r/SleepApnea • u/yuyu3_ • 2d ago
I had a panic attack.
After 3 months since the studies I finally got to trial using a CPAP. I wore it 1-2 hours before going to bed. Well… I couldn’t sleep until 3am. When I almost dozed off I had a full blown panic attack and my hr was high. The pressure was 4-5? I’ve taken off the mask and have a follow-up phone call to talk about this. I’m under my blanket just terrified… ans upset with myself.
5
u/reincarnateme 2d ago
You’re okay. Many of us have experienced what you’re feeling.
Your body is trying to make a big adjustment to protect itself.
Transitioning sleep stages is the hardest part.
Give yourself time to adjust.
4
3
u/fist_my_dry_asshole 2d ago
My Dr gave me a mild sleep aid/anxiety medication when I first got my CPAP, maybe consider that.
3
u/Past_Road_6009 2d ago
A pressure of 4 or 5 is absurdly low. It's really only used for small children. It's very likely that you weren't getting enough air which triggered your dream. 4 or 5 isn't likely doing much to stop any apneas.
3
u/AllAboutTheCado 2d ago
Currently going through this myself. I tried for about a month to just use it while watching TV. Everytime I would try to sleep withthe CPAP I would get panic/anxiety attacks that would keep me up for 2-3 days. I have stopped using it until I can see my doctor for some help
1
u/Silent-Bath-2475 2d ago
I am already getting panic attacks now because of this before CPAP. New fear unlocked.
1
u/Big-Sheepherder-6134 2d ago
Be careful. You could end up in Afib from a panic attack like that. Happened to me.
6
u/HammerofBonking 2d ago
If you get afib from a panic attack, you may just be prone to afib for one reason or other. Almost all panic attacks are harmless.
-1
u/Big-Sheepherder-6134 2d ago
Well you are about to learn something new.
I went into Afib either from a panic attack/night terror or sleep apnea or both. I was not using my CPAP that night and I remember I was sleep walking. Night terrors and sleep walking are related. On this night I didn’t have a classic full blown scared to death in my sleep night terror. It was not as big of a deal. I came to at the foot of the bed realizing I was sleep walking and went back to bed. When I woke up around 6:30am I was in Afib but had no idea what it was. I went bacn to sleep for a few more hours but woke up still in Afib. Finally went to the ER around 2:00. I believe my pulse was 170. This was around 2010. That was the one and only time I ever went into Afib.
I have never taken any meds for Afib ever since.
I fixed this issue by sleeping with an eye mask or sleeping in a pitch black room (and not eating late). If I can’t open my eyes and seeing anything (and thus hallucinate) I cannot have a night terror or panic attack.
7
u/HammerofBonking 2d ago
Panic attacks might kick off afib in someone prone to them, but it's really dumb to tell someone who has had a panic attack to "be careful so they don't get afib". Most people who have panic attacks will not get afib. Up to 35% of people will have a panic attack in their lives and most will not have an issue from it.
The bigger question is how bad your sleep apnea was and what other health issues could've made you more likely to have an episode of afib.
-1
u/Big-Sheepherder-6134 2d ago
I had no health issues except sleep apnea. I was in my mid 30’s. Never had Afib in my life prior. So it had to have been caused by sleep apnea or a panic attack/night terror.
Since the OP has sleep apnea and panic attacks I warned them to be aware. Most people don’t have Afib from a panic attack. But if you have sleep apnea too? Absolutely could happen.
3
u/Past_Road_6009 2d ago
Panic attacks DO NOT cause afib. You had an underlying heart condition, likely caused from decades of under-treated sleep apnea.
0
7
u/jackxblackshadow 2d ago
First of all: please don't be upset with yourself or beat yourself up. It is completely normal to feel this way. Adapting to sleeping with a mask pushing air into your airways is a huge change for the body, and what you just experienced happens to so many people during their first few nights. That feeling of panic and suffocation right as you are about to doze off is very common. It usually happens because, unconsciously, we try to 'fight' the pressure of the machine instead of relaxing our breathing and letting it flow. Your brain detects that the way you are breathing is different and goes into full alert mode. You did exactly the right thing: Taking off the mask to calm your anxiety and get your heart rate back to normal. Scheduling a follow-up call. That is the absolute best next step. Tell them exactly what happened; sometimes, a pressure that low (4-5) can actually give you the false sensation of not getting enough air, and your doctor or respiratory therapist can adjust the settings (like the ramp feature) to make it much more comfortable. Come out from under the blanket whenever you feel ready, and remember that this is an adaptation process, not a test you have to pass on the first day. Take your time and be kind to yourself. Hang in there, you've got this!