A couple things - New User

[BigZeke]

I am a new CPAP user. Probably should have been on the machine ten years ago. I have had my machine for a couple months now. I have noticed that when I wake up in the morning that I have a bag of fluid under my right or both eyes. It/they go down during the day but, what is this about. I asked my doctor if the CPAP pressure was pushing these bags out from a sinus. He says no, It is just the mask restricting flow. I use a mask that completely covers the nose and mouth (looks like a fighter pilot mask). The first mask I had put a plastic "thing" up each nostril and covered my mouth. It was uncomfortable and leaked badly and I got the bags with that mask, which is no where near my eyes. The new mask is much better. My first card reading report says I went from 50 events per hour to 2. I am wearing the mask 7 hrs per night and it leaks 2 minutes per night (leaking wakes me up immediately and I spend a few seconds adjusting the mask). I notice that I am not falling asleep at the computer at work anymore but there are some mornings that I just can't get out of bed when the alarm goes off. Other new CPAP users I have talked to say the same thing. What is this about?

[PST]

Welcome BigZeke. We are always happy to see someone new here. It's been about nine months since I started using CPAP, and it has been a big help to have this forum available.

Sorry about the bags under your eyes. It's happened to me too, and many other people have mentioned the same thing. It's not air pressure pushing the bags out. I think your doctor must be suggesting that the straps on your mask are restricting the flow of the fluid that is always present in the spaces between cells, and which gets drained and shunted back into the bloodstream by the lymphatic system. I don't know if that's the right explanation for why this happens, but you are not alone. For me, at least, the effect is sporadic. Some mornings I don't notice it, others I look in the mirror and I have to laugh. It goes away to some degree, fortunately, as I get up and move around.

It sounds like you have had a huge improvement. Not falling asleep at the keyboard is a good sign that sleep apnea was what was ailing you, and that CPAP treatment is making a difference. I didn't experience your problem waking up, but I have a theory to offer, at least. You are used to having your sleep interrupted constantly, so you weren't reaching the deep stages of sleep until now. When the alarm rang, you were only dozing anyway, so it wasn't too difficult to get up. Now the alarm may ring while you are in stage 3 or 4 sleep, or in REM sleep, which seldom happened before. Perhaps, as you make up your sleep deficit and adjust to a normal pattern, you will find yourself ready to wake up when the alarm rings. It is normal for sleep cycles to get shorter and shallower as the night progresses, but it may take time to get there after having disrupted sleep for so long. It would be a good topic to take up with your doctor if it persists, but I think it is fair to say that most people here don't find that trouble waking up is a frequent side effect of CPAP. (Unlike those darn bags.)

[nursedeborah]

PST,
Thanks for all you just said. It answered two big questions I have. I am not waking up, and falling asleep in my chair
or sleeping for 3-4 days until late at night, only to get up for a few hours, and go straight back to bed, and repeat.

It is better, I want more better faster, just my nature,LOL

Debbie

[JohnBFisher]

... I am a new CPAP user. Probably should have been on the machine ten years ago. I have had my machine for a couple months now. ...

Greetings! I see this is your first post here. So, welcome to the forum. It's not unusual that we wait a long time before getting the sleep tests and CPAP to address sleep problems. The important thing is that you are here.

... I have noticed that when I wake up in the morning that I have a bag of fluid under my right or both eyes. It/they go down during the day but, what is this about. I asked my doctor if the CPAP pressure was pushing these bags out from a sinus. He says no, It is just the mask restricting flow. ...

It's not all that unusual. Part of the problem is that you are not accustomed to staying still throughout the night. That movement often helps with reduction of edema (fluid collecting in the body). This should gradually get better. Our bodies are amazing at adapting to new situations.

Until then you might also need to gently massage your face in the morning to help the circulation. Just a good scrubbing with a warm wash cloth when you shower - or when you wash up in the morning - should help. Essentially help move about the skin. Use the warm wash cloth to help open any blood vessels that might have been contricted by the mask or lack of movement.

Just a couple ideas.

... I use a mask that completely covers the nose and mouth (looks like a fighter pilot mask). ...

... My first card reading report says I went from 50 events per hour to 2. ...

Excellent! So, you've gone from a very high level of sleep deprivation to a very normal AHI of less than 5 per hour.

... I am wearing the mask 7 hrs per night and it leaks 2 minutes per night (leaking wakes me up immediately and I spend a few seconds adjusting the mask). ...

And another good thing. This is known as "compliance". That is, it is the amount of time that you use the machine. The more you use the machine when you sleep the more effective it can be. If your insurance company pays for the machine on a monthy basis, they want to see that you are complaint. That is they want to know that the money is going for something you are using.

... I notice that I am not falling asleep at the computer at work anymore but there are some mornings that I just can't get out of bed when the alarm goes off. ...

And another excellent sign. You will find that your ability to concentrate, your memory, and so forth will all improve with time.

... Other new CPAP users I have talked to say the same thing. What is this about?

Well, when you first use CPAP you are severely sleep deprived. Oh, you might have slept the same amount of time, but you will find that you were not able to get the deep sleep that your body requires. This sleep deprivation is often referred to as sleep debt. So, when you first start to sleep better for the first time in a long, long time, you body says "Wait a minute! You were not letting me repair my self and feel better all those years. Now, I *want* that sleep. Time to pay up!" But you will get back to normal sleep. At that point you should start to feel much more energetic and much better physically.

By the way, if you experience that you will quickly discover that you will not enjoy sleeping without the CPAP unit. It brings back the sluggish feeling and the headaches. No, thanks!

So, anyway, welcom to the forum. Hopefully your journey will be fairly smooth. And here's hoping questions you might have will be answered here. If you don't see something you want to know, then ask. There are lots of people who want to help as much as possible.

[BigZeke]

A big thanks to PST, Nursedeborah and JohnBFisher for your responses. I feel better about my issues. We lost power for a couple days a week ago and I couldn't use the CPAP machine. Snoring was awful. I was glad to get back on the machine. My wife appreciated me getting back on the machine too.

[candy12345]

PST,
Thanks for all you just said. It answered two big questions I have. I am not waking up, and falling asleep in my chair
or sleeping for 3-4 days until late at night, only to get up for a few hours, and go straight back to bed, and repeat.

It is better, I want more better faster, just my nature,LOL

Debbie

very thanks.





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