I'm Tired...

[Single_Tasker]

Hi Folks

One of the patients in "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" had just one line- one he said throughout the movie, "I'm Tired".

First post here as a new member. I'll spare you the long introduction but will say, "I'm Tired". I've been tired since I was 20- I'm 50 now.

I just began using a cpap 5 nights ago. It was set by the rep by Rx. for 7 based on my sleep study. It has a 4-7 ramp that I never use.

My wife says my snoring has STOPPED. The cpap sleep study showed just 2 'events' per hour so I assume I'm near that at home too. I'm feeling discouraged- I'm still tired. The doctor and the equipment tech told me it could be a month or more before I notice a differece. I'm concerned that after 5 nights my fate has been sealed. If I haven't snored or had numerous hourly events in 5 days why am I still tired?

BTW- I don't shy away from doctors. I have been worked up many times over the years for fatigue related complaints without any findings.

Sorry- don't mean to whine- I'm Just So Tired

Thanks Folks!
Bill

[cflame1]

Sometimes it's just a sleep debt that you have to pay... and it takes awhile to pay it.

Did you get a copy of your sleep study (more than just the 2 page summary)? There may be other clues in it as well.

[harry33]

welcome single,

you are doing much better than many new users so keep thinking positive

yes there is a sleep debt to be paid, it took me weeks to notice that every day was better than before I had started my CPAP

stay with us

the ramp is only there if needed or wanted, I never use mine

[5aces]

Hello Bill,

Well we are the same age but I have not been tired since age 20!

Thinking back,OSA probably set in for me about 5 years ago.

I kept a whole house awake with my snoring and near the end moved into my own room over 3 years ago.

Chalked up my tired life to hard work and fast times,until I had an arterial seizure.

Funny how a 5 day stint in a cardiac ward really wakes you up!

I even returned to work undiagnosed after 5 months off.

Lasted 3 months on the job and was re-admitted to hospital with severe chest pains.

Finally,I was diagnosed with severe OSA on July 30,2008,after my cardiologist referred me for a sleep study.

Got my first machine and titration by August 17,2008 and collapsed before the end of the month.

No longer working since September,2008,beset with serious sinus issues.

Finally had major sinus surgery on April 02,2009.

Here it is,my one year anniversary of OSA diagnosis and I am still working on a resolution.

Just ordered a heated cpap tube to stop rainout as I need the higher humidity for my sinuses to tolerate cpap.

I have tried many scenarios to rebuild my breathing and am only now finding the way.

Take care,read,research and I know it will not take you as long!

[RipVW]

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

You're lucky to have found this forum as you begin CPAP—took me almost year before I found this place and, with the help of folks here, got my CPAP therapy working as it should. It does take time to get everything tweaked and working at its best, so patience is key as one begins CPAP.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[JayC]

Bill:

I relate to parts of your story...my issues go back to at least puberty/high school.... I turned 47 just before I started treatment last year.

My sleep study ended up being a split night.....my oxygen stats dropped enough for them to stop the study and begin a titration at around 3am.

According to the study....my events ceased at 8cm with no further improvement higher.......well, in reality this is not accurate, but it was enough to get me a machine!

Read the good advice, get a full copy of your reports, and do your best to NOW get a effiacy data capable machine.... and depending on the nature of your sleep disordered breathing, the most appropriate equipment type....these early days are critical to be the squeaky wheel so you are not "stuck" with sub-optimal treatment. I know, hard to do when you are tired....always.....still.....

Stick around, read up, speak up...!

J

[cflame1]

Bill... is your machine right in your profile? If so it is fully data capable already.

Do you have the software for it and the reader?

How about checking the LCD, have you done it?

[Yoda]

Welcome Bill,
You have come to the right place. (I love your screen name!)

The cpap sleep study showed just 2 'events' per hour so I assume I'm near that at home too.

Don't assume anything. Check your data. As cflame1 suggests, if you have listed the correct CPAP you have a data capable machine. When I got mine, the DME had turned off the LCD therapy info. You can turn it back on with the DME manual instructions. Look at this link and go into the clinician menu and turn on the feature. http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=130. Then you can at least see your 7 day average while you order the software. You can get the software and reader for about $135.00 if you use windows.

When I started, the pressure was not sufficient and my AHI at home was worse than durng my initial sleep study. I did not know it, was miserable and did not know why. I got on this forum and learned. I have a good relationship with the doc now who knows I am participating in my therapy. I can change my own pressure (with her approval). So, take charge. Check you LCD. If therapy info is turned off, turn it back on while you are waiting for your software. Then you will know whether or not you are really having only two events an hour.

Good luck and keep reading!

Cecile

[Single_Tasker]

Thanks for the great feedback folks. Let me number my follow-up points:

1) My machine's screen tells me my 7 day average for apnea is 2.4 per hour (was 20 or 30 in my initial, non-cpap study). The screen also shows me a figure of 38.2 for leakage- I don't know if this good or bad- I have a full face mask.

2) I have a smart card but no reader. Is there other (important) information over and above the screen to be mined using a reader that makes getting one helpful?

3) My wife tells me my snoring has gone to zero, leg twitching is now near zero, and tossing and turning has stopped. As a strange aside- On my back I have always slept with my arm stretched straight up toward the ceiling. Of course it would fall on my wife's head frequently. My wife tells me I no longer sleep with my arm up in the air. She has confided that she no longer plans to murder me.

Bill

[Pugsy]

You can reset those 7/30 day average amounts to zero each night so that you can get a more accurate reading of how ONE night went instead of throwing it in with all the other nightly data which can skew the totals a bit.

Acceptable leakage rates vary with the pressure that is used along with the type of mask that is used. Full face masks like the Quattro will have a higher initial acceptable rate than other smaller masks (i.e. nasal pillow). Off hand your 38 L/min average doesn't sound bad but you need to compare that number with the leak rate chart that came with your mask and factor in the pressure that you use. I didn't see where you may have mentioned your pressure.

All in all it sounds like you are doing very well. While I expect that there are a few CPAP users who have "miracles" to report and overnight 180 degree turns in how they feel, I think most of us have gradual improvements. My overnight miracle was complete stoppage of the frequent trips to the bathroom and no morning headaches on those nights I have really good AHI scores. The daytime fatigue comes and goes with mostly still "coming" but it is getting better.

Do you want to reset your data to zero each night?
Resetting LCD Display Data====================

To reset LCD Therapy data (does NOT erase any data from SmartCard):

1. Hold down the (<-) (->) buttons while plugging in the power on the back,
wait for 2 beeps or 5 seconds, release buttons.
2. Press the (->) key and navigate to Therapy screen.
3. Press and HOLD down the (-) minus key for 5 seconds and/or until therapy data is reset to Zero.
4. Press the (->) key to scroll back to main menu, press (+) key to enter Setup or
On/Off button to exit.