So i am starting to think my sleep issues aren't OSA related

[anonfan1432]

So i initially got my CPAP back in June because I was having sleep issues.
mainly, sleep maintenance insomnia and nocturia.

This exact same thing would happen every single night, and for the most part still does happen every night:
1. I fall asleep fairly easily.
2. I wake up 2-3 hours later, needing to go the bathroom.
3. I CANNOT FALL BACK ASLEEP AT ALL, or if i do, it will literally take me maybe 5 hours to fall back asleep.


My theory was that I had OSA, and the closing of my soft tissues essentially suffocated me. This causes that whole ANP production thing for the nocturia, as well as causing my body to release excess cortisol and adrenaline because it thinks i am being strangled, leading me to wake up and go to the bathroom, and basically not go back to sleep.

This happens regardless of whether i am using the CPAP that night or not.

When i do use the CPAP, I usually take the mask off and turn the machine off after the initial awakening.


Last night was the first time i looked through my data, and all of my AHI's on the nights where i used the CPAP for about 2-3 hours after falling asleep are below 2.
Does this destroy my theory?
Essentially i thought that fixing my sleep apnea would cause me to not strangle myself in my sleep, essentially stopping that whole ANP pathway, as well as the stress hormone release, but it literally isn't. According to the data, in those 2 hours when i am sleeping with the CPAP, my sleep apnea is by definition, cured (AHI < 5), yet i still wake up, go to the bathroom and can't fall back asleep.

So what should i do? Has anyone else experienced sleep issues, thought it was sleep apnea, but it turned out it wasn't?

BTW, my initial sleep study indicated I had an AHI of 12, but i question the accuracy because I remember I did not SLEEP AT ALL during the entire 6 hours. I maybe slept for like 30 minutes, so i really do question the accuracy.

It also probably isn't diabetes. I had my bloods tested this september, and my fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C were too low to justify diabetes.

My GP won't take any of my concerns seriously. He just thinkis i have anxiety and wants me to on paxil

[Pugsy]

You are a guy aren't you? If you are...is it possible that the nocturia is related to the prostrate?

[chunkyfrog]

If you are a guy, I must stress the importance of getting your prostate and your PSA checked.
Science is good--it can make your life better. --and longer.
In October.we think, "save the boobies"; but we must not forget "the boys", or "the chairman".

[TheBadger]

Whats your blood pressure like?

[library lady]

My theory was that I had OSA, and the closing of my soft tissues essentially suffocated me.

Alex, this sentence leads me to wonder if you've been formally diagnosed by someone in the medical field. You did mention your initial sleep study - was it a home study and you diagnosed yourself? A theory is only a theory until it is validated by facts, but a home study is not usually as accurate as an in-lab study, so you should get an in-lab study and a formal diagnosis if you haven't already.

Do have a prostate check as well, as previous posters have suggested.

[anonfan1432]

Whats your blood pressure like?

over the past several months, it has ranged from 112/72 - 130/100
I would say on average it's like 120/80 or so.
May i ask why you asked about blood pressure? Is there some link between blood pressure and my symptoms?

My theory was that I had OSA, and the closing of my soft tissues essentially suffocated me.

Alex, this sentence leads me to wonder if you've been formally diagnosed by someone in the medical field. You did mention your initial sleep study - was it a home study and you diagnosed yourself? A theory is only a theory until it is validated by facts, but a home study is not usually as accurate as an in-lab study, so you should get an in-lab study and a formal diagnosis if you haven't already.

Do have a prostate check as well, as previous posters have suggested.

i will get my prostate checked.

I had two sleep studies; full on polysomnagrams with all the wires and crap in an overnight sleep center. One without the CPAP, and one with CPAP

[Julie]

Blood pressure problems can indicate kidney trouble, but when it's high and related to OSA, nocturia usually improves (very often along with BP) a lot IF it's related to OSA, but if in fact your prostate's the problem, then Cpap can only do so much.

[Wulfman...]

So i initially got my CPAP back in June because I was having sleep issues.
mainly, sleep maintenance insomnia and nocturia.

This exact same thing would happen every single night, and for the most part still does happen every night:
1. I fall asleep fairly easily.
2. I wake up 2-3 hours later, needing to go the bathroom.
3. I CANNOT FALL BACK ASLEEP AT ALL, or if i do, it will literally take me maybe 5 hours to fall back asleep.


My theory was that I had OSA, and the closing of my soft tissues essentially suffocated me. This causes that whole ANP production thing for the nocturia, as well as causing my body to release excess cortisol and adrenaline because it thinks i am being strangled, leading me to wake up and go to the bathroom, and basically not go back to sleep.

This happens regardless of whether i am using the CPAP that night or not.

When i do use the CPAP, I usually take the mask off and turn the machine off after the initial awakening.


