CPAP machine helps sleep apnea but still feeling dopey

Hi

Nubie here - first post.

I see this has been discussed here before but as everyone is different I'm starting this new thread as someone might be able to help.

I was diagnosed 5 years ago after an overnight hospital visit and put on to a CPAP machine but I just could not hack it so gave up. Since then I have tried a mouth guard but found it generated soreness so gave it up. Still not feeling refreshed in the morning I went back earlier this year to try CPAP again and found the machines vastly improved, much quieter and much more tolerable.

First setting was low pressure which increased in times of need but that just woke me up so I've reverted to a more constant pressure regime - around 8 to go to sleep but increasing to 12 thereafter. Sealing the full face mask was a bit of a problem so the beard was shaved and a different face mask used. All this was re-evaluated at a second overnight hospital stay.

There is no doubt I'm sleeping better - my wife reports no snoring or kicking, something which immediately returns if the machine is not off (I had problems with getting the water setting correct so had a couple of nights without it).

So, all initial problems appear to be resolved and I had hoped to wake up as bright and perky as the posters suggested - not so. If anything I feel worse, all windswept and foggy.

Yes I can function and do most tasks but it is through a haze and this is not making life more enjoyable.

I'll be 79 next week, retired, no financial or other pressures, a good and peaceful marital situation so no stress or other obvious factors at play. I'm on heart pills and they have reduced the pressure to normal or close to normal, never had a heart attack, never smoked, .... why the hell am I not feeling better? Maybe consuming 300ml to 350 ml of red wine each night is at fault? Apart from that I have no idea.

Suggestions?

TIA

John

Tassie Devil wrote:Hi

Nubie here - first post.

I see this has been discussed here before but as everyone is different I'm starting this new thread as someone might be able to help.

I was diagnosed 5 years ago after an overnight hospital visit and put on to a CPAP machine but I just could not hack it so gave up. Since then I have tried a mouth guard but found it generated soreness so gave it up. Still not feeling refreshed in the morning I went back earlier this year to try CPAP again and found the machines vastly improved, much quieter and much more tolerable.

First setting was low pressure which increased in times of need but that just woke me up so I've reverted to a more constant pressure regime - around 8 to go to sleep but increasing to 12 thereafter. Sealing the full face mask was a bit of a problem so the beard was shaved and a different face mask used. All this was re-evaluated at a second overnight hospital stay.

There is no doubt I'm sleeping better - my wife reports no snoring or kicking, something which immediately returns if the machine is not off (I had problems with getting the water setting correct so had a couple of nights without it).

So, all initial problems appear to be resolved and I had hoped to wake up as bright and perky as the posters suggested - not so. If anything I feel worse, all windswept and foggy.

Yes I can function and do most tasks but it is through a haze and this is not making life more enjoyable.

I'll be 79 next week, retired, no financial or other pressures, a good and peaceful marital situation so no stress or other obvious factors at play. I'm on heart pills and they have reduced the pressure to normal or close to normal, never had a heart attack, never smoked, .... why the hell am I not feeling better? Maybe consuming 300ml to 350 ml of red wine each night is at fault? Apart from that I have no idea.

Suggestions?

TIA

John

Hi John.

If you're still using a range of pressures, that could be the problem. For some, changing pressures can disturb their sleep. You might try a straight pressure and see if that helps.

Either fill out your profile with the exact equipment you're using, including the pressure settings and the humidifier settings or tell us what they are. Otherwise, we're flying blind on trying to help you.

Welcome to the forum.

Den

.

I hate to say it, but I think the alcohol could be making enough of a difference (it depresses and relaxes things you don't want to be relaxed) to matter, apart from anything else that might also not be ideal. Your pressure may be theoretically 'enough' to do the job, but the alcohol is fighting against it and lowering its effect.

Welcome.

Do fill in the equipment on your profile. If you have the right CPAP machine, you can do a lot more to figure out what's wrong. See the links in my signature line, or ask for help filling it in.

How long have you been at your current settings and having the fuzzy head problem? Were you fuzzy before you started the CPAP again?

Your body adjusts its chemistry to handle apnea. Sometimes when the apnea stops, your chemistry is out of whack until you readjust.

Sorry but I do find this site not easy to navigate and there was no link I saw on the profile page suggesting the equipment be listed.

Regardless, I cannot find the equipment I'm using listed but it is shown here http://1800cpap.com/resmed-products.asp ... vQodqbYAAw It is the third illustration there with the description "ResMed VPAP Machines are Bi-Level Machines to treat your sleep apnea. The VPAP or Bi-Level machine has two pressure, IPAP and EPAP. On the Auto Bi-Level, the pressure will adjust based on patient needs each night."

The mask being used is the second one underneath with the caption "ResMed Full Face CPAP Masks continue to set the Full Face CPAP Mask bar at a high level. The Mirage Quattro styles: Mirage Quattro, Mirage Quattro FX and Quattro Air have been leaders in the industry."

First up air pressure is around 8, rising later to a constant 12. This has required quite a bit of adjustment to the mask to stop leakage but at the same time not put bruising pressure on the face.

I have a heating hose but am using the other non heating one. Temperature is set at 27C and humidity level at 4.0. I can adjust these two factors but the pressure etc is set by the operator on the card and I have not been given the program to access it.

