Feeling worse after a week on cpap

[janet444]

cobra4x4, I think you are right. Last night, I decided to give the cpap a break and slept without it. I think that I have a few issues, like gassiness, nasal congestion, some throat irritation, also yesterday a bit of an earache. And I'm realizing they're all likely side effects from the cpap, but they also feel a bit like flu symptoms, with the gassiness feeling like a bit of nausea.

Brenda, I don't understand the gap, although my machine seems to be off on time by a couple of hours. Maybe now with dst, it will be closer to normal time - or further away. Most nights this past week, I've used the machine for a full night's sleep.

I do have some of the issues you mention. Like back pain, for instance. But I actually sleep more soundly with the cpap on.

Also, I bought the pur-sleep aromatherapy, and I suspect it irritated my throat.

Thank you, tonight I will try again. Today is warmer in New England and I think that will help too. I'm going to push myself to take a walk today and get some fresh air.

Janet

[Pugsy]

I don't understand the gap, although my machine seems to be off on time by a couple of hours. Maybe now with dst, it will be closer to normal time - or further away. Most nights this past week, I've used the machine for a full night's sleep.

If the gaps continue and you know you didn't wake up and turn the machine off...might want to do some more investigating.
That is not a normal thing to happen. I assumed you got up for some reason and now you say you didn't that makes me wonder why the machine reported that huge gap in therapy. Does your machine come on automatically when you put the mask on and breathe for a couple of seconds?

I do have some of the issues you mention. Like back pain, for instance. But I actually sleep more soundly with the cpap on.

Sometimes pain or some of the other issues affect the quality of our sleep on a low level basis. Keeps us from feeling optimal despite reports looking like we should feel like SuperWoman.
We sure don't expect to feel worse though...so if this continues some serious detective work needs to be done.
Especially since you say you feel like your sleep quality is better with the machine.

[Mary Z]

Good luck. It took me over a year to find the forum and the great suppoort here. I went through the same thing, but later into my therapy. The doc told me it was normal. I would like to have your numbers, but take meds that wreak havoc with my sleep artchitecture. Hang in there.

[Drowsy Dancer]

Last night, I decided to give the cpap a break and slept without it.

Not the best idea. One, I think it's important to train yourself from the start to think of the use of CPAP at night as mandatory, not optional. Believe me, I do understand adjustment issues, and I know that some here on the forum have suffered heroically trying to adjust to xPAP, but one week doesn't put you in that category yet. Two, knowledge is power. When you skip a night of CPAP, you lose a night of data.

[janet444]

Thanks, you guys are awesome.

I will make it a priority to understand the machine better, as well as the Sleepyhead data.

And I will get back to using the machine every night. Especially since I'm otherwise adjusting really well, and I feel lucky about that.

I'm still congested, so maybe I really am coming down with something. I'm really sensitive to the cold, and it's been a loooonnnggg winter!

I am concerned about the wide range my DME set of 6 to 20, now that I am reading here that a range that broad can be a problem. I wish I had a sleep doctor, especially since I keep bugging you guys. I might call NeuroCare, the place that administered the sleep study.

Thanks again for all your help!

Janet