Has the CPAP helped with alertness, memory retention, etc?

Teradyn · Post by **Teradyn** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:54 am

I have been dealing with poor memory for a long time now, and as my previous post noted have been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have been looking into things to help my memory, and I have read alot of material that points to how important good sleep and especially REM sleep is to memory function. Have any of you that have been on this had a noticable increase in your cognative functions such as reasoning, memory and general alertness? Given the data around sleep apnea it would be safe to assume that, with the ongoing problems I have had, I have been suffering with the results of sleep apnea for over 10 years now!

wpinef · Post by **wpinef** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:36 pm

I have only been on CPAP for 7 days and I can say this after having a short term memory that was almost useless (had to write stuff down to remember what I was going to do and still forget) I seem to be doing some better and seems to be able to remember stuff a little better. My AHI was averaging 56 events an hour.

Dave

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:45 pm

I've noticed no improvement. In fact, cpap seems to make me feel a little worse.

kurrykid · Post by **kurrykid** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:58 pm

Unfortunately, I have not seen an improvement either. I have been on it for about a week and a half so I am not sure what my expectations should be. However, I had read several posts where they have said they had immediate relief.

My poor cognitive skills has been a serious issue for me at work. I was really hoping I would see some improvements in pretty short order.

Maybe I just need to wait a little longer...I sure hope so because this was my last on my list for getting my memory / learning capabilities back. I have had: CT scan, MRI, complete blood work, hair analysis (to see if there were any toxins causing issues), hormone checks...everything we could think of and all those tests came back fine which is good news.

I know I need CPAP...I just hope it takes care of the biggest issues in my life...here's hoping for a better testimony in the near future.

Teradyn · Post by **Teradyn** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:30 pm

I had to look up AHI there, but from what I remember my doctor saying, mine was 47. My longest period with no breathing at all was 11 seconds and my longest period of shallow breathing was 59 seconds. I have always had an irregular sleep pattern and wake up more feeling like I have a hangover than I just rested. I have been dealing with blook sugar issues, nothing severe but still bordering on high, and I was suprised to find that apnea can cause diabetes or the symptoms if untreated for long enough. This has been a recent concern, but my overal worry, and the main reason for getting tested for this as well, is still my memory. I work in a field where technology is constantly changing and new methods and procedures are necessary to keep up, and I am finding it hard to learn new things and am finding that my current knowledge is slipping. I don't expect to have an instant rebound in a week or even a month as far as my memory goes, but I would like some reasurance that there is a point at which I can get my full cognative potential back.

kurrykid · Post by **kurrykid** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:23 pm

That is the field I work in as well...I.T. or technology and I am struggling to keep up as well. Hopefully we will both get the relief we need. I have been looking for that reassurance as well but haven't been able to find it.

Please keep in touch as things progress and I will as well.

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:48 pm

Well, I'm not in any field...just a housewife. But I was feeling like I was losing a few IQ points each month and I couldn't remember anything or even stay awake long enough to read a magazine article thoroughly, much less a book!

It took several weeks for me to start feeling more alert...and now I feel mega-alert. Don't even know what to DO with all of this alertness!

My AHI was 85, by the way and my oxygen levels went down to the 50's and 60's. A fairly severe case of sleep apnea.

So give it a little more time...it will come, I'm sure.

Jan in Colo.

kurrykid · Post by **kurrykid** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:26 pm

Thanks for those encoraging words Jan...I appreciate it very much!

wpinef · Post by **wpinef** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:10 pm

I guess what I was trying to say is that sometimes I can remember to bring home the milk now or when I go out in the garage I don't have to wonder why I am there sometimes. I am in the tech field also and chase submarines around to fix when the sailors can't and the weird thing is I do ok there (one thing on my mind getting the boat fixed) but when I am home with multiple things going on look out sometimes I think that if I didn't have a badge I would forget my name

Dave

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:19 pm

Standing up to be the poster child for this thread. After 2 in the afternoon i was lucky if I remembered where I was, much less put more than two words together. It took a few months with CPAP and I have memory as well as improved creativity.

Sure the words I put together are a little bit skewed but I prefer my thoughts on the warpish side. So give it some time and maybe like me you will be in questionable need for another type of therapy. LOL

Apneaat22 · Post by **Apneaat22** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:45 am

I have only been on my machine for about a month and only on a decent mask for 2 day.
My biggest concern was my short term memory loss and unable to deal with complicated or stressful situations anymore. Thats what got me into the doctor. I work on government tech programs and am continually having to recall issues and deal with new ones and I was finding more and more that what I used to be able to do with little effort was more and more difficult to do over time.

I am getting better with dealing with situations and making decisions again, my short term memory is coming back. I am not all of the way there, but I think I am still not sleeping wonderfully as I just got on a mask I can stand. But I would say for me at least it is starting to work.

Apnea@22

LostIt · Post by **LostIt** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:48 am

I was gonna post a reply to this thread, but forgot what I was gonna say. Oh well, if I remember it I will post it.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:35 am

I've been on the therapy since May 14th and it's made a huge improvement in my daily functionality. It had gotten to the point that I was having trouble staying awake in front of a computer screen (mid morning and mid afternoon).....and when you make your living in the IT field, that's not very impressive. Anyway, within a relatively short period of time, the drowsiness went away and things are good again.
Yes, I've had some "foggy" days now and then, but I'm happy with the way things are going. My other physical health feels like it's improving, too. I also like the equipment I've got and the ability to monitor my nights' sleeping with the software. I can't imagine doing this without it.

Now, if I just had mikemoran's "creativity"..........

Best wishes,

Den

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