Frustrated...unsure where to go what to do!

[Wulfman...]

Dawn,

Like the others have said, that's not nearly enough sleep to help you restore or improve your cognitive functions.
You're not getting your sleep debt paid off or maintaining any kind of sufficient sleep quantity or quality.
In my opinion and speaking from my experience, at least seven hours is the bare minimum.


Den

.

[mzdawn74]

Your note is very coherent, very concise and you may well be stressing for nothing, at least about some of your cognitive issues which may be more subjective than otherwise. What are the chances that you can afford even a lightly 'used' machine from e.g. Secondwindcpap.com (or someone on the forum), that gives better data than the Elite, one that you can use SleepyHead with... downloaded free from the forum?

Hi Julie

Thanks for responding. It might just be my subjective opinion of myself, but I literally feel like I'm losing my mind! I can't think clearly to save my life. I'm constantly feeling confused, forgetting things, and my thoughts are very disorganized which makes having conversations impossible! I sound like an idiot constantly by mixing up words or I'm unable to come up with the correct word at times.

I am not working so funds are kind of limited, but if it was a reasonable price I could probably swing it. Any recommendations on a machine? What do they usually cost?

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

Even awesome sleep at only 3-5 hours per night is NOT enough.

Thank you for replying. I totally agree, but the medications I have been given either do not help me sleep or they give me unbearable side effects the next day. I'm not sure how else to get more sleep. My doctor tells me until I get my anxiety and depression under control I will continue to have the insomnia. That is why I have considered taking antidepressants again, hopefully I can get some relief from the anxiety and depression, and then can work on improving my quality of sleep.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

Is that 3 to 5 hours that you sleep? Or 3 to 5 hour that you use the machine per night?

Hello,

Thanks for responding to my post. That is 3-5 hours total sleep. I stay in bed for over 9 hours trying to get more sleep, but I toss and turn with frequent wakings, and unable to get any sound sleep. Which results in me feeling like a complete zombie all day everyday!


Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

Even awesome sleep at only 3-5 hours per night is NOT enough.

Exactly and without a data capable machine to analyze the data which according to you, your neurologist refused to provide a prescription for, he is shooting in the dark. Let me clarify.

I have had nights where my AHI looked great but thanks to Sleepyhead being able to flag breathing events that didn't qualify as apneas/hypopneas, the data didn't look as wonderful. Now I can't claim that is the cause of my problems sleeping on the machine and perhaps nothing like that is going on with you but my point is without having the data to look at, your doctors are shooting in the dark.

Regarding this comment:

""All of the doctors insist that my issues are attributed to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and my minor sleep apnea.""

Even on an unmoderated board, I don't want to repeat what I am thinking when I see comments like this by your doctors. I guess my question is what have your doctors done to troubleshoot your issues? What has your sleep particularly done? Are you currently taking any sleep medications that perhaps are having a rebound effect?

Have you been checked for nasal potency issues as nasal obstructions can cause problems with sleeping on the machine?

49er

Thank you for your reply 49er. I agree that not having a data capable machine is like shooting in the dark. I have been having issues with insomnia and the cognitive issues prior to being diagnosed with sleep apnea, so it is not the machine that is causing my issues. As far as what has been done to treat the sleep issues, my neurologist does not prescribe sleep medication for people with sleep apnea. His only suggestion was klonopin and melatonin. Both of which do not help improve my sleep quality.

I just recently went back to my psychiatrist because I kept hearing over and over that my problems are all stemming from my untreated anxiety and depression. Even though I hate the idea of taking medication, and know all to well that most doctors just automatically diagnose people with these conditions with out really investigating the issues; I must agree with the doctors because I had issues like this when I was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2011. Also, what further makes me believe this is true is that I have seen numerous doctors and had tons of testing for just about everything and all test and scans have come back completely normal.

Oh, and I've seen an ENT. No nasal issues.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

Dawn,

Another question. Why are you going back on antidepressants? Not asking to be critical but concerned because it seems to me the depression is from not sleeping and your concerns about your cognitive function deteriorating. 'It just seems like a bandaid solution to me but obviously I am not in your situation.

If you are going to go the med route, wouldn't it make more sense to find a sleep med that works if you haven't gone this route?

49er

49er,
I addressed why I'm going back on meds in the previous post, so no need to discuss it again.

Yes I agree I need something to help with sleep. I'm hoping that the trazadone and vistaryl help with sleep along with the lexapro. I don't plan on staying on these medications long term. Just long enough to get back on track ie; thinking clearly, sleeping better, and once this is achieved I can learn better coping skills to deal with my anxiety and depression.

