Right Back Where I Started, Exhausted

[newhosehead]

I got my machine one week ago today (and I believe I have the equipment info on my profile now so that should be viewable). I had improvement in the lab, same my first night at home. There was hope. Then I had to get a full face mask, no biggie, I adjusted to it rather well, in fact I liked it. Then, yesterday and today, I am feeling my old companion come to sit on my head again--complete exhaustion. This morning, my dh mentioned that he had heard me snoring with the mask on and he thought he had heard me stop breathing (is that an oxymoron?) the past two nights. So. I feel so worn down by this I just did what I have been doing on any day I didnt have to work for the past however many years it has been, get up, stay up 30 minutes or so and go back to bed for 5 hours or so, wake up exhausted.
Called my doctor's offfice, left a message for him. Called my DME provider, talked to her, she said she would call the doc also. That was hours ago (not unusual, I know) I feel more at the end of my rope than I have before, I think because I actually had that slight feeling of improvement for the first two nights. Sorry, I KNOW this is whiny but I just feel absolutely defeated. So I guess I am just venting.

[scrapper]

I don't see your pressure settings, equipment, etc, BUT PLEASE BE PATIENT. It takes some time to get the kinks worked out and feel better.........and then they up your pressure, and you might have to tinker again with a different mask or something. You were exhausted before--the holidays add to that--and you're exhausted now BUT YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. You're smart to keep working with the DME and the physician.......TIE A KNOT ON THE END OF YOUR ROPE AND HANG ON. Things will get better!

[Muse-Inc]

Your equipment is not listed...are you clicking submit after making selections? I am sorry you are having such challenges. Are using wearing a nasal mask (covers nose)? If you have excessive leaks, you are losing therapy air. What is your leak? Getting your doc involved is a good idea as it sounds like you need some help. Your apnea will not disappear with therapy, it takes time for the brain to learn it can allow you to get deep, restful sleep. You have a deep sleep 'debt' to overcome with deep restful sleep when you are able to start getting some. It took me about 3 wks to go from exhaustion to plain ole tired and my therapy was working.

[SkepticalOne]

Your equipment information didn't show up in your post.

I am helping a friend that was diagnosed with OSA about 2 months ago. His wife mentioned that he was still snoring and stopping breathing with his CPAP machine on and mask on. The doctor ended up adjusting his pressure. He ended up going through 3 different masks until he found the one that worked best for him. He also has been taking his card down to the DME (since he has a System One CPAP) and insisting on the complete report (all 10 - 12 pages) off his card. That has been a huge help in him going to the doctor and saying things aren't working.

Don't give up, it really does get better. But initially it can be tough.

[newhosehead]

Sorry, I see the info did not show up although I did hit submit. I have added the folowing information to my signature now,perhaps that will do it.


Equipment: Remstar Plus
Pressure Settings: 10 cwp with CFlex 3
Mask: Full Face Mirage Quattro

[jimboutilier]

It can take many weeks to fully recover from months or years of sleep deprivation. My doctor told me to stay on 6 weeks before doing any kind of re-evaluation for treatment.

My first night on CPAP I thought I felt a little fresher the next morning, the second night I was pretty sure I was brighter in the morning and lasted better through the day. The third night I woke up tired and with a headache and seemed less rested even though my machine reported better AHI. Next night I felt a little better again. Taking it one day at a time and just sticking with it.

I chose an Auto CPAP because there are so many variables that impact sleep apnea and a sleep study covers very few of them. Perhaps naively I believe a machine that constantly monitors you and makes adjustments to your treatment is going to be more effective than a machine programmed with a single number from a one night sleep study.

I'm very happy with my Sandman Auto HC. It brought my AHI down from 120-140 (depending on sleeping position) to usually less than 1. CPAP during the sleep study at 9 cm h2o took me to AHI=11 or so. Auto CPAP at home started at 7 and has worked down to usually less that 1. Pressures go from 3 to 14 that I've seen but averages around 6-7. I was lucky with my first mask Mirage Swift LT and have no leaking issues or tolerance issues so far. I travel a lot, and sleep in various environments and altitudes and levels of comfort so hopefully AUTO will work out for me (and honestly the AUTO machine was not all that much more expensive than the regular CPAP machine even if its a gimmick)

What kind of equipment are you using and what sorts of pressure levels? What statistics is your machine reporting with respect to AHI, leaks etc?


Wish you luck. Stick with it!

[Julie]

I see that your DME (or MD?) did you a big favor in choosing a machine... not! The "Plus" model does not have data capability that would allow you, like the "Pro" model, to track your own progress on a computer and be more in tune with how you're doing, as well as letting you change the pressure settings on your machine in increments to see (according to data info.) where the best settings are for you once a pattern is established. What the study tells you is only a rough guess a lot of the time, so most of us do a lot of tweaking on our own, to the 'horror' of DME's and a lot of docs, but without the ability to control our own therapy, so many of us end up dropping out altogether because no one else is paying attention or following through on how we're doing. You may just have had a large leak last night due to some unusual moves while sleeping, but it would be great if you could see things ongoing.

[Sleeprider]

Your profile shows you are using a Remstar Plus, so you have no access to useful data, and your machine does not have pressure compensation for snores or breathing anomalies. What pressure is your machine set to? If you are experiencing snores and apneas as witnessed by your husband, the simplest explanation is your pressure is set too low.

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor and ask for a script that upgrades the ultra-basic machine you have been issued to one that actually provides feedback, if not an auto-PAP that can increase pressure in response to snores and apnea events. The alternative is a continuing series of sleep studies that are more expensive than the better machine.