Great #'s but still tired!

[HollyDolly]

I have been using my cpap now for a little more than 2 weeks. I can't complain about my #'s as my AHI was 0 and my leak was 0 last night. But I am still waking up alot. I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he increased my pressure from 4-8 to 5-11 hoping this would help me. During my intial study I had a lot of leg movement and on my 2nd study with cpap my leg movement decreased significantly. He was thinking maybe the increase of pressure would help, but it didn't, I still woke up 1,2, 3 and 5 am.
Any ideas?

[Wulfman]

I have been using my cpap now for a little more than 2 weeks. I can't complain about my #'s as my AHI was 0 and my leak was 0 last night. But I am still waking up alot. I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he increased my pressure from 4-8 to 5-11 hoping this would help me. During my intial study I had a lot of leg movement and on my 2nd study with cpap my leg movement decreased significantly. He was thinking maybe the increase of pressure would help, but it didn't, I still woke up 1,2, 3 and 5 am.
Any ideas?

Your profile is showing that you have the Elite machine......which is a single-pressure CPAP.......SO, I presume that those lower numbers you listed (4 & 5) are your Ramp starting pressures........then, after the ramp period is up, it stays at the higher pressure (8 & 11).
Did they download your data to look at it BEFORE resetting your pressure settings? Or did they just pull those pressure numbers out of thin air?

Waking up periodically throughout the night is not uncommon in the beginning of this therapy. Our sleep stages cycle through at about 90 - 120 minute intervals, so that could have something to do with it, too.

Are you checking your stats in the LCD in the morning?
About the only advice I can give at this point is to stick with it. There isn't a magical transformation for the vast majority of people when we start this therapy......it's "baby steps".......it can take months.


Den

[CynConn]

I don't know how long you had sleep apnea before you started using CPAP. Your brain may be "trained" to wake up periodically during the night. Just like mine is now "trained" to never fall asleep without a mask on. It could also be that you are not fully used to the set-up yet (it does take time) and that when your normal sleep cycle ends (usually a sleep cycle is 90 minutes), you wake up to the point of "What is this on my face?" and then wake fully up. Just keep with it. Your numbers look great!

Cynthia

[HollyDolly]

months to feel better??? That's not what I wanted to hear! Anyways, my doctor said to call him if the increase in pressure didn't help after the first night. I gave it 2 nights and just called so now I will be going in to pick up a pulse oximetry. You are correct that my machine is set on ramp. He did download my data as I do every morning as well.
I am just so tired of being tired! Here it is only 9:30 and I feel beat already!

[Julie]

If you turn off the ramp feature, your pressure will go directly to the prescribed number and you'll be able to breathe more easily.

[HollyDolly]

I don't have any problem breathing, in fact when it's on I don't really even notice it too much. I prefer the ramp feature turned on as one night I removed the mask for a few minutes and didn't like putting it back on at full pressure. My ramp is set for 5 minutes.

[Wulfman]

months to feel better??? That's not what I wanted to hear! Anyways, my doctor said to call him if the increase in pressure didn't help after the first night. I gave it 2 nights and just called so now I will be going in to pick up a pulse oximetry. You are correct that my machine is set on ramp. He did download my data as I do every morning as well.
I am just so tired of being tired! Here it is only 9:30 and I feel beat already!

You didn't get sleep apnea overnight and depending on the length of time you've had it and the adverse effects it's had on your system, it CAN take a long time.......and you have a "sleep debt" to pay off, too. Some people debate the term "sleep debt", but to alot of us, it's REAL.

Do you actually have the software to generate reports?
What do your leak numbers look like? I see you have a nasal mask......and those are always suspect when it comes to possible mouth-leaking......which can nullify the benefits of using this therapy. Ever wake up with a dry mouth?


Den

[HollyDolly]

I have the software and my leak last night was 0. If there is any leaking , it's really minimal. I do not wake with a dry mouth either. Guess I need to catch up from years of bad sleep! During my initial study my AHI was 7.4, but he said there was alot of leg movement which may contribute to me waking up so often. I do not feel any pain or sensation in my legs whatsoever.

[Wulfman]

Good sleep hygiene and a sufficient number of hours are important to reversing the adverse effects of sleep apnea.

Personally, I need to average at least 7 hours per night. In the beginning of my therapy, I had lots of things going on at work which were hindering that, but over time, things got better.


Den

[HollyDolly]

My sleep schedule is pretty consistent. I go to sleep at 10 and wake at 6. The dr suggested I go to bed an hour later than usual which I did on Tuesday. Last night there was no way I could stay up an hour later,I was beat from the day at the beach!