Last night was the first time i looked through my data, and all of my AHI's on the nights where i used the CPAP for about 2-3 hours after falling asleep are below 2.
Does this destroy my theory?
Essentially i thought that fixing my sleep apnea would cause me to not strangle myself in my sleep, essentially stopping that whole ANP pathway, as well as the stress hormone release, but it literally isn't. According to the data, in those 2 hours when i am sleeping with the CPAP, my sleep apnea is by definition, cured (AHI < 5), yet i still wake up, go to the bathroom and can't fall back asleep.

So what should i do? Has anyone else experienced sleep issues, thought it was sleep apnea, but it turned out it wasn't?

BTW, my initial sleep study indicated I had an AHI of 12, but i question the accuracy because I remember I did not SLEEP AT ALL during the entire 6 hours. I maybe slept for like 30 minutes, so i really do question the accuracy.

It also probably isn't diabetes. I had my bloods tested this september, and my fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C were too low to justify diabetes.

My GP won't take any of my concerns seriously. He just thinkis i have anxiety and wants me to on paxil

You've waited that long to check your data?

What are ALL of your machine settings?

And, exactly which machine are you using?
The one in your profile comments is the Legacy model and dates back to 2005 - 2007. Are you using the Infineer DT3500 card reader, Encore "something" and the blue "smartcard"?
Machine: The REMstar Auto with C-Flex


Den

.

[Wulfman...]

Does your machine look like this one?




Den

.

[anonfan1432]

it's this one:
http://www.cpap-supply.com/REMstar-Auto ... s550hs.htm

[Pugsy]

Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number...is it 550 or 560?
Remstar doesn't really tell much because Respironics has used it on almost all their models of machines ever since they started making them.

If you have a 550 machine...this is what we normally refer to it as...PR System One Auto CPAP xxx
If you have a 560 machine ...this is what we normally refer to it as...PR System One 60 Series Auto CPAP xxx

The Remstar part of it is just wasting space.

[Sir NoddinOff]

You definitely need to provide some more hard data, as others have suggested. Just some quick fix ideas. I suggest you get your prostate checked, and not just a digital exam by a PCP - go to a urologist. Also, a Rx like Flowmax (generic: Tamsulosin) may help you empty your bladder before you go to bed. It's been around for decades and is a fairly safe drug with a good track record, plus the generic is very reasonable in price. There are some other drugs for nocturnia and overactive bladder therapy, tho I'm not very familiar with them. That's the job of your doctors to get you pointed in the right direction. IMO, dehydrating yourself before bedtime is not a good way to go due to the increased incidence of kidney stones.

Secondly, I take NOW brand Magnesium and Potassium Aspartate to help calm my nervous system at night and it seems to work... no more racing mind/body after a wake-up. I also take a supplement called SeriPhos (actually I take half a pill per night) which is a phosphorus serine compound that helps dampen the adrenal glands from over-secreting cortisol, least that's my experience. Of course, your mileage may vary. Here's a link to SeriPhos.

http://www.amazon.com/SERIPHOS-Interple ... B00MT2ZPIE

[Wulfman...]

What mask?

I'm thinking part of this problem is inadequate machine settings and/or substandard therapy.


Den

.

[kteague]

Few thoughts...
...make sure your treatment is optimized.
...is there any chance your exhaustion helps you sleep at onset, but once you've had a bit of sleep, you are not exhausted enough to fall back asleep against some unidentified problem?
...if falling back asleep with the machine is under use of the ramp, maybe the ramp pressure is too low and makes you unable to relax once you aren't exhausted.
...if falling back asleep both with and without the machine is a problem, any chance you're symptomatic of a limb movement problem?
...use of any meds, supplements or alcoholic beverages?

Maybe you have more than one thing going on. I did.

[RicaLynn]

When i do use the CPAP, I usually take the mask off and turn the machine off after the initial awakening.


Last night was the first time i looked through my data, and all of my AHI's on the nights where i used the CPAP for about 2-3 hours after falling asleep are below 2.
Does this destroy my theory?
Essentially i thought that fixing my sleep apnea would cause me to not strangle myself in my sleep, essentially stopping that whole ANP pathway, as well as the stress hormone release, but it literally isn't. According to the data, in those 2 hours when i am sleeping with the CPAP, my sleep apnea is by definition, cured (AHI < 5),

No, your apnea is not "cured" with an AHI<5, that simply means that your PAP was doing you some good during that time. If you're only using it 2-3 hrs/night, your therapy is NOT optimal; eight hours of broken sleep on the PAP will still be better than two. Perhaps if you give us some screen shots and let us know which mask you're using, we can find some things to tweak to make sure your CPAP is giving you the maximum benefit before you start chasing any more faint hoof beats.