Newbie Question

[Sleepqueen]

CPAP newbie here. I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea about 2 months ago. While I don't love wearing a mask and being connected to a machine each and every night, I would say I'm doing very well with the treatment. Since I started about a month ago I have worn the mask every night all night. I was feeling slight changes but overall still was fatigued. I was waking up multiple times a night every night. I was getting frustrated. I just want to sleep through the night! I was diagnosed with mild apnea with only hypopneas. My pressure was low - 4 ramp to 6. This recently was increased by my provider last week from 6 ramp to 8. The first night with the new pressure I felt like I finally slept very well. I wouldn't say I woke refreshed but my sleep felt different. I was excited. Then every night since then I have been waking up at 2am, 3am, 4am wide awake. I've never had this issue ever with my sleep prior to the CPAP nor during the initial month of treatment. Any thoughts? Is this good meaning I'm rested? How can I be rested if I go to bed at 10pm and wake mid night? Should I be concerned? Why would a change in pressure suddenly cause this? Appreciate any insight!

[kteague]

Hello and welcome. It would be good to see if your machine data holds any clues, and if your treatment is optimized yet. Have you already looked at other possible contributors to fractured sleep? (medication side effect, medical conditions like thyroid dysfunction etc, other sleep disorders like RLS or limb movements, or pain - to name a few) Hopefully you can get things working their best for you and begin sleeping better.

[Sheriff Buford]

When I'm working, which I try to avoid... , I get 5 - 6 hours of sleep at night. To me, Fours hours is definitely not enough, but 5 or 6 hours is, at best, can be the minimal amount of sleep to get by on. That being said, we all require different amounts of sleep. As Mrs. Teague requested, are there any medications that may be interfering with your therapy and sleep? Post a typical night's sleep so we can see what's going on... apnea-wise. Do a search to see how to post a graph. I would be concerned on getting used to wearing the mask and letting your body adjust to it. You have a couple of months under your belt, so it shouldn't be too much longer for your body gets used to the mask. A pressure of 6 is very low. I'm not surprised that you responded well to the pressure increase. Keep going... you are doing great!! Keep us updated.

Sheriff

[Phil_in_CA]

I just had a thought... and since they don't come by often, I thought I'd better share.

When I finally got the right settings, I awoke early (after only 5½ hours of sleep. My eyes popped open and I was "good to go!" It was 3am... but it was the first time I had gotten "good" sleep in years and my body was happy. Now that I have been on that same setting and I am more used to it, I sleep longer, but never the eight hours a night that I thought I needed... more l ike 6½ to 7½.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Phil