Help - Exhausted again

So I'm two years into CPAP, and generally vastly better. I'm sleeping eight hours, no mask issues, AHI below 1.0, generally good to go. But the last few weeks I've been more and more exhausted and feeling apnea-y again (waking up to go to the bathroom at night, waking up tired, more and more tired during the day), and now I'm getting back to the old so-tired-I-can't-handle-life. I've looked at my data in detail, no changes. I've changed nothing in my routine or sleep habits. This happened once before when I switched to a new mask about 18 months ago, but switching back to my main mask (now the only one I use) fixed the problem. I have a few backup masks I could switch to and try. Any other ideas?

If you're using SleepyHead, screen shot a couple of graphs on Imgur.com and put the link here. What pressures are you using? And, hate to ask but it often matters, have you gained any weight recently?

What does you leak line look like?

I'm a data freak, so I do use sleepyhead; there's nothing to see. I use a constant 5.0 pressure, no significant leaks, nice breathing all night (except when I go to the bathroom). I posted a bunch of stuff last time, and there was really nothing to see. I also haven't made any significant life changes lately, or gained weight. I generally eat right, and exercise four to five times per week. Sadly, I'm a mystery.

Well then, for 1-2 nights raise your pressure to 7... see if it helps. Nothing to lose, right? We are all getting on, sometimes stuff changes for no obvious reason, maybe you could get new bloodwork or try Vit. D, or something, but your pressure is sooo low, why not raise it a smidgen.

ThisIsMyUserName,

If nothing else has changed and the data all looks good, then it may be time to look for NON-OSA causes of your symptoms. A lot of things can cause the same symptoms of OSA---the daytime fatigue and sleepiness and waking up in the night needing to go to the bathroom. Since your OSA is still well controlled by the PAP and you're sleeping long enough, it may be time to talk with your primary care doctor. Have the usual blood work done to check out your thyroid levels, your vitamin B and vitamin D levels, etc. In other words, it may be time to check out some of the other things that cause daytime exhaustion, fatigue, and sleepiness and make sure that nothing else is going on.

Roby, thanks. I hate to be the devil's advocate, but I just went to my doctor last week as you suggest, and we did a full workup and nothing showed up. I am stymied.

ThisIsMyUserName,

Glad to hear you've already been to your PCP. Any unusual stress that you're dealing with? Any major life changes as in change in job, change in relationship status, change in residence? Major changes, whether good or bad, can adversely affect sleep. Does winter typically adversely affect you? Hopefully things will start getting back to normal for you in a few weeks.

Not really. Stressful. yes, but life is pretty much always so...

So I switched masks last night and am feeling much better. Has anyone else had this experience? A mask works great for a long time and then all of sudden it's tiring you out?

Yes, this happens to me. Usually I feel like I just can't wear my mask another night, so I switch to another. The last couple of nights have been lousy for me, so tonight I'm changing masks. If the usual thing happens, I'll feel more refreshed in the morning after a better night.