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Hard to swallow, breathe

Posted by prodigal on September 07, 2004 at 10:39:22:

Finding this forum is like getting my cpap machine that first day. I have been on cpap for about one and half months. It is definitely helping, but I am still having trouble keeping it on through the night, getting better though.

My question has to do with the constant feeling of something obstructing my throat. I had an incident one morning where I woke up around 5:30 am and felt my throat closing (before being diagnosed with OSA). I panicked thinking that I was not going to be able to breathe and called 911. After a day in the hospital, they could not find anything wrong and sent me home. On a followup to my PCP, she referred me to a sleep DR, who set up a sleep study, and then later informed me that I had OSA.

He ordered the machine and told me that my OSA was too far advanced to benefit from surgery, but I could stand to lose some weight.

I started the CPAP and found it very uncomfortable, although I am able to sleep and not fear my throat closing. I decided to go see a ENT, who told me I would benefit only from surgery. I do not want surgery, but am very anxious about the discomfort in my throat. I think that some of it is mental because the other night the power went out due to Hurricane Frances and my throat immediately began tightening just thinking a night without CPAP.

If things get really bad, I jump into a hot shower and the steam usually helps to calm me down and soothe my throat and sinuses. Does anyone else have this problem with swallowing and what are you doing about it? Lately, I have just resigned myself to thinking that if I do not make it through the night, oh well....

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Archived Apnea Forum122 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage

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