inexpensive and easy to play. There are lesson books and CDs. I play mine for 20 minutes per day while having my coffee and reading news on the web.

[bigrockman]

Hi, I'm new here and I see that many people have the same problems with sleep apnea that plagued me, I would panic when putting on the mask and ripping it off in the night, not good. After a little accidental research My apnea is GONE. While looking for Australian news, there was a reference to apnea treatment and the didgeridoo, the funny sounding instrument played by native Australians. Following up on the reference there is a treatment for apnea that works! There was an article by a Swiss MD, an informative video from the AU medical service, and several on YOUTUBE. To make a long story short I played the digeridoo for about 3 months and asked for a retest of my apnea and I was found to be marginal, the tech did not find a symptom they could treat, and the apnea mask went into the back of the closet. Yeah!!!

ONE NOTE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE CIRCULAR BREATHING AS STATED IN THE VIDEO FROM THE MD. INSTEAD I USED A PERCUSSIVE STYLE ( PUFF, PUFF ETC) THAT WORKED FOR ME.

The didgeridoo is inexpensive and easy to play. There are lesson books and CDs. I play mine for 20 minutes per day while having my coffee and reading news on the web.

[kykid]

Moose, I have used a C-Pap machine for the past two years and have had the same problem, only with allergies. If my sinuses are bad enough, I simply do not use my machine due to the feeling of drowning that I have experienced in the past. I don't know if this is best or not, but it has worked for me.

[BuggsBunny]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I tried a decongestant last night. Didn't work. I have a nose spray- helps for a few minutes but not long. Woke up with mask off. I always wear my mask but I guess I couldn't breathe well again. Its a face mask, too, so theoretically it should be fine.

Have you tried a simple saline nose spray twice a day? You blow your nose first, then squirt. Give it a few seconds to sit up there, then blow your nose again. It works wonders to clear out the nasal stuffiness. You may also be able to get something from your GP like flonase, which doesn't dry out your nose as much, but does help with the congestion over a longer period of time.

[Moose72]

I do have flonase. I tried the saline nasal spray and it made me feel even more congested. It relieved it for all of 5 minutes if that. The cold is long-gone. No problems since.

[Anneinside]

My family doctor has sleep apnea and used his CPAP successfully once he started using a nose spray daily, Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray. He had me try it and as long as I use it once a day my nose stays clear and there is no mucus membrane swelling. I have a full face mask... I already said this... and I have no trouble keeping it on all night. Before then when my mask only covered my nose it was off every morning when I woke up. The nasal spray along with the full mask has made a tremendous difference.

[bigrockman]

"My apnea is GONE." This is probably a better first line for my post. I hope word gets out that there is a "cure" for apnea. I did not mention that "digi" playing has other benefits because of sounding messianic. I have been diagnosed with COPD. Well my asthma has decreased, a lot, I breathe easier and have a higher oxygen level (tested w meter) usually 92 in middle of night now about 95. It seems like nothing can get better than this.