Struggling with CPAP & zombie

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:13 am

Good morning.

I just had a sleep study done at the beginning of this month. I'm still getting used to this all. I've had my machine for about a week or two. There are times when I wake up all refreshed and ready to deal with the day. Other times, I feel like a zombie.

Is this normal?

bv1800
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by bv1800 » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:22 am

To a degree, yes. I experienced similar symptoms when I started, but possibly not as extreme as yours. I assume that you've taken note of any differences in your afternoon/evening leading up to the zombie nights vs the good nights. For example, I've come to realize that I have a mild reaction to gluten, that affects my sleep if I have bread or beer ( ) within 4 hours of going to sleep. Cut out the gluten 4 hrs before bed time and I sleep very well. Alcohol in general can have similar affects for many OSA sufferers.

_________________
MachineMask

User avatar
Jeff241
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:58 am
Location: MN

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by Jeff241 » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:51 am

You might not be getting good quality sleep yet. Does your machine allow you the check the data? If so you could run software and post your results. People might be able to spot something in your data that will help.

Let us know what machine you have and you will get some suggestions.

_________________
Mask: Pilairo Q Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Straight CPAP @ 12 cmH2O, EPR 2, Sleepyhead Software v0.9.8-1

User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:17 am

As I just added my segnature. As I have looked at things, I had supper around 6:30. I do remember waking up to a bit of air blowing up onto my eyes last night, but I really wasn't certain about it.

Machine: System One 60+
Humidifier:System One Humidifier & Heated Hose
Mask:Resmed Airfit 10 FF Mask
Notes: Side mouth breather

library lady
Posts: 1116
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:10 am
Location: Rochester, MN

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by library lady » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:01 pm

You mention air blowing up onto your eyes. I also use the AirFit F10 mask, and before that Quattro Air, which uses the same cushion, but the frame is a little different. Quattro Air was a monster for me with air leaking into my eyes, and I'm sure the F10 would do the same. Are you using mask liners? They keep the air from leaking into my eyes, and almost everywhere else. I rarely have large leaks now, and it is even rarer that a leak wakes me up. I am just 5 months into this, and I wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't discovered mask liners in a thread on this forum.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments:  Sleepyhead
Now using AirFit F10 mask; Quattro Air is backup mask. RemZzzz mask liners with both.

User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:27 am

I just got diagnosed at the middle of July, so still a newbie to all this. I don't know if that would solve one problem and not solve the other issues I seem to be having - extreme dry mouth, nasal congestion, and swallowing of air. I am starting to look at another mask to see if there is anything that would counteract these.

I do suffer with a mild case of GERD, yet the CPAP aggravates this with the air swallowing.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by Pugsy » Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:33 am

What settings are you using on the humidifier? With or without the heated hose?
Dry mouth is from mouth breathing in most cases...sometimes adding more moisture with the humidifier will help...sometimes it doesn't help even with settings maxed out.

Congestion....again what settings are you using on the humidifier? Do you have congestion issues also during the day or just at night with the mask on?

Aerophagia....what is/are your pressure settings? Using any exhale relief?

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:32 am

Pugsy wrote:What settings are you using on the humidifier? With or without the heated hose?
Dry mouth is from mouth breathing in most cases...sometimes adding more moisture with the humidifier will help...sometimes it doesn't help even with settings maxed out.

Congestion....again what settings are you using on the humidifier? Do you have congestion issues also during the day or just at night with the mask on?
The settings are set to 5 - highest level possible, and my congestion issues continue during the day, watery running nose, coughing, sneezing. The watery eyes I attribute to the mask leaks after figuring that was the mask. The whole allergic reaction without any allergies to speak of. I used to have sinusitis until I worked on my diet to cut down on gluten and dairy. It was not fun to have sinus infections from nasal drip down my throat at night. I do not use any allergy medications, nasal rinses, etc for a long time because things finally cleared up to that point where I didn't need it anymore.
Pugsy wrote:Aerophagia....what is/are your pressure settings? Using any exhale relief?
I believe the pressure settings are 5-20. I don't know about the exhale relief. I'm in my second week of using it, and still not used to all the lingo/etc.

User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:34 am

And I do have a heated hose as posted in my signature.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by Pugsy » Sat Aug 02, 2014 2:08 pm

If you are using the heated hose and set to 5...that's the temperature control and not humidity control.
In regards to humidity control there are only 3 settings...1 through 3 with 3 being maximum of 90%.
You might go into the clinical setup menu and see what the humidity level is set at. I think the default is for a setting of 2 which is 80%.

Did the nasal congestion allergy like symptoms start back up again only after you started cpap therapy?
You may need more or may need less humidity...have you tried less? Remembering that the settings 1 though 5 are for temperature only while using the heated hose. If you didn't know this fact and thought a lower setting meant lower humidity...it didn't.

Pressures and aerophagia and exhale relief...you need to get the software and let's see what the pressure line is wanting to do.
Links for Sleepyhead in my signature line.

Don't know about getting into the clinical menu ....go here and request the clinical manual for your machine.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
valsedai
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:28 am

Re: Struggling with CPAP & zombie

Post by valsedai » Tue Aug 05, 2014 5:13 pm

After going back to the DME, I changed mask styles Nuance Nasal Pillow Mask. That's helped so much with the leaks, the aerophagia, and after figuring out that I was feeling more anxious as well.

Last night I kept it on for about 6 hours before starting to have a coughing fit.

Kept it on last night while watching television and that has started to help a lot to feel more myself by the time I went to bed.

Thank you Pugsy for helping me with the heat setting, I turned that down to 2 for the past few nights and that has helped a lot to not be so hot with the humid weather.