Doctors, APAP, Energy, Maybe a little bit of Ranting

[HisServ]

Okay I am just beginning my trial of APAP and so far am being only semi successful. I have only managed so far to make it to 4 hours per night. Which is great I know because I haven't been on it for long. However, I am just waiting for the time when I can make it all night. I was mostly wondering how many of you had experienced the phenomenon of being tired and yet having some energy? I wake up right now in the morning tired, but I am generally in a better mood and even my husband says so. I also have a little more energy than before. I am just hoping that it gets even better as I increase my time with the mask on each night. I also wanted to comment that you guys are absolutely amazing at your inventiveness and helpfulness. I couldn't even begin to imagine some of the things that you guys think of. I would also just like to rant a little bit about doctors in general. I have not been to ONE doctor whether about sleep apnea or anything else who was willing to take me seriously. I don't know maybe I just look like a very insincere person. What is that about? I know I'm young (24), but don't you think I'd be able to know what's going on (somewhat) with my own self. And what is with this whole having to have a prescription thing? I mean what do they think people are going to do with those machines (don't answer that.) I mean I can see having prescriptions for drugs that are addictive, but a CPAP machine?? I mean is someone just going to buy one for the heck of it? Most people that get them don't stick to them anyway. I mean am I the only one that thinks this? Okay, well I guess that's it... Just curious about the whole energy/tiredness thing.

[rested gal]

I can see having prescriptions for drugs that are addictive, but a CPAP machine?? I mean is someone just going to buy one for the heck of it?

LOL, good point, HS!!

I suppose the reasoning for requiring an Rx is to put a medical professional - the doctor who cares sooooooo much about you - in charge of pressure setting decisions.

[ITeach]

Congratulations on getting them to listen to you! It took me to the age of 35, two kids, several serious infections, years of whining and complaining and a full year of a headache to convince anyone that I was truly exhausted and there was something wrong! Just keep at convincing them until they listen. You did better than I did.

And, yes, I found I had more energy long before I felt less tired. Even being sick now (I had ankle surgery and now have shingles), I find that I get more done than I did before. The alert feeling will come back when you stick with it long enough.

You're doing a great job! Keep it up!

Sue

[4Katie]

I can see having prescriptions for drugs that are addictive, but a CPAP machine?? I mean is someone just going to buy one for the heck of it?

LOL, good point, HS!!

I suppose the reasoning for requiring an Rx is to put a medical professional - the doctor who cares sooooooo much about you - in charge of pressure setting decisions.

Very funny. I don't think anyone involved really cares about my apnea. Haven't heard from the doctor since he gave me the CPAP Rx, and the DME gave me the machine and basically said to have a nice life. When I called once with a problem, they told me to 'keep playing around with it and call back if you still need help.' Needless to say, I didn't bother calling them back!

I came here instead.

[tater pie]

I've experienced the same attitudes from my primary care physician and the sleep doctor who is board certified as a sleep specialist. My ENT is the only doctor that actually gives a hoot or even asks how my cpap treatment is coming along. I saw the sleep specialist doctor three times in the last year--once after my sleep studies to prescribe the cpap. Then again one month later to see how I was coming along. All he did was download my compliance information and ask me how it was going and I don't think he really listened to me when I told him. Then again six months later and again, all he did was download my compliance data. He told me he would not need to see me again for a year.In my case, it's just as well because we are uninsured now and I don't plan to waste any of my out of pocket money on his "expert opinion and advice" (I'm being cynical!). I asked him if I might ever need another sleep study and he said no. I agree with you that it is really silly to require a prescrition for these machines. I guess it allows doctors and dme's to bill the insurance companies and guarantee their payment and raises the price of the machines. Most people I know who haven't actually experienced sleeping with someone with sleep apnea or suffering from sleep apnea themselves think sleep apnea is a hypochondriac type of thing and really doesn't exist. My husband actually feels that way. He just doesn't understand why I sleep with a crazy looking apparatus on my face hooked up to a machine that blows air up my nose all night even though he has heard my loud snoring and gasping for air and seen the difference in my energy levels since being on cpap. He thinks it's just "all in my head" and I could have stopped without cpap treatment if I really wanted to and just tried. Easy for him to say. I've learned to just ignore people like that and do what's best for me anyway. After all, I'm the one who has to live with the results if I don't take charge and take care of my health myself. After first starting cpap, I felt a lot like you have been feeling. I would wake up feeling more rested and yet still sleepy and tired at the same time. A lot of people get to the point where they can sleep straight through the night without waking up. I've been on cpap since last November and still wake up once or twice a night but it really doesn't decrease my energy levels that much. I hope you can get to the point where you can sleep straight through the night. I envy those people but I'm greatful for the good rest I do get now. I used to get almost none at all as before cpap, I didn't experience stage 4 sleep at all. On my sleep studies before cpap, I only had stages 1, 2, and 3. That is something to be greatful for!!!! Good luck.

[sinclaj]

I have had (on some mornings) the same type of feeling. Hard to drag my butt out of bed and tried that day. But still, not the dysfunctional unrested feeling I had before CPAP. I talked to my Dr. (who is great) and he said that just because I am sleeping well now, doesn't mean I'll never be tried again.

