My trip to the ER this morning

erikmannie

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Everything is A-okay now, but something happened with my CPAP machine while I was sleeping & wearing it this morning at 2 AM.

I have used the same CPAP machine and mask style for over 2 years, and have had zero issues until this morning.

I need to use a CPAP machine because I have a DOT certification for my job, and I am overweight.

So whatever happened with the machine, I was awakened this morning by a suffocating lack of oxygen in my lungs. This is a very scary way to wake up! I immediately tore the mask off, and I wondered what the Heck had happened!

I was scared and alarmed. I tried to catch my breath in the bathroom. I then went out in the kitchen, had a glass of water, and I was surprised that I still had shortness of breath. I would have liked to just go back to bed without wearing the machine for the rest of the night.

I tried to walk it off by walking around the house, but the shortness of breath didn’t go away after about 15 minutes.

I drove myself to the ER & they did a whole bunch of tests, and everything is fine. Kaiser was great today.

The shortness of breath persisted for about 2 hours until such time that I took a 30 minute nap in the hospital room. Ever since that nap, the shortness of breath has not returned.

So now I will follow up with the Kaiser Sleep Center, and try to exchange my whole face mask for a “nose-only” mask.

One of the guys that I work with had the same thing happen to him, but it happened to him during a blackout. He claims that while he was asleep, his machine lost power, and he was similarly awoken to a lack of oxygen.

I recommend to you guys that if you ever get a CPAP machine, get the nose-only mask.
 
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You might also look into the surgical options (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UP3 (UPPP)) to eliminate the need for a CPAP machine, I know a few people who have had it and no longer needed the CPAP machine. It is a come and go surgery usually with an overnight stay post surgery, and very quick recovery. Otherwise I would look into a different CPAP machine with a battery backup and alarm sensors.
 
erikmannie,
Your experience is real. It had physical, cognitive and emotional effects.
You did the right thing by seeing a doc. Not so sure about the private transport vs the ambulance. But, I wasn't there and don't know the severity of your shortness of breathe and/or other symptoms.
Please note that I'm not a doc. But have been a clinical educator for multiple decades. In retirement I still teach adult and pediatric cardiac arrest management to Dr, RNs and Paramedics.

I'm trying to stay away from the science here. But if you are curious:
- Hypoxia is inadequate oxygen at the cellular level. It can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, light headedness. Depending on your underlying medical conditions this can resolve quickly. Symptom severity can be adversely be impacted by breathing issues (e.g. COPD) and diabetes, cardiovascular health etc.
- Hypoxemia is inadequate oxygen in the blood stream. The body responds by all sorts of responses in the brain stem and the kidneys to manage the acids that begin to build up in the blood. It can take hours to days for everything to balance out.
- Anoxia is no oxygen, which leads to death. Some organs are more sensitive than others. Very unlikely you got to this point as your body woke you from sleep.

As always- stay safe, have fun, do good work, and keep it affordable.
Daryl
MN
 
Everything is A-okay now, but something happened with my CPAP machine while I was sleeping & wearing it this morning at 2 AM.

I have used the same CPAP machine and mask style for over 2 years, and have had zero issues until this morning.

I need to use a CPAP machine because I have a DOT certification for my job, and I am overweight.

So whatever happened with the machine, I was awakened this morning by a suffocating lack of oxygen in my lungs. This is a very scary way to wake up! I immediately tore the mask off, and I wondered what the Heck had happened!

I was scared and alarmed. I tried to catch my breath in the bathroom. I then went out in the kitchen, had a glass of water, and I was surprised that I still had shortness of breath. I would have liked to just go back to bed without wearing the machine for the rest of the night.

I tried to walk it off by walking around the house, but the shortness of breath didn’t go away after about 15 minutes.

I drove myself to the ER & they did a whole bunch of tests, and everything is fine. Kaiser was great today.

The shortness of breath persisted for about 2 hours until such time that I took a 30 minute nap in the hospital room. Ever since that nap, the shortness of breath has not returned.

So now I will follow up with the Kaiser Sleep Center, and try to exchange my whole face mask for a “nose-only” mask.

One of the guys that I work with had the same thing happen to him, but it happened to him during a blackout. He claims that while he was asleep, his machine lost power, and he was similarly awoken to a lack of oxygen.

I recommend to you guys that if you ever get a CPAP machine, get the nose-only mask.
I prefer the portable Oxygen machine with just the nose plastic hose the fits inside nose and over you ears .
I have a new C Pap that I don't use .
If you need it PM me and will express mail it to you or over night it to you .Hope you get this figured out.
 
@erikmannie Check out battery backups for your CPAP.

Don't know if this happened, but it is possible for you to have restricted the flow of the hose by having it under you. Or you somehow blocked the flapper valve, which could restrict inhalation when not under positive pressure (ie off).

Also possible that you turned off the machine in your sleep. BTDT. Solution to that was to make the CPAP machine just out of reach when laying in bed. Same idea as having your alarm clock far enough away you can't hit it and go back to sleep.

Have had some of your experiences, none were pleasant. Some were down right scary. For what it is worth, a properly set up full face mask allows breathing if the power goes off, due to the flapper valve. On my set up, that valve is in a plastic elbow.

Nasal masks work only if you keep your mouth sealed shut! If you can't do that, (while you are asleep!) then a nasal mask may not be appropriate. Some folks go as far as using tape, but I just can't make myself do that. There's all sorts of contraptions and hokum to separate you from your money, and most of the "keep your mouth shut" things just plain don't work.

Using a CPAP is lousy, but not using one is worse, a lot worse. Try to get your sleep stuff under control - or your lack of sleep will slowly ruin your life.
 
You might also look into the surgical options (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UP3 (UPPP)) to eliminate the need for a CPAP machine, I know a few people who have had it and no longer needed the CPAP machine. It is a come and go surgery usually with an overnight stay post surgery, and very quick recovery. Otherwise I would look into a different CPAP machine with a battery backup and alarm sensors.
This is something that should routine. A lot of people toss and turn all night and would get wrapped up in the hose. I know I would. I turn over in the same direction and turn about 10 times a night.
They still want me to try a CPAP "for a while" before going onto the next option.
 
From what I have read UPPP has a pretty low effectiveness rate. It works for some people, it's no where near 99% successful, at least what I read, when I looked into it.

As for tangling in hoses, I use a hose lift, which is nothing more than an elevated hose holder. It helps a bit and eliminates hose tug (due to gravity and whatever).
 
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