New User (28 days) Wonders about Sleep Disruption

Hello All,
I'm quite sure these queries are addressed somewhere in this forum, but how to search for them all?? So I post hopefully, a brief description of my early experiences on CPAP, and perhaps some of you can provide your own experiences in order to help me keep going with it all.
1. My sleep patterns seem to be at sixes and sevens. I fall asleep at 23.00 as routinely as possible. And then, at 02.00, or 04.30, or 05.00, I am suddenly wide awake. I can't go back to sleep for over an hour and must get up to read, etc, and have thoughts of being very excited to be done with this sleeping thing'' so I can get to my projects and work and the day ahead. In other words, I'm not frustrated, but just can't wait until night time is over!
2. I was diagnosed with severe apnea, 55 AHI. My Resmed data show that I have been consistently at 0 or 0.1 AHI since using the instrument. The online data indicate that I usually 99% compliant.
3. I do not have any mask or instrument noise problems. In fact I look forward to putting the pillow mask on my face because it feels comforting and I do not dread going to sleep.
4. Over the 25 days of using it, I have slowly felt a little better, but for the first 2 weeks, I felt FAR worse than without it (like a zombie or almost catatonic is how I would describe it). I would imagine, with a drop from 55 to 0.1 AHI, I would INSTANTLY feel rejuvenated. But no, Currently, at day 25, I feel the same, essentially, that I did before CPAP (except with no snoring, which is a relief obviously!, and an odd sense of increased libido (excuse me for the TMI, but it is distinctly odd, came on suddenly, is unabated, and welcomed. I most certainly was not expecting this 'symptom' by any means. It would also seem to be a sign that CPAP is working, even if I am still pretty tired throughout the day?)
5. I try not to take naps at all, but do find that if I am stationary during the day, it is a possibility that I will still fall asleep.
6. Now that I can fall asleep on my back, that is how I spend most of the night now, which I had never been able to do. However, I started experiencing meralgia paresthetica, which is a numbness of the outer thigh.

I pose these statements to enquire if any of you have experienced an increase in not being able to sleep through the night once you're on CPAP, but NOT because of mask or instrument issues. Is it possible that a person can suddenly get enough uninterrupted sleep going from 55 to 0.1 AHI so that a person's brain feels energized in the middle of the night? I'd like to sleep 7 hours at least, but is it a phenomenon to feel as if you've gotten enough sleep once your apnea is being addressed, on fewer hours of uninterrupted sleep?
Have any of you experienced meralgia paresthetica coming on because you've been able to fall asleep on your back once on CPAP, or could I be conflating another issue with it? its onset coincided precisely is what makes me think they are directly related.

Thank you for any insight you might provide. I have registered for a doctor's appt to review, but he is so booked I won't be able to see him until October - over 3 months from now.
kind regards,
Will

Zocane wrote:have thoughts of being very excited to be done with this sleeping thing'' so I can get to my projects and work and the day ahead. In other words, I'm not frustrated, but just can't wait until night time is over!

You surely won't believe this, but you DO have anxiety about your work.

Zocane wrote:insight

Not insight, just basics:

- Practice good sleep hygiene (Google it and read several sources)
- Eat a good diet
- Have a regular, moderate exercise program
- Try to avoid daytime naps
- Practice total abstinence of caffeine including sources like chocolate (sigh)
- Review all medicines, vitamins and supplements you are taking to make sure none are interfering with sleep
- Use the bedroom for sleeping (and sex) only, and make sure the bedroom and bed are comfortable.
- Learn to appropriately handle emotional stress in your life
- Use CPAP software, such as the free SleepyHead, to make sure your therapy is optimized
- If you still don't feel or sleep well, make sure you have regular medical checkups to confirm there are no other medical problems

CG

Do you take any medications of any kind? If so, what are they?
Any other health issues besides the new one with the numbness? I have never had thigh numbness from sleeping position but I get it often when I lay a certain way and my arm goes numb. I am pretty sure mine is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and since it is relieved fairly quickly when I change position I don't worry about it. It's annoying but doesn't last long. If it persisted during the day then I would get it checked out.

lower extremity numbness...if it persists during the day I would have the back checked out. A pinched nerve in the back can cause extremity numbness....or if it just worries you then have it checked out for peace of mind if nothing else.

ButtermilkBuoy wrote:

Zocane wrote:have thoughts of being very excited to be done with this sleeping thing'' so I can get to my projects and work and the day ahead. In other words, I'm not frustrated, but just can't wait until night time is over!

You surely won't believe this, but you DO have anxiety about your work.

Brilliant! I have been thinking of your statement all week and discovered, from my 'sleep log' that indeed, I am most often insomniac on Sundays, before the Monday of 'back to work.' Thank you for this.

Thank you for your responses and suggestions! I like also the suggestion about the smart card analysis software. I downloaded it and will now figure out how to get the smart card data 'into my computer' (I'm not the sharpest pencil in the desk).

As for medications, I am on the common types for high BP and lipids. My doctor didn't indicate those could be a reason for my insomnia or for my feeling of exhaustion to a greater degree once I started CPAP, but perhaps I should look into this further.

Research your meds thoroughly as to potential side effects that could affect sleep quality. You just never know until you dig deep.
I take a medication for pain that comes with a "may cause drowsiness" sticker but it keeps me awake.
A little known side effect that affects a small number of people who take it is insomnia. I happen to be one of those lucky people.

Zocane wrote:I like also the suggestion about the smart card analysis software. I downloaded it and will now figure out how to get the smart card data 'into my computer'

Please fill out your equipment profile so we can see what you are using every time you ask a question - https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

Zocane wrote:Thank you for your responses and suggestions! I like also the suggestion about the smart card analysis software. I downloaded it and will now figure out how to get the smart card data 'into my computer' (I'm not the sharpest pencil in the desk).

smart cards look like a credit card. sd cards aren't smart cards, if you have one and go searching for the other, you'll be sorely disappointed.