Mood effected from CPAP therapy.

Dunno if this has happened to anybody else when started CPAP treatment. I have now been using the machine each night as clockwork since I started 10 nights ago. And even though I have had some problems with Masks, this hasn't effected my use of the machine. When I first started to use the machine I got an upswing in energy, I was like omg this is fantastic. Now a few nights down the track I'm more tired in the morning when waking up with the machine then I used to be without it. perhaps this is because I actually get quality sleep and is not already aroused when alarm goes off? I can live with this I'm figuring my body has been so sleep deprived it just wants it now that it's up for offer Now to what is really effecting me; my temperament, I have always been able to say my piece before the shit hit the fan, always very assertive, always very diplomatic. Since starting the CPAP therapy, I have turned into a moody bitch, who cry at a drop of a hat and who gets angry over things that would normally not effect me. Worst thing for me is that I cannot control my anger, something I always been able to do. Has anybody else experienced mood changes when starting therapy? I'm hoping to hear this this part of the process, or perhaps I got "that one" machine that turns normally nice women into psychotic monsters

Fluctuations can be expected, but the extreme mood change seems beyond the expected. My first thought was what meds you might be on. We've had people post that meds that worked for them pre-cpap became problematic once sleeping better. I can't explain the science of it, but untreated sleep apnea changes things hormonally and chemically so how you interact with a med can change. One poster said meds she was on for bipolar disorder threw her into a real bad spell after starting CPAP. Turned out she didn't need the med at all but had to sort through all that. When I was put on Provigil I experienced uncontrollable crying spells - not tearful and sad, but broke down sobbing yet I was laughing at myself. Thought I was losing my mind. Sure hope you can figure things out for your situation. My experience certainly may not be yours.

Thank you for reply, I'm not currently on any medication however I had a lot of horrible things happened in the last 2 years. Bad accident, loss of home, ect. perhaps this is just me (trying) to deal with built up grief now that my body has energy to deal with other things then just being stressed from staying alive.

Valkyria wrote:Thank you for reply, I'm not currently on any medication however I had a lot of horrible things happened in the last 2 years. Bad accident, loss of home, ect. perhaps this is just me (trying) to deal with built up grief now that my body has energy to deal with other things then just being stressed from staying alive.

I would say mood swings are normal before treatment but not after. Any chance you have some other female events about to happen which are no longer suppressed?

For me, I think I have more patience after starting effective cpap therapy.

What you describe sounds a bit like menopause.
I am no expert there and it depends on your age. If you are mid 40s to early 50s maybe it is your time.

It may also be that sleeping has brought on some hormonal changes that you will need to adjust to, before you settle back to normal.

I have been a hosehead for just over two weeks now and I can certainly relate to the mood swings at the start of this process. For me, I can recognize that it is a combination of several things:

- dealing with the diagnosis and treatment (great discussion here about the grieving process of dealing with the diagnosis and change viewtopic/t61785/Especially-for-newly-d ... hange.html)
- dealing with the side effects of treatment which for me have been runny sinuses and a seriously sore throat as I'm still figuring out the right humidity levels for my body
- dealing with getting used to the equipment and sleep disruptions during the night (chin strap slips off, mask leak if I roll over, having the cold hose touch me and wake me up, etc)
- dealing with the changes in my night time routines (inability to snuggle and chat with hubby before bed, taking 15-30 minutes to get everything ready, get meds taken, sinuses rinsed, machine set up, etc)
- dealing with getting sleep again for the first time in a long time
- dealing with the DME, 2 specialists, my primary care doc, the clinic I go to down the street from work to get my Vitamin B shots, trying to get all my other meds in and feeling like getting myself healthy is like another full time job

I'm getting better a little bit at a time with the process, the moodiness, the sleepiness, as well as energy levels. But, I still am working towards getting to a point of acceptance with the new way I have to sleep and the impact that it has on my former "normal" life that I did not expect.

Here's hoping that a month from all this is all old news, that we're into our new routines, and that many nights of full sleep and some extra adjustment time will get us back to a more stable state - both physically and emotionally

Thank you lytepole, you make me feel less crazy you are right about all the changes but at the same time I actually sleep better even with waking up adjusting mask then I did before. I used to have episodes 60 times/hour and used to wake up not being able to breath at least twice per hour together and with horrid head aches. I was literally thinking multiply times per day that if I don't get sleep soon I WILL go crazy. I actually started crying on the phone when I called one of the places to have an appointment to try masks and machines and they told me I could not get in for 5 days, I cried and said I can't do this, I'm so tired I can't function any longer. Thankfully I could get in at another place an hour later! Cheers to getting to a stable state and to getting healthy!

Sleep deprivation has some odd side effects but for some people it is becoming an automaton and the suppression of emotions (for other like me not so much) Now that you are getting some sleep and REM activity you might be starting to lose that effect and start processing your emotions more honestly.

Also like it has been pointed out, though this is making you feel better it is still a major life style change and coming to terms with it can be difficult. If people comment just tell them you are on new medication and things should settle down in a few weeks.

Take a yoga class or a meditation class or start journaling.

Lots of things happen to your body when you have apnea. Poor sleep, low oxygen levels, stress hormones, etc. Your body adjusts. Sometimes when you stop having apnea, your body takes a while to readjust. It's a bit like stopping caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or drugs.

Hopefully, you'll readjust soon.

If change were easy, almost anyone could do it. But most people rarely change at all, mostly because it takes effort and is difficult. Sometimes it is difficult because things sometimes get more difficult on the way to getting better, and they can bring unexpected side issues along with the change that is desired. Motivation is the key.

They surveyed centenarians regarding the secret to long life, and the consensus was that being flexible and adaptable to change was a huge part of it.