Oh, I do hear you. I've been in tears I've been so desperate for sleep.lorri214 wrote:... I have had RLS over 30 years. ... My dr. is trying to get the RLS under control. Last night was my 4th night on the CPAP, and it is not so great yet. I sleep worse with the CPAP than before I had it. I can't even leave it on all night. I was expecting more and I know sometimes you have to wait a while for better results. I need sleep!!!
I know getting used to CPAP can be frustrating. There is NOTHING normal about putting a mask on your face and trying to sleep.
Since you have both obstructive sleep apnea AND restles leg syndrome, you need to have both addressed. Sometimes addressing the OSA helps reduce the RLS. Decreased O2 levels as well as the distress OSA creates tends to trigger higher RLS activity.
Below are a couple studies that show that while CPAP helps it is (as you know all too well) not the full answer. It is just an important part of the answer. In essence, you have two problems, both have to be addressed.
We sure wish you well with your CPAP therapy. And if there is any way we can help you manage that part of your therapy we are happy to do what we can. As Rooster (who posts as Roster) notes, many of us often face the three "W"s. Wrong Mask, Wrong Machine, Wrong Settings. So if we can we want to help you find the ideal mask, machine and settings to help address your OSA. Then you can tackle the RLS, which might even see some relief with the OSA under control.
Hope that helps.
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Outcome of restless legs severity after continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) treatment in patients affected by the association of RLS and obstructive sleep apneas
http://www.sleep-journal.com/article/S1 ... 3/abstract
which concludes:
Our findings suggest that not only fatigue and sleepiness but also the severity of RLS show a favorable response to n-CPAP in the group of patients with OSAS and RLS.
OUTCOME OF SLEEPINESS AND FATIGUE SCORES IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME AFTER NASAL CPAP
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/anp/v65n1/a12v65n1.pdf
which concludes:
Following n-CPAP treatment, a positive response in terms of a decrease in fatigue and sleepiness scores was observed in both groups. Nevertheless, OSAS and OSAS+RLS patients responded differently to the n-CPAP therapy, with higher residual fatigue and sleepiness scores persisting in the OSAS+RLS group. Such finding may be due to possible central dysfunctions observed in RLS. Thus, there seems to be a need to treat OSAS+RLS patients for both respiratory and motor symptoms.