Still very low energy levels

[jrc90101]

I'm 3+ weeks into my new CPAP therapy and I feel just as tired and wore out as I did before I started. Still struggling with daytime sleepiness and wanting to take naps all the time... I daydream about being asleep. I also have diabetes and hypothyroidism but those are being controlled by medication and my most recent blood tests came back within normal limits. Anyone else out there not feel that "wonderful rejuvenation" right away on CPAP? Should I talk to my Dr?

Jenn

[shippy]

I feel just as tired and wore out as I did before I started

Jenn

I have been on cpap since December of last year, everybody is different and react differently also. I felt like i had more energy at first, thought i would make up for all that lost sleep in a hurry, but it doesn't work this way. Some feel better right away and others may take months, depending on how well your treatment is going. The only way to really tell how its going is to monitor your treatment by looking at it each day (print out report) using software designed for your machine. That way you can monitor mask leakage (if your mask leaks your treatment is not working), and Hypopneas / Apnea events from each night you sleep. I have bad nights and i have good nights, on the bad nights i feel tired and drowzy the next day, on the good nights i feel good all day. But it will take a long time for me to fully recover from sleep deprivation, all i can do is take it one day at a time and make sure my treatment is effective.
Oh! by the way click on the lightbulb at the top of the page lots of info under that lightbulb.

Good Luck in your treatment

Dale

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[bethlori]

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I have been on the cpap for just about 2 weeks and took my regular 3 hour nap today...sans cpap. I just can't nap with that thing on.

I'm also going to the DME tomorrow...AGAIN to get a full face mask. I am not comfortable on either the comfort classic nasal mask or the Swift Mirage nasal pillow system. I "think" I have a deviated septum since I can really only get air through one nostril and my doctor had told me that my throat opening is one of the smallest he's seen.

I'm really shocked that this therapy takes a while. I thought it would be the first night.

[jrc90101]

I don't have any print out from my machine... I don't even know if it has software in it or not... the DME took aprox. 3 mins to show me everything about the machine... focused mostly on how to clean the darn thing... and then sent me out the door.

How do I know if I have software?

Jenn

[jrc90101]

Glad to hear I'm not alone. Do you like your swift mirage nasal pillows? I hate mine with a passion.

Jenn

[tater pie]

I've been on cpap for a little over 2 years. All people react differently. For the first month, I felt as bad or worse than before cpap. Then after making a few adjustments such as finding the right mask and finding a comfortable way to sleep on my side and getting the mouth leaks stopped and getting used to the whole thing, etc., I really started feeling great. I had a burst of energy that last about 4 months and then the fatigue nd sleepiness started coming back. I just hung in there and eventually it leveled out. Now, I feel very rested most days but I still cycle some between sleeping really well and not really feeling rested but for the most part, I feel much, much better than before cpap.

Just hang in there and keep working on it. There are a lot of really smart people on this board that can help you with suggestions on improving your therapy. Whatever you do, don't give up. Quality sleep will happen if you keep trying. I know that's easier said than done, but it is worth it once you get it right.

Good luck!!!

[Goofproof]

If you are using a nasal interface, you must have a solution to stop mouthbreathing, to have successful treatment. Somestimes even then it can take up to 6 months to feel well again. Lots of damage to be repaired.

But repair doesn't start, until you use the machine correctly, for all the time you sleep. By that I mean, mantaining the correct pressure needed to keep your airway open while asleep. Jim

[bethlori]

Well first I find it IMPOSSIBLE to breath through my mouth with the nasal mask on, it makes a type of vaccum for me and I phycially can't talk or breath with it on.

I do not like the nasal pillows, Jenn...While I find it more comfortable than the comfort classic nasal mask, the pressure of air that is being directly forced up my nostrils is very uncomfortable and I feel like I'm suffocating. I switched back to the comfort classic even though it's not as comfortable.

[shippy]

Jenn

I sent you a PM

Dale

[JimW]

How do I know if I have software?

Your machine is software-capable, provided it's the Auto shown in your profile. If you want to access the data your machine produces, you'll need to get the software, a card reader, and a data card, providing you don't already have a card.

[NightHawkeye]

How do I know if I have software?

Jenn, the machine you have listed in your profile, the M-series auto uses a Smart Card to store a lot of data, such as how many apneas and hypopneas you are having every night. You can see just a little of that data from the LCD screen, but to see the detailed data you would need to purchase the software package and install it on your computer.

Here's a link to the software:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... Bundle.html

If therapy is going well, then there's little need for the software, but when something's amiss, then the software is worth it's weight in gold.

Regards,
Bill

[Linda3032]

Jenn, like Bill said, your machine will show some data on the LCD on your machine.

Can you read those numbers and post what they are?

Also, what are the pressure settings of your machine?

[sharon1965]

jenn
i've been on cpap for exactly 2 months, only slept without it one night (after i had a blood vessel in my nose chemically cauterized and couldn't face the thought of it) and am on my 4th interface...i haven't noticed any appreciable results either, except i will say that i can get thru the day without napping, whereas before i didn't have any choice in the matter...so i guess that's something...when i went for my first checkup with the sleep doc at 6 weeks, he told me it can take as much as 6 months or even a year to achieve optimal results...however, he did say i have severe PLMD (periodic limb movement disorder, in case you've never heard of it) and that even though my apneas are controlled, the tiredness can also be attributed to that...i'm also having septoplasty on april 3...you say you 'think' you have a deviated septum...i was wondering if you're looking into that any further? i was told that mine is so severely deviated that the air going up that side is basically just being deflected back out...so there are sometimes secondary issues that affect your recovery and are discovered after the apnea is controlled...just a thought...i know how discouraging it can be, especially after being told over and over 'you'll be like a new person!'...but we just need to hang in there and do what we can to help ourselves
best of luck to you!

[taterbug]

Hi Jenn,

I am a newbie to this (getting my equipment today) but am getting the same machine as you have. In addition to the software, you'll need the Smart Card Reader. This is an additional cost to the software, but cpap.com has a bundle discount if you buy them together.

The card reader is a USB interface between the card from your APAP and your computer.

Greg

[jrc90101]

you say you 'think' you have a deviated septum

No, I think it was another poster who talked about the deviated septum. As far as I know, I have no problems with that.

Jenn