The suggestion that alcohol consumption is not helping is a valid one and so I'll experiment by cutting it back more, although the amount involved now is only around two small glasses. However it was recently discovered I've been operating most of my life with one kidney at 10% (seems it was damaged in childhood most likely when I had poliomyelitis - something which fortunately left no other damage). My GP sends me for regulat tests and is keeping an eye on kidney function so it is not of concern but I appreciate cleaning out the remnants of alcohol does make the kidneys work harder.

I've suffered this foggy feeling most of my adult life and senior years are not helping but mental articulation is now at an all time low, something I had hoped to improve with the CPAP treatment. As posted before the evidence is that I am sleeping better but bottom line appears to be that is not the answer to the present poor mental condition, one which historically has been worse during summer and used to clear up during winter but does not now.

Some time ago I was tested for various allergies and the only positive outcome was for one of the most common of grass molds, one impossible to avoid. I've had numerous other blood, heart, lung and other tests in recent years but nothing significant has ever surfaced. I should add that increasing hearing problems are not helping and have made it impossible to enjoy larger gatherings as the hearing aids do not allow understanding of what is being said in a babble of conversation. Physical activity is unappealing although I do get some, if minimal, exercise.

Apologies for sounding so sorry for myself as I realise my "problems" are minor compared to many at my age and many of my classmates have not even reached this age! But feeling lethargic is not fun and is somewhat depressing although I'm not so bad I need medication or counselling.

Bottom line is that CPAP has been a disappointing venture so far and I see I'm nor Robinson Crusoe with that. However maybe I'm missing something obvious so would appreciate any further suggestions.

John

Tassie Devil wrote:Sorry but I do find this site not easy to navigate and there was no link I saw on the profile page suggesting the equipment be listed.

take another look for the tab under 'profile' that says 'edit equipment'.

Specifically go to: User Control Panel (upper left hand section of this screen)

Then: Profile

Then: Edit equipment

This will take you to pulldown boxes to select your equipment.

If you aren't sure what your machine is called, first remove the water tank, then turn it over, name & model numbers should be on the bottom.

If you don't see your machine listed, post it here in a reply to this thread & we'll help you from there.

Jen

Already posted above but here it is again:

it is shown here http://1800cpap.com/resmed-products.asp ... vQodqbYAAw It is the third illustration there with the description "ResMed VPAP Machines are Bi-Level Machines to treat your sleep apnea. The VPAP or Bi-Level machine has two pressure, IPAP and EPAP. On the Auto Bi-Level, the pressure will adjust based on patient needs each night."

The mask being used is the second one underneath with the caption "ResMed Full Face CPAP Masks continue to set the Full Face CPAP Mask bar at a high level. The Mirage Quattro styles: Mirage Quattro, Mirage Quattro FX and Quattro Air have been leaders in the industry."

John

Tassie Devil wrote:Already posted above but here it is again:

it is shown here http://1800cpap.com/resmed-products.asp ... vQodqbYAAw It is the third illustration there with the description "ResMed VPAP Machines are Bi-Level Machines to treat your sleep apnea. The VPAP or Bi-Level machine has two pressure, IPAP and EPAP. On the Auto Bi-Level, the pressure will adjust based on patient needs each night."

The mask being used is the second one underneath with the caption "ResMed Full Face CPAP Masks continue to set the Full Face CPAP Mask bar at a high level. The Mirage Quattro styles: Mirage Quattro, Mirage Quattro FX and Quattro Air have been leaders in the industry."

John

actually, what you posted was a generic page, and vague descriptions, I know of *NINE* resmed s9 vpap models.

which is yours? there's a REF number on the label on the back of the machine, and a name on the top by the power button.

and you listed *three* different masks in your description.

OK, another try:

It is a RedMed S9 IP21. The mask has ResMed "Mirage Quattro" printed on it.

I'm new to all this - isd their a significant difference in these CPAP machines?

John

Just skimmed through this study which is relevant to the discussion:
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/sd/2013/140725/

It does appear that one of the major factors in my situation could be age + my brain/system is still adjusting to the loss of sleep apnea. So I guess more time will be needed before a true assessment can be made - unless posters here have other suggestions?

John

Tassie Devil wrote:OK, another try:

It is a RedMed S9 IP21. The mask has ResMed "Mirage Quattro" printed on it.

I'm new to all this - isd their a significant difference in these CPAP machines?

John

I'll repeat:
"which is yours? there's a REF number on the label on the back of the machine, and a name on the top by the power button. "

IP21 is the IP Code, International Protection Marking, IEC standard 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Marking,an international standard for protection against water, and finger intrusion into a device. specifically, 2, protection against fingers, 1, protection against dripping water.

you might possibly notice it doesn't have the letters "REF" in front of it on the label, look down at the bottom of the label and please, try once more.

at least you did finally identify the mask. now you can fill in that bit of your equipment profile, should you wish people to be able to give you relevant helpful tips.

Still researching. A good article here: http://www.sleep-apnea-guide.com/questi ... wrong.html

No, I do NOT wish to take any of the drugs. Bottom line is that having suffered from sleep apnea for so long, it will take years for CPAP to be more effective. I've fallen into the trap of expecting to mimic the case of the happy person on the poster who is completely refreshed after CPAP. Very obviously, for many people (me included) that is CRAP!!!

So, unless I'm missing something (and please tell me if that is the case) I'll shut up and move on.

John

Thought I had replied but the post vanished.

Printed on top of the power button is "Escape" & under it "Easy Breathe".

The S9 unit is connected to an H5i humidifier.

Does that nail it down?

Damn! Forgot to add that each machine has CE 0123 printed.

Thanks for your patience - you are dealing with a half awake CPAP user