Brand New User: APAP makes me MORE Tired!!
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:15 pm
Hi everyone, I'm a brand new CPAPtalk user and a brand new APAP user. I'm 26, male, and about 65 pounds overweight.
I used to take Paxil for several years, but then tapered off it because of side effects and it was losing its effectiveness.
Unfortunately I gained a LOT of weight while getting off it. I currently do not take any medications and feel fine without them.
However, I've had low energy levels for several years. At my age, I should be at my prime, but instead I'm often tired and sleepy and
sluggish. If I do anything physical like take a long walk or play sports, I get even more tired and might have to nap.
I got my thyroid and glucose levels checked, they came out normal. Blood pressure normal too.
Being very tired all the time, I can only manage to work part time. I just don't have the energy for a full time job. As such I have no
health insurance. Sometimes I would notice that I snort when sleeping, and have to gasp for air. The snorting and the frequent fatigue
made me suspect I have sleep apnea, so I got a home sleep study which is what I could afford.
According to the home sleep study my total AHI is 21.1 and RDI 21.2 I did not sleep well that night. I was wired up and did not feel too comfortable.
Anyway, they said I have moderate sleep apnea when I sleep on my side, and severe sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. At age 26 this is NOT what
I want to hear, but I figured that if I use an APAP like they suggested, I might have plenty of energy and be able to live a normal life where I can
actually work full time and have a social life. Right now I have almost no social life because I'm just so tired most of the time. I have to turn down
offers to hang out with friends or go to events because of my fatigue. Now, there are a couple days a week where I feel somewhat better and can
do things, but most of the time I'm quite tired and sluggish.
Anyway, long story short, I got my APAP. It's a PR System One REMSTAR Auto CPAP with A-Flex. It's one of those newer 560P models (60 series).
It came with a Respironics humidifier attached to it.
I was sad that I have to sleep with this thing every night, but was eager to get my energy back.
After 5 days, I am sad to say that I feel either no difference or actually I feel MORE TIRED.
For example, last night I used my APAP for 9 hours straight. I woke exhausted, as if I need to sleep another 3 hours.
I forced myself to get out of bed since 9 hours of sleep should be plenty and I had things to do. Now, here I am,
typing this but feeling quite tired. It really feels like my APAP has made me MORE tired not less
Can you please help a total newbie out? I have done a fair amount of reading on this forum. I was shocked to read that some users have been using
their APAP or CPAP for MONTHS and still feel tired. I think I even read about someone who found no improvement after a full year of CPAP!
I don't know if I want to wait that long. If sleeping with a mask on my face and air blown into me does nothing to help my energy levels, and sometimes
makes them worse, then count me out! I'd rather be tired but sleeping naturally instead of being tired and sleeping unnaturally on top of that.
Important points:
1. This is NOT a mask issue. I am quite pleased with my Respironics True Blue nasal mask. It's not about me trying different masks or mask sizes, the one
I have is fine and I'm able to wear it all night. I haven't noticed any leaks from it.
2. I try my best to sleep with my mouth shut, to avoid any leaks. I think I've done well so far, but on occasion I do open my mouth to cough. Most of the time
it stays closed. I've heard about chin straps, but I don't think I need one really, and furthermore, the thought of adding yet another thing to my face is not
appealing at all. Those chinstraps are not small, if I add that along with my nasal mask, my whole head will seem covered. If I do feel that I need one tho,
I'll get one. By the way, I got one of those Contour CPAP pillows, and it helps. It allows me to sleep on my side much easier while wearing the mask.
3. My brand new 60 series APAP is not compatible with Sleepyhead yet. I tried the whole SD card thing but SH needs to add compatibility to this new model.
I'm aware that there are other options for my APAP, notably EncoreBasic... but I think you have to pay for that? As a young broke guy I already spent a lot
of money out of pocket for this APAP and hesitate to spend more. But anyway, since SH doesn't support my model, I'm unable to analyze any data. I don't even
know my AHI, it doesn't come up on the LCD, but I might be able to change that if I go into clinician settings on my APAP
4. There was no titration, the APAP has a range of 4 - 20 cm H20. I talked to the sleep technician and told him maybe this range is too large. He said it doesn't matter,
the APAP will use whichever pressure is most suitable at the time. He did say that he might be open to pressure changes in the future, but he wants to wait and see.
