Not feeling AS bad when waking up after CPAP now

Matty332 · Post by **Matty332** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:39 pm

G'day,

As people that have read my posts know, my CPAP has made me feel much worse when using it after I wake up. I may have a reason for this now - apparently before the CPAP I was not actually falling into a deep sleep and waking up on the toilet or sitting on the side of the bed. Now with it that doesn't happen, and I actually dream which I haven't done very much of for 2 years. Aparently the body get's used to bad sleep and lower oxygen with higher Co2 after a long period and takes a bit of time to adjust when all of a sudden having deep sleep. So I am persisting!!! Also I have found out that the tingling in my pinkie and ring finger may be due to the fact that my vagus nerve in the elbow might be sensitive (and I have to sleep on my back with CPAP) so the nerve gets pressed - before the CPAP I must of tossed and turned so the vagus nerve wasn't being pressed. I am going to try and wear rollerblade elbow pads to bed and see if that helps.

Any thoughts on my theory and does anyone else have any idea's on how to stop my vagus nerve being pressed at night?

(btw I am posting alot about my CPAP problems in the hope that if someone else goes through this they will be comforted)

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 7:38 pm

How about checking out your mattress or getting a good mattress topper to deal with the pressure points.

Mr Bill · Post by **Mr Bill** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:30 pm

With respect to the tingling pinky...
Next time it happens try hanging your arm over your head. If the tingling goes away its because of a nerve pinch or stretch from your vertebrae (according to a PT friend of mine). I get it when my arms are hanging down walking or when I lay supine with my arms along my sides some nights. Since I knew it worked while upright I tried putting my arms over my head forearm across the top hand hanging opposite side. If that works for you, Bob's your uncle.

Alienart · Post by **Alienart** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:34 am

I too sometimes notice feeling a little weird after going on CPAP. I don't drift off to sleep at work as much any more or have what I thought of as waking dreams, but I walk around feeling a little down. It's hard to describe. It's like the world should be much better but it isn't. I'm putting it down to my body adjusting as you say. It reminds me a little of when melatonin became popular for a while in the 80's to take over the counter for peaceful sleeping. It left me feeling not exactly depressed. Maybe suppressed is the better word.

I think I was expecting instant results from CPAP, and whatever improvement I noticed at the beginning was partially the placebo effect. But it's going to take time. I've only been on it a month and have trouble with full compliance due to still falling asleep before I even get to bed, waking up after midnight to crawl into bed and use the device for only four hours or so on many nights.

Not feeling AS bad when waking up after CPAP now