HELP! APAP is keeping me awake!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
LindaCPAP
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HELP! APAP is keeping me awake!

Post by LindaCPAP » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:45 am

OK - I got over the scared rabbit syndrome with the nasal pillows on my face AND I was even tired enough to go to bed. My problem is this, it appears that the forced air from my APAP invigorates me (maybe its all of the oxygen), I don't know but it kept me from falling asleep PLUS it made me VERY hungry while it was on. I laid in bed with it on for two hours finally taking it off so I could get some sleep before getting up at 5:00 a.m. Has anyone experienced this and if so how long does it take to go away?


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RipVW
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Post by RipVW » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:28 am

Hmm. How long have you been using your machine? Usually it just takes a little time to get used to this. And, I know some prefer to use their APAP machine in CPAP mode because the pressure changes arrouse them. I prefer APAP mode, but like all of this, it's just a matter of personal preference. Good luck!
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LindaCPAP
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Post by LindaCPAP » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:47 am

Well actually I'm a newbie and I haven't even slept one complete night with it on. I'm in the baby stages. First I had horrible anxiety about the putting the mask on my face, then the flow of the air was freaking me out. So, with the help of this site and my wonderful CPAP friends I have been able to calm down a bit enough to put it on. I've been using for about a week. That's why knowing I was past the anxiety, I thought I would be able to sleep when I noticed it was invigorating me and creating hunger. Sometimes I would come home from work and lay on my bed and put the mask on just to get used to the whole thing. I also noticed at that time I would feel invigorated even though I never slept.


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dsm
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Post by dsm » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:53 am

LindaCPAP,

What you describe is not strange. Many of us feel quite awake starting cpap & it can be for at least 2 well understood reasons

1) Is the anticipation & excitement keeping some people awake

2) Yes, the extra air can 'supercharge' some people. A good indication if this is happening is if you feel you are not sleeping as much & don't feel at all tired the next day. That extra air can be like a dose of energy.

I suppose there is always 1 & 2 combined as well.

Good luck - am sure you will find this all works well for you.

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Post by Wulfman » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:47 am

Linda,

How is your Vantage configured? Is it set to CPAP mode or in Auto mode with a range of pressures?
If you have it in a range of pressures, you won't have exhale relief (EPR) like you would have in CPAP mode......and the pressure changes/increases could very likely be the problem......from what you're describing.

Do you have a prescribed pressure?

Den

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LindaCPAP
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Post by LindaCPAP » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:12 am

My machine is set to auto and last night the levels ran from 4 to 10 and back and forth. I'm new to this so this is all I know.


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LindaCPAP
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Post by LindaCPAP » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:15 am

Just read my prescription. It says APAP 4-15 with H2O.


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kteague
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Awake and hungry

Post by kteague » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:33 am

Linda,

For me, just the newness of all the sensations made me hyperaware for a very long time. About the increased hunger, according to the studies reported on 60 Minutes last Sunday, insufficient hours of sleep leads to heightened appetite. (I could have told them that!) It may not have been the apap causing your hunger, but the lack of sleep. Many report getting less sleep during the adjustment phase than they did pre cpap.

I think once your treatment becomes more the norm in your nights you'll be better able to assess the effectiveness of your options for treatment. You've already made progress in this short time and you have the attitude and tools for success - bet you'll have it mastered in record time.

Kathy


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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:33 am

Are you familiar with how to view your nightly data from the machine's LCD screen?
I suspect the way it's set-up has a good deal to do with your problems of adapting to it. Your starting pressure is LOW and if "Settling" is not configured, it could be doing all kinds of things you don't want it to be doing while you're trying to get to sleep is "Settling" is not enabled or configured in your machine.

If you go into your machine's configuration, write down all of the settings as you go through the menu items (don't change anything yet). Then bring them back here and one of our ResMed gurus could advise you on a better configuration.

Den





1. Accessing the Clinical Menu

Turn on the device and wait until the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen appears on the LCD.
At this stage you can adjust the ramp/settling time.

Press the DOWN and RIGHT keys simultaneously for 3 seconds to access the clinical menu.


2. Changing Options and Settings.

Press the LEFT (menu) key to access the SETTINGS menu screen.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the RESULTS, OPTIONS and SERVICING menu screens.

From a menu screen, use the LEFT (enter) key to access the parameters in that menu.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through menu parameters.

Use the LEFT key to view or change each parameter setting as required.

Press the RIGHT (exit) key until you return to the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen.

Last edited by Wulfman on Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
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SteveB
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Post by SteveB » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:34 am

I've notice that also. I wake up after 2 hours feeling like I've had a full nights sleep. Can you just imagine what a fully oxygenated body could do with 8 hours, if you can feel that good after 2!!!

LindaCPAP
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Post by LindaCPAP » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:45 am

My problem was the fact that I didn't sleep, that all of the 'oxygenated' air invigorated me to the point that I couldn't sleep even though I was tired and ready for sleep when I went to bed.

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Post by Guest » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:35 pm

Hey, welcome to my world!

It took me six weeks to finally settle into wearing the mask all night, and not fiddling with it all night, and then grousing around about it during the day.

It's a struggle. It WILL GET BETTER. What I did was to lay down, breathe deeply, intentionally relax, and tell myself I could do this, and it would get better.

I toughed out the hunger. I refused to get up in the middle of the night and eat. Most of the time. Every now and then, during the bouts of 2 am insomnia, I'd eat a little something and watch TV. But not every night.

Gradually, it got easier. The time on the mask got longer. And I kept switching masks until I found one that really worked for me.

Good luck, keep plugging away at it, and vent here all you want!!! I owe the board for all the whimpering I did in my first months of therapy!

Hugs,
Babette

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Post by Guest » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:39 pm

Oh, and another thing... I couldn't tolerate the APAP fluctuations at all. I went back to straight CPAP at ten. I initially used CPAP, then bought an APAP in July 07, and tested it for a few weeks, then decided I much preferred straight cpap with no ramp, and a cflex of 3. Pressure of 10.

That broad of a range in your APAP would suffocate ME. I'm not YOU, but I'm just saying... You might want to play with it a bit. Maybe narrow the range.

I would never be able to breathe on 4.
Babs


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Post by Guest » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:42 pm

Another thing occurs to me... The energy spikes you're having after 2 hours of CPAP won't last. It's a phase of therapy. This is NOT what your sleep patterns will look like forever.

At least, that's been MY experience. I had a few days of spiking, I've had a few days of absolute euphoria, and I still cycle through periods of being unable to sleep for more than a few hours, waking up alert in the middle of the night.

It just keeps changing on me. I HAVE noticed a very subtle and gradual improvement in my overall sense of well-being, and mental energy. Very limited increase in physical energy. It's very subtle and gradual. The intermittent spikes are fun, but they are not going to last. Don't fret that you're now a 2 hour a night sleeper.

LOL,
Babs


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Post by roster » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:04 pm

LindaCPAP wrote:My problem was the fact that I didn't sleep, that all of the 'oxygenated' air invigorated me to the point that I couldn't sleep even though I was tired and ready for sleep when I went to bed.
Linda,

Cpap (or apap) does not provide oxygenated air. It is just room air under pressure to force your airway open. You did say your prescription says APAP 4-15 with H2O. H20 is water. Is it possible the prescription said O2 (oxygen) meaning you have supplemental oxygen?

Similar to Wulfman's comments, your settings look suspicious. A lower setting of 4 is rarely good for anyone. Also, a range of 6 is probably too wide to be comfortable and effective.

During your titration study, what did they find was the "best" pressure for controlling your sleep apnea? Are you using supplemental oxygen?


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