(I've only used it for 5 days, he said patients often need 2 weeks to feel better). I know I can change the pressure range myself, but don't want to do this yet. Too soon.
Anyway, I've included all relevant information so please help me!! I'm only 26, I want to work and socialize like all my friends do, instead of being tired all the time.
Like I said, I feel like my APAP is making me even MORE tired. What a cruel joke! After my 2nd night, I took my APAP and stored it away in a drawer, out of frustration.
I couldn't believe I was feeling more tired, not less. But a few hours later I took the APAP out of the drawer and forced myself to stick with it anyway. Now after 5 nights I continue to be more tired. I'm going to try and stick with this anyway, but my patience is limited. I do not want to end up in one of those situations where for the next 6 months I use my APAP every night, full compliance, and all I have to show for it is more fatigue on top of an already fatigued body and mind.
I have heard of sleep debt, but didn't realize sleep debt can increase fatigue. If you had an illness, and a doctor prescribed a pill, and after taking that pill for several days, your illness got worse, would you continue taking that pill? I really want this to work but I'm scared I'll be like those unlucky people you read about who go for months and months with no improvement. For now, I can't even count on that, because not only do I have no improvement, I have an actual increase in fatigue. My sincere hope is
that by losing 60 pounds and being more active and sleeping on my side and never my back, I can one day get off APAP for good. I know for most people it doesn't work like that, although occasionally you do hear about people who lost a ton of weight and with proper changes (side sleeping, no alcohol, no sedatives, proper exercise) they manage to "beat" their apnea.
For now, I need serious HELP to make this APAP work. My mask is fine, but the APAP is making me more tired. Thank you.
UPDATE: I posted my SleepyHead data from last night about 3 posts down from this one. The AHI is very low it seems. Don't know if the leak rate is good or bad.
I used to take Paxil for several years, but then tapered off it because of side effects and it was losing its effectiveness.
Unfortunately I gained a LOT of weight while getting off it. I currently do not take any medications and feel fine without them.
However, I've had low energy levels for several years. At my age, I should be at my prime, but instead I'm often tired and sleepy and
sluggish. If I do anything physical like take a long walk or play sports, I get even more tired and might have to nap.
I got my thyroid and glucose levels checked, they came out normal. Blood pressure normal too.
Being very tired all the time, I can only manage to work part time. I just don't have the energy for a full time job. As such I have no
health insurance. Sometimes I would notice that I snort when sleeping, and have to gasp for air. The snorting and the frequent fatigue
made me suspect I have sleep apnea, so I got a home sleep study which is what I could afford.
According to the home sleep study my total AHI is 21.1 and RDI 21.2 I did not sleep well that night. I was wired up and did not feel too comfortable.
Anyway, they said I have moderate sleep apnea when I sleep on my side, and severe sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. At age 26 this is NOT what
I want to hear, but I figured that if I use an APAP like they suggested, I might have plenty of energy and be able to live a normal life where I can
actually work full time and have a social life. Right now I have almost no social life because I'm just so tired most of the time. I have to turn down
offers to hang out with friends or go to events because of my fatigue. Now, there are a couple days a week where I feel somewhat better and can
do things, but most of the time I'm quite tired and sluggish.
Anyway, long story short, I got my APAP. It's a PR System One REMSTAR Auto CPAP with A-Flex. It's one of those newer 560P models (60 series).
It came with a Respironics humidifier attached to it.
I was sad that I have to sleep with this thing every night, but was eager to get my energy back.
After 5 days, I am sad to say that I feel either no difference or actually I feel MORE TIRED.
For example, last night I used my APAP for 9 hours straight. I woke exhausted, as if I need to sleep another 3 hours.
