CPAP causing more problems

I'm freaking out!

I started CPAP therapy a week ago and although I'm sleeping amazingly well, the CPAP treatment seems to have caused different problems!

My AHI was 111, i was falling asleep at my desk and getting up 3 - 4 times a night to go to the bathroom. I'm a mouth breather so went straight to a full mask and despite a small claustrophobic attack slept amazingly well from the first night. I'm using a FIsher and Paykel Sleepstyle Auto with full face mask - the machine has slow ramp, exhalation relief (set to 1), a humidifier, sleep sense (ramps down as soon as i'm awake), and auto pressure (ranging 4 - 12 as set by the clinic)

Since starting treatment I've noticed my blood pressure is higher, when everything I've found online says it should be going down. I woke up after 4 days using the machine 5kg's heavier with water retention (2kg of this was gone by the end of the day, lost another 1kg the next day, and a further 1kg today) and I've been experiencing occasional asthma like symptoms (have had mild asthma previously, but not for years)... WHAT THE HECK?!?

I've had hypertension for approx 12 years and it was controlled with medication (3 kinds, including a mild diuretic), the last couple of times I've taken it (before treatment) it was around 130/90 - high but stable. The last couple of days the best reading I've had was 155/100 and its really worrying me. I haven't hit the scary "hypertensive crisis" level, so at least there's that.

I'm assuming the water retention will resolve itself as my body adjusts to not going to the bathroom at night as I've lost 4 of the 5kg already, and I've found online that some people will get asthma from treatment due to the constant pressure... the thing that's freaking me out the most is the blood pressure.

I've been cleared by a renal specialist, my blood tests have always been normal, no history of heart problems (other than hypertension), i don't add salt to my food, I haven't been able to exercise the last 2 weeks - but normally do 4 x 45min sessions at the gym, as mentioned above I had mild mild asthma years ago and only have an inhaler as a 'just in case'. I'm trying to lose weight, but am 'obese' according to BMI tables (183cm/128kg )

Nothing has changed for me in the last week except starting my CPAP treatment.

I DO have an appointment with my GP in the morning but wanted to ask if anyone else had experienced anything like this and basically just put it out there. I've been googling like a madwoman and haven't been able to find any answers. I'm hoping it's just the water retention and anxiety of starting treatment...

Well, for one thing, your pressure setting of 4 (the low one vs the high of 20 which is not important at this time) is the machine default low that most people find they cannot inhale easily from and which is likely quite subtherapeutic. Too many doctors who don't understand the equipment think that even if you have events at much higher levels (e.g. 10 or 14 etc) the machine can 'get there' to address them (or to be ready for the next high ones) but it can't, so almost all move the low setting to at least 6 or 7, and often even higher in future. You're not being treated effectively as things are now.

There may be other issues as well to address, like the mask or ramp setting (most stop using the ramp altogether very soon after starting Cpap) but you'll learn more over time.

Julie wrote:There may be other issues as well to address, like the mask or ramp setting (most stop using the ramp altogether very soon after starting Cpap) but you'll learn more over time.

So true, I turned my ramp off. I think it was causing my mouth to blow open even more. I would fall asleep at low pressure and then it would ramp up when I was relaxed and easily blow my mouth open.

Granny I don't think SleepyHead will work with the F & P SleepStyle...I think it only works with the F & P Icon series.
If there is data available I imagine the only software that would work would be the F & P software.

No Sleepyhead, thanks for the correction, Pugsy. The best you can do with the Sleepstyle line is to use their app - https://sleepstyle.fphcare.com/?_ga=2.1 ... 1505485070

Just updating now that I've had my account registration approved.

Looks like my guess was pretty accurate and anxiety and stress of a new situation were the problem. Dr ordered blood tests (liver, thyroid, kidneys etc) and an echocardiogram - everything came back normal so he was pretty confused.

Water retention is no longer an issue since my body has/is adjusting to using the bathroom during the day. Asthma like breathing problems and chest/back pain have vanished as I've gotten used to the machine, and although my BP medication was increased, I'm seeing improvement in my BP as well (better than it was before CPAP). AHI for 8 hours sleep is around 1.5, some nights it's 0.

The more i get used to the machine the better things get. I'm back at the gym and watching my diet so hopefully if I manage to shift some weight I'll be even better off.

Thanks to everyone for replying.