Thanks,
Dawn

[Julie]

Of course keep in mind that many of us were diagnosed with 'depression' because of OSA... they can look a lot alike, which is not to say clinical depression is impossible as a coincidental dx. Have you tried Melatonin before bed? Not a large dose (that can backfire), but 1-3 mg is often v. good about 20 mins before bed, though it can also (eventually) cause other problems, though not major or dangerous unless you're specifically allergic. Some people use Ambien to get sleep when anxious about the mask at first, but you don't want it long term.

[mzdawn74]

While it's criminal to not have a fully data capable CPAP machine, since the cost is minimal, your good AHI numbers are indicating it's working to some extent.

Why are you only getting 3-5 hours of sleep?

Do you have your results from your sleep study? What was your AHI?

One thing to try would be a slightly higher pressure.

Thanks for responding.

I have insomnia and only get 3-5 hours a night of poor unrefreshibg sleep with frequent wakings.

My AHI was 10.5 and my pressure has been prescribed as 8cm h20.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

Hi Dawn,

My first comment is be very sure before going the antidepressant route. My wife had clonazepam prescribed on the basis that "if it cures it, you have anxiety.....if not we'll keep looking" When she finally decided they weren't helping, she spend the days from 8 weeks huddled under a blanket on the couch shaking, trying to get through withdrawal..........drugs are not my favorite approach!

I would see if you can get the cpap working......when mine is on track, I feel good and energetic, my blood pressure is down, my mind is clear...............when it's not the BP goes up, my mind is foggy, and I sleep 15 or so hours a day, and it's not safe for me to drive.



Is the machine functioning correctly - warm moist air, no loud leaks whether your mouth is open or closed, when your respiratory tech reads your machine card is the leak rate acceptable, how many apneas do you get? Lets start there.

Thanks for responding. I agree that medication is not always the best answer. However, it this case I believe it is. I've tried doing this on my own by consulting numerous doctors/specialists, having numerous tests/scans, and lifestyle changes to no avail. This is my last hope..I want to feel and think normally, and not continue to decline. So for now this is the path I must take.

As far as I know my machine is working properly. No loud leaks, and my AHI is around 0-0.5 nightly. My leak rate varies between 14-17lpm, which according to ResMed is ok, and is under the 24lpm which would indicate a large leak more than 30% of the time the machine is used.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

I sleep (3-5 hours)

Honey, you just aren't getting enough sleep for any mammal. That will drive your brain off the edge.

Thanks for replying. I totally agree.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

While it's criminal to not have a fully data capable CPAP machine, since the cost is minimal, your good AHI numbers are indicating it's working to some extent.

Why are you only getting 3-5 hours of sleep?

Do you have your results from your sleep study? What was your AHI?

One thing to try would be a slightly higher pressure.

Her original post gives her AHI (0-0.5) and I would not recommend raising her pressure without knowing what her current pressure is.

Thanks for responding. My current pressure is 8cm h20. Should I raise it. I swear sometimes it feels like I'm not getting enough air pressure..but when I take it off its blowing full blast!

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

I get ahi levels of anywhere from 0-0.5 being the highest. My leak rate varies from 14-17 lmp.

I thought the plain AirSense 10 CPAP machine didn't have leak data....I knew it had generic AHI data.

I use my machine every night when I sleep (3-5 hours).

Not enough hours of sleep even if it is rock solid and not fragmented.

Why so little hours of sleep?
Mask or leak issues? Bed comfort?
Just wake up and don't know why and can't sleep more?

Gotta have more than 5 hours of sleep to have any hope of seeing any improvement.

It does include the leak rate, ahi, and time used. I have insomnia due to anxiety and depression. My sleep is very fragmented. No mask or leak issues. Bed is comfy. I just have constant awakenings every 45 minutes or so.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

If she has an AS10 Elite, she needs to download Sleepyhead and look at the event record.
If the machine is the "CPAP", a FULL DATA machine is indicated.
So many things can interfere with sleep- meds, caffeine, stress, exposure to toxins--
all in addition to the things doctors look at.

Thanks for replying. I have the regular CPAP, not the elite. I'm looking into getting a data capable machine. I currently suffer from untreated anxiety and depression which is contributing to my poor sleep quality

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

You have come to the right place. There is help here.

I think you should work on improving your sleep and sleeping longer. Before CPAP I only slept 5-6 hours a night and thought that that was all I needed. Now since working on my sleep hygiene I sleep 9.5 hours on a good night. Boy was I wrong thinking I only needed 5 hours.

I would listen to advice on how to improve your sleep. It is all about taking care of the little things that wake you up.

Best of Luck!

Thanks for replying. I agree and am hoping the medications I was just prescribed yesterday help with my sleep quality and quantity.

Thanks,
Dawn

[mzdawn74]

She mentioned in her first post that she has the ResMed Airsense10 CPAP. Of course she can clarify.

49er

Yes, I have the standard CPAP version.