I have just been diagnosed and I cannot believe

[Hooter44]

how many systems are affected by lack of deep sleep. I have been battling low testosterone, ED, fatigue, mental fog,etc for 9 years and always had work, work stress, stress in general to blame. Could all I have been experiencing, the feeling I am not all there, struggling to do basic everyday things and sliding a slow downward spiral into depression and lack of function, be due to sleep apnea? I have one more sleep (or lack of sleep during) study to regulate the cpap pressure next week. I am finally hopeful after seeing multiple doctors, using testosterone replacement, seeing urologists, endocrinologists, etc- that this may be the treatment necessary to get ME back.

[Paul56]

In a word... yes.

You mentioned urologist... been getting up a few times at night to hit the washroom?

I was too... now I sleep right through and so will you once on effective therapy.

[harry33]

welcome hooter,
much of it is probably from sleep apnea, you will need to wait several weeks after getting your CPAP to see how much your health improves, I suggest you then tell your doctors all about sleep apnea

sadly the diagnosis still sometimes takes a long time, it took years of severe fatigue before I diagnosed myself

stay with us

[twokatmew]

I was amazed too. I have several medical problems and have been tested for just about everything, with all results coming back negative. When I went for the sleep study, I figured it was just another expensive, PITA test that would come back negative. Instead, my doc called and said I have OSA. I just started treatment -- tonight will be the end of my second week -- and I'm still struggling with finding the right mask and pressure. But I'm starting to notice fewer pains and aches and am looking forward to having more energy, less brain fog and maybe some improvements with other health issues. Not visiting the bathroom 10+ times a night is a great improvement, too!

Anyway, welcome to the board and good luck with your titration study. There are lots of good people with good advice here. The best advice, however, is to make sure you get a fully data capable machine (which provides efficacy data). That's the only way you can tweak your treatment without having another sleep study. With the Elite II, I know why I'm still not feeling better -- I'm having too many apneas and hypopneas. Without efficacy data, all I'd know is that I'm not feeling better.

[Husky Lover]

I'll second that about the bladder. Immediate improvement, not that I thought once or twice a night was a problem before but now I sleep all night and have no urgency in the morning. I understand it's the hearts reaction to hypoxia that has something to do with it.

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, Hooter44! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

Took me almost a year after I was diagnosed to find cpaptalk.com. You're lucky to have found it as you begin!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

What's the connection between apnea and getting up to pee during the night? I know it exists, but why?

[mikee]

how many systems are affected by lack of deep sleep. I have been battling low testosterone, ED, fatigue, mental fog,etc for 9 years and always had work, work stress, stress in general to blame. Could all I have been experiencing, the feeling I am not all there, struggling to do basic everyday things and sliding a slow downward spiral into depression and lack of function, be due to sleep apnea? I have one more sleep (or lack of sleep during) study to regulate the cpap pressure next week. I am finally hopeful after seeing multiple doctors, using testosterone replacement, seeing urologists, endocrinologists, etc- that this may be the treatment necessary to get ME back.

Welcome Hooter44

I was and still am battling the fatigue thing even after 6 mo of CPAP. I also was tested for low T and had two sets of shots before they discovered my OSA. My sleep Doc took me off the testosterone shots he said they can really affect your OSA, you might check with your Doc to see what he thinks. Good luck and welcome to the hosehead club

[jdm2857]

What's the connection between apnea and getting up to pee during the night? I know it exists, but why?

Part of the answer may have to do with blood pressure. The arousals caused by OSA keep blood pressure higher than it should be during sleep. Higher blood pressure may cause the kidneys to produce more urine to reduce blood pressure by reducing blood volume.

[Gerald]

Hooter......

Once you get the diagnosis.....and BEFORE you get the prescription OR any equipment....get back here pronto and let everyone know what you found out.

You'll need to know if you have plain old garden variety sleep apnea....requiring pressure around 10-12 cm....or something more serious requiring a "bi-pap" machine that delivers much higher pressures.

Whatever type equipment you need, the KEY to effective therapy is your own software and card reader. Without it, you won't be able to effectively manage your own therapy.

There's a bunch or very nice people on this forum who'll do all they can to help you.

Gerald

[Muse-Inc]

What's the connection between apnea and getting up to pee during the night? I know it exists, but why?

Apnea cause increased production of the hormone that makes ya pee. Since first night using CPAP, no more nightly trips to the bathroom...oh what a relief it is !

[ectx]

It's my understanding that your heart works harder and as a result there's increased pressure in the heart in individuals with sleep apnea. The body responds by producing a hormone (ANP) that also acts as a diuretic and increases frequency of urination. This hasn't been effectively studied, though, so the mechanisms by which sleep apnea causes frequency of urination aren't fully understood.

*edit...OOPS I got beaten to the punch line! LOL.

[Muse-Inc]

...increased pressure in the heart in individuals with sleep apnea

My cardiologist sees this in several of his apnea patients on CPAP therapy; he's not worried about it but does track it for changes.

[Snorebert]

You mean to say that I have wasted all of this time, energy and money for a data capable machine, reader and software to assess the therapy that I get from xPAP and all I really needed to do was to measure my nocturnal lavatory visits? I coulda gotten my numbers from a five dollar pedometer

[6PtStar]

You mean to say that I have wasted all of this time, energy and money for a data capable machine, reader and software to assess the therapy that I get from xPAP and all I really needed to do was to measure my nocturnal lavatory visits? I coulda gotten my numbers from a five dollar pedometer

Yep, you could have but just think how much fun it is to check your numbers every morning!!!!!

Jerry