I forced myself to get out of bed since 9 hours of sleep should be plenty and I had things to do. Now, here I am,
typing this but feeling quite tired. It really feels like my APAP has made me MORE tired not less
Can you please help a total newbie out? I have done a fair amount of reading on this forum. I was shocked to read that some users have been using
their APAP or CPAP for MONTHS and still feel tired. I think I even read about someone who found no improvement after a full year of CPAP!
I don't know if I want to wait that long. If sleeping with a mask on my face and air blown into me does nothing to help my energy levels, and sometimes
makes them worse, then count me out! I'd rather be tired but sleeping naturally instead of being tired and sleeping unnaturally on top of that.
Important points:
1. This is NOT a mask issue. I am quite pleased with my Respironics True Blue nasal mask. It's not about me trying different masks or mask sizes, the one
I have is fine and I'm able to wear it all night. I haven't noticed any leaks from it.
2. I try my best to sleep with my mouth shut, to avoid any leaks. I think I've done well so far, but on occasion I do open my mouth to cough. Most of the time
it stays closed. I've heard about chin straps, but I don't think I need one really, and furthermore, the thought of adding yet another thing to my face is not
appealing at all. Those chinstraps are not small, if I add that along with my nasal mask, my whole head will seem covered. If I do feel that I need one tho,
I'll get one. By the way, I got one of those Contour CPAP pillows, and it helps. It allows me to sleep on my side much easier while wearing the mask.
3. My brand new 60 series APAP is not compatible with Sleepyhead yet. I tried the whole SD card thing but SH needs to add compatibility to this new model.
I'm aware that there are other options for my APAP, notably EncoreBasic... but I think you have to pay for that? As a young broke guy I already spent a lot
of money out of pocket for this APAP and hesitate to spend more. But anyway, since SH doesn't support my model, I'm unable to analyze any data. I don't even
know my AHI, it doesn't come up on the LCD, but I might be able to change that if I go into clinician settings on my APAP
4. There was no titration, the APAP has a range of 4 - 20 cm H20. I talked to the sleep technician and told him maybe this range is too large. He said it doesn't matter,
the APAP will use whichever pressure is most suitable at the time. He did say that he might be open to pressure changes in the future, but he wants to wait and see.
(I've only used it for 5 days, he said patients often need 2 weeks to feel better). I know I can change the pressure range myself, but don't want to do this yet. Too soon.
Anyway, I've included all relevant information so please help me!! I'm only 26, I want to work and socialize like all my friends do, instead of being tired all the time.
Like I said, I feel like my APAP is making me even MORE tired. What a cruel joke! After my 2nd night, I took my APAP and stored it away in a drawer, out of frustration.
I couldn't believe I was feeling more tired, not less. But a few hours later I took the APAP out of the drawer and forced myself to stick with it anyway. Now after 5 nights I continue to be more tired. I'm going to try and stick with this anyway, but my patience is limited. I do not want to end up in one of those situations where for the next 6 months I use my APAP every night, full compliance, and all I have to show for it is more fatigue on top of an already fatigued body and mind.
I have heard of sleep debt, but didn't realize sleep debt can increase fatigue. If you had an illness, and a doctor prescribed a pill, and after taking that pill for several days, your illness got worse, would you continue taking that pill? I really want this to work but I'm scared I'll be like those unlucky people you read about who go for months and months with no improvement. For now, I can't even count on that, because not only do I have no improvement, I have an actual increase in fatigue. My sincere hope is
that by losing 60 pounds and being more active and sleeping on my side and never my back, I can one day get off APAP for good. I know for most people it doesn't work like that, although occasionally you do hear about people who lost a ton of weight and with proper changes (side sleeping, no alcohol, no sedatives, proper exercise) they manage to "beat" their apnea.
For now, I need serious HELP to make this APAP work. My mask is fine, but the APAP is making me more tired. Thank you.
UPDATE: I posted my SleepyHead data from last night about 3 posts down from this one. The AHI is very low it seems. Don't know if the leak rate is good or bad.