Stress in our lives, staying up late, having a drink or two (or three) can all effect how tired we feel the next day.

But, even with just a few hours of sleep, even though I may feel tired, I can still function and not doze off in meetings/at my desk/in my car/in front of the TV/etc.

[WillSucceed]

My buddy Rested Gal wrote:

the doctor who cares sooooooo much about you

Sheesh!! And I thought I was the sarcastic one...

LOL -alot!

[Barb (Seattle)]

I've had wonderful luck with the latest sleep center I'm going to (can I say where, because they are GREAT compared to my last place) The difference between the two is like day and night. They called ME back asking if everything was going well, and they would keep trying till we found a mask that worked I'm going in Monday to have the data downloaded, as the AHI is quite high...it changes from night to night, but is still high...

[SickAndTired]

I was mostly wondering how many of you had experienced the phenomenon of being tired and yet having some energy? I wake up right now in the morning tired, but I am generally in a better mood and even my husband says so. I also have a little more energy than before.

I know exactly what you mean. I've been on a APAP since getting the results from my first sleep study, about 6 weeks ago, and while I still feel like a zombie in the mornings, I seem to have more energy in the afternoons. My friends have also commented that I seem to be in a better mood these days, though I don't really see it myself.

Now if the results from the titration study I took last week would just come in, maybe I could start getting more consistent results. Right now, I have great nights where I sleep through the night with an AHI <5.0 (according to Encore Pro/My) that are occasionally followed by terrible nights where I'm up 2 or 3 times and toss and turn for the rest of the night, and end up with an AHI >15!!!

I would also just like to rant a little bit about doctors in general. I have not been to ONE doctor whether about sleep apnea or anything else who was willing to take me seriously.

Feel free to rant away!

As I've mentioned in other threads, my doctor has admitted that he knows nothing about sleep disorders.

I've only ever dealt with 'sleep techs' at both my sleep & titration studies (and only 2 each time). And if the sleep study report was any indication, my titration study will be signed by a doctor I've never heard of, much less actually met.

The respirational therapist (RT) at the DME I got my equipment from, seemed very nice, but I later discovered (when I found that she had set the "RAMP" on my RemStar Auto-PAP w/ CFlex), that I knew more about the equipment than she did!


It may be a cliche, but it is unfortunately true... no one will care as much about your health as you do!

Good luck!

[FMichael4]

This thread was rather inspiring for me (not that others were not also inspiring!). I am too new to the process to have something to rant about but your experience about feeling like a zombie but also noting more energy rings a bell with me!

I had my sleep test the night before last. The technician was very friendly and gave me a very good description of what was about to take place. THe doctor ordered a split night study. One of the things the tech told me was that if I didn't demonstrate sufficient apnea that I wouldn't be hooked up to the CPAP machine this time unless the dr ordered another night's study. My heart nearly sank to the floor at the prospect that I might not get to find out whether the machine would help or not. I had done some reading on the subject and it seemed like this would be a miracle answer to my perma-tiredness.

The "good" news came around midnight when he came into the room and asked if I was ready to be hooked up. It did take a while for me to get used to breathing with the machine but not too long. The masks that covered my nose didn't seem to give me enough air so I wore a larger mask.

I had hoped to wake up with a miracle feeling of being rested but what I really felt like was a zombie but I also noted feeling better in other ways that I can't really articulate. One thing that I did note though was that this was the first night in I don't know how long that I didn't get up at 3 AM to go to the bathroom. I did wake up then but felt a much stronger urge to stay in bed and sleep.

The next day, I noticed that I felt better and more rested while at the same time feeling extremely tired in a little different way than usual. I was able to commute to work without falling asleep and waking up with a loud snort. I felt more talkative than I usually feel. When I answered the phone at work, I would often have someone ask me if I was having a bad day or if I was tired....so much so that I started making a concerted effort to overcompensate when I answered the phone...yesterday, I didn't need to do that.

Well, now I am waiting for my doctor to get the report from the sleep lab so I can get a prescription. I even called the doctor's office to see if there was anyway to speed up the process. I didn't get 100% of the miracle that I was looking to get but I believe that is at least partially due to the shortness of the split night and also because of the time it took to find a pressure level that would give me results.

I've got at least 6 more days to wait if the doc gets the report in the "usual" time. I hope to get myself a lot more educated about different machines, masks, etc in the meantime.

Thank you to the folks who provide this forum, to the users who contribute their experiences and respond to questions. I hope it was not inappropriate to add to this particular thread instead of starting a new one.

Go Nationals!!

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[WAFlowers]

I am too new to the process to have something to rant about but your experience about feeling like a zombie but also noting more energy rings a bell with me!

<snip>

The next day, I noticed that I felt better and more rested while at the same time feeling extremely tired in a little different way than usual.

I think you are experiencing something I noticed this morning at 5:30. It is the difference between quality sleep and quantity sleep. For the first time in quite a while you had good sleep (quality), just not enough of it (quantity).

I'd say this is a very good (and non-scientific) indicator that you will respond well to CPAP.

I'm pleased for you.

[FMichael4]

Thanks, WAF.

It's great to be able to validate these things with others.

I am really anxious to get my prescription so I can be closer to having a machine. Now sorting though the options, etc.