Still Tired...

[zorty]

I have been a cpap user for 3 years now. I never feel rested when waking up in the morning. I do know that if I don't use the cpap I feel even worse.

For some time now I have been more restless turning from my side to my back throughout the night. I also have been mouth breathing more.

I recently had a sleep study for a retitration as I had lost 30lbs. I have had 4 sleep studies done and none of them felt like my sleep patterns at home. I am always awake for most of the night during the sleep studies.

I asked for and got a new M series APAP (range 5 to 12) and I am trying the mirage nose pillows. After sleeping for 3 nights with the new apap I am still not getting good sleep.

When I wakeup my hands hurt and I am always waking up in a vivid dream.

I would be more tired during the day but I am taking provigil.

I am looking at purchasing the software and reader. It's cheaper at this website: http://www.directhomemedical.com/access ... bipap.html.

Any ideas? I am thinking of taping my mouth shut or going with a full face mask. Maybe I should wait until I get the software?

[Pineapple]

Zorty,

You can go to the pharmacy and buy tape today. The full face mask or the software you'll need to wait for. I don't think you can do any damage by trying taping, the worst that can happen is it won't help.

I don't want to comment to much on the software because I don't have it either, but doesn't CPAP.com price match? Oh Johnny?

[cflame1]

CPAP.com does price match

[jenjochach]

I've had a similar experience, actually. Tho I'm new to this forum, I've been on CPAP for about 2 years. At first, I absolutely could not believe the difference~ I thought "People wake up feeling like this?!?!" But lately I've felt less energized in the morning, less rested, more lethargic... kindof sleepy thru the day. I have an auto-titrating machine, so that shouldn't be the problem. I started out with a comfort-gel nasal mask, but about 18 months ago I switched to a mirage nasal pillow. That seemed great at first... but lately, like i say, not feeling so rested. Is this a common phenomenon some of you veterans have experienced? Are there things I should be trying?

[sagesteve]

You should look at an oxygen bleed into your machine.

[jenjochach]

sagesteve- what's that?

[rested gal]

You should look at an oxygen bleed into your machine.

sagesteve- what's that?

He's talking about adding supplemental oxygen in-line with the "cpap" treatment. A rather ridiculous suggestion to make at this point, imho, whether he's directing that at Zorty or you jenjo, considering what's been described so far. Especially since neither you nor Zorty have had a doctor say you needed extra O2 added.

What pressure were you prescribed from your sleep study, jenjo? And what range do you have your autopap set for? The solution might be something as simple as raising your minimum pressure some.

Also could be that even if "cpap" is doing its part of the job just fine, there could be other health problems, med side effects, sleep hygiene issues, or even just additional stress in one's life. There are lots of other more common things to look at when feeling rested on treatment changes to not feeling so rested anymore. Lots of things to look at before dragging a big noisy O2 concentrator into the bedroom!

Zorty, when you solve the mouth breathing problem, the machine may be able to do a much better job for you. But you already know that and are planning to work on it. Good luck!

[sagesteve]

Don't know where you've been. These new machines are not noisy! The Invacare is the quietest...only 42db. The fact that he hasn't felt that good after 3 years of use is more than just pressure!! He's not getting enough oxygen (bet?). Needs to read his saturation in the middle of the night.

[kteague]

As Rested Gal said, there can be any number of reasons for not feeling well. As for me, I'd want the "why" addressed before shooting in the dark, and deal with the known factors first, like mouth breathing and making sure pressure is therapeutic. And also the maybes RG mentioned.

If there do turn out to be oxygen problems due to lung issues unrelated to OSA, that's another story. Some members have posted on here who use oxygen with their cpap treatment. It can be a need, but if a titration was suboptimal and evidence is incomplete, the DME can provide equipment on doctor's order for an overnight oximetry. I just wouldn't want want the expense and hassle of of adding anything without knowing it's a need.

Kathy

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[Mark_Ferman]

Lots of things to look at before dragging a big noisy O2 concentrator into the bedroom!

I leave my O2 concentrator in the bathroom shut the door and run a very long hose, that way nobody hears the concentrator - and the bathroom is warmer in the morning as well. But I agree that its best to look at other things before adding 02, unless you want to set up an 02 bar and charge good $$ in your house.


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