Sleep paralysis and trouble breathing

[stuckinbed]

Hi

I've been diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea and mild narcolepsy. I've got a long history of sleep paralysis and I use a cpap machine.

But my sleep paralysis is getting worse. If my husband doesn't take off my cpap mask, I will stay stuck in the paralysis. So far I believe this to be for atleast 15mins as he went tto feed our son after I woke and I was stuck there until he returned and I could grunt at him. In addition, I also am practically not breathing. The cpap is making me inhale, but it's like it's not going beyond my mouth, never reaching my lungs. It's incredibly shallow and I can feel the lack of oxygen in my body. In addition I feel queasy and just...wrong. I think that's the lack of oxygen. I can't describe it but it's all over and I feel terrible.
I can't fix my breathing until my husband removes my mask.

I'm beginning to wonder if this is quite right. It seems like a long time to be stuck. Does anyone know if there is a chance the sleep paralysis could mean something else? Or should I just keep trying to adjust my lifestyle or increase my meds or see the dr again for another sleep study?

Please help. Thank you

[HarryWmG]

You may have read on CPAP therapy literature the simple statement that one can suffocate from mask. There are warning buzzers on machine if it fails to force air thru airway to lungs but also just wearing the mask with machine off you suffocate and die.  So paralysis may be lack of O2 to lungs which causes hypoxnia killing brain and cardiac tissues. Suggest you see, pronto, sleep doctor who prescribed CPAP machine.

[opus88]

we aren't doctors on this site...so this is just my opinion, whatever is causing this to happen to you has gone beyond 'mild' and you do need to see a Dr. asap to discuss this and find out what is happening to you, it sounds terrifying.
I suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and wear a cpap but have never experienced the issues you are having.

Medhelp does have a Respiratory Disorder Expert forum and there is a Dr. on there that perhaps can give you some suggestions, just click on this link below...good luck to you:)

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Respiratory-Disorders/show/128