Can't read a book or sit through a movie

[benalexe]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 3-4 years ago. I have not had any real luck with the machines. I have tried several makes and I always feel uncomfortable and tend to rip them off in the middle of the night. The best one I found is the one that covers my entire nose as opposed to the nasal pillow. So I really have not constantly used the machine in over a year. Every so often I will try for a few nights but then I don't feel any benefit.

Anyway- I never have a problem sleeping. I can have 2 double espressos and go right to sleep. All day long, at work, I am not one of those people that are tried during the day.

Here is my issue- If i sit down to read a book or watch tv or a movie- I am out.. I can't stay away if I am sitting still. When I get home from work - if I sit to relax for a little while - Could be 8:30 PM I am just about down for the count.

I can take a nap on a Saturday afternoon and still fall asleep sat night at the movies. I thought maybe I have narcolepsy but, then I would be falling asleep during the day at work , driving etc.


The machine I have is an auto machine- Remstar Auto A-flex.

So questions here. Do you think my issues is because I don't use the cpap? or maybe I need another sleep study? It's been several years? Or could it be another issue.

FYI I am 5' 9" about 270 lbs. So overweight, and I tend to eat a lot of carbs and not good stuff. Also I am a diabetic on metformin. Don't yell at me I know i am abusing my body. Thats why I came here today.

[robysue]

So questions here. Do you think my issues is because I don't use the cpap?

Yes. That's the main issue. You don't use the CPAP consistently so your OSA continues to be untreated. The symptoms you describe are typical for untreated OSA. Treat the OSA by consistently using the CPAP and in a few weeks to a few months your symptoms should start to improve.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 3-4 years ago. I have not had any real luck with the machines. I have tried several makes and I always feel uncomfortable and tend to rip them off in the middle of the night. The best one I found is the one that covers my entire nose as opposed to the nasal pillow. So I really have not constantly used the machine in over a year. Every so often I will try for a few nights but then I don't feel any benefit.

Most people do NOT see an immediate benefit after using a CPAP for "a few nights". It takes most people anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months of 100% use to start noticing the benefits of using the CPAP. It takes time to learn how to sleep well with the equipment and until you are sleeping well, you're fighting sleep deprivation caused by learning how to sleep with the equipment. It also takes times for the body to start to heal: The damage done by OSA has been accumulating for years, and it doesn't heal overnight.

FYI I am 5' 9" about 270 lbs. So overweight, and I tend to eat a lot of carbs and not good stuff. Also I am a diabetic on metformin. Don't yell at me I know i am abusing my body. Thats why I came here today.

Do you want our help in becoming a compliant CPAP user? If so, we'll be happy to give it to you.

[BlackSpinner]

Using the machine every time you sleep will solve your issues. Not using it will not solve your issues.

[Gryphon]

You said you have also tried your CPAP a "few times" were you able to collect any data from these uses?
what were your numbers like?

My father's first sleep doctor fussed at him for 3 years telling him he was lazy and that he needed to lose weight that there wasn't anything wrong with his CPAP. I looked at his situation and had him change from a "Nose only mask" to a full face and it was a night and day change. He was breathing through his mouth and all the therapeutic pressure was leaking leaving him with no support for his sleep apnea. He changed doctors right about the same time I got officially diagnosed and started researching sleep apnea heavily. His problem was the wrong mask for his needs and the sleep doctor he had hadn't even bothered to look at the data to confirm the problem. Although back then the machines may not have collected data as well as they do now so I'm not sure it's fair to lay all the blame on the doctor but still - they needed major bedside manner lessons regardless.

You mentioned liking a "Nose mask" vs "a nose pillow" does this mean you have not tried a full face mask?
Does the feeling of discomfort come from a sense of claustrophobia?
or is it more an issue of feeling uncomfortable with pressures inside your airway.

When I first tried a CPAP "it runs in my family" I tried out my fathers machine and put his "Nose only mask on" this was before I was officially diagnosed. I remember thinking if I had to deal with this thing on my face I would be doomed. My mouth kept opening up and air was going all over the place it was a mess.

I wouldn't give up on CPAP until you've exhausted every type of mask system out there, even then I would keep trying. I would first try and find a sleep doctor who will listen to your situation or a DME who will let you try even more options till you find something that works for you.

Mind you both of the above options may be hard to come by but if your experiencing crashes were you fall a sleep at the drop of a hat I would worry about my health and want to seek a remedy one way or another.

Make sure you start using your machine and collect that data - if your mask is leaking or if your not getting the pressure benefits it should show up as in the data and you can find out that way what's wrong and have a better chance of fixing it.

I wish you the best in your situation and hope your able to find some help soon.

[chunkyfrog]

Remember that some people suffer from congestion triggered by pressure ON TOP of the nose.
When I gently grasp my nose just below the bridge, I can immediately feel a reduction in airflow.
Funny how doctors strenuously deny that this is possible.

[benalexe]

Thanks everyone. Going to try and recommit to it

[flightco]

Using the machine every time you sleep will solve your issues. Not using it will not solve your issues.

Are you sure, I thought it was like exercise equipment, you just needed to own it and the more expensive the better.

[Mudrock63]

Same here when I was untreated. I could drink coffee in the evening and have no difficulty falling asleep at night. Youth compensates for a lot of the symptoms, but as you age they only get worse. So I've been at this for six months and learned a lot. For the first time in years I had an extremely busy weekend with no fatigue issues. It really got so bad that for many years I avoided committing to activities because I never knew how fatigued I would be and didn't want to miss a nap. So this past weekend was wonderful. I have also learned that you don't want to sleep.....ever.....without the machine. I recently returned from a conference in Vegas. Of course it was busy, with the conference and after-hours activities. I missed using my machine one night. It took me two weeks to get back to feeling well and energized. It took me six months of tweaking settings, changing masks, doing research to get here. And I can tell you it has been life-changing for me. So I guess my point is you have to commit, and results are generally NOT overnight. Sleep debts and deficits are real, and refer to GOOD sleep, not crappy OSA sleep. It builds up over time. Sleep hygiene is also important, as I have found on the two occasions I missed overnight treatment since I started.

Good luck. If you decide to commit, the folks here can help you optimize your treatment. Just takes a little work.

[Janknitz]

Sleeping well may help your diabetes enough that you will be more ready to work on your diet to get your body back under control, so focus on CPAP first. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel.

This does not mean you can continue to ignore your diabetes but it will be easier to manage once your sleep is dialed in.

[benalexe]

As a follow up to my original post. Been using the machine for the last 3 nights.


Here are the results.... what does this all mean?


The last time you used your Philips Respironics RemStar Auto with A-Flex...
was last night (on April 4, 2016)
You had an AHI of 2.43, which is considered reasonably good
You machine was on for 9 hours, 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
You had no major mask leaks (maximum was 13.00 L/min).
Your pressure was under 10.8cmH2O for 95% of the time.

[palerider]

As a follow up to my original post. Been using the machine for the last 3 nights.


Here are the results.... what does this all mean?


The last time you used your Philips Respironics RemStar Auto with A-Flex...
was last night (on April 4, 2016)
You had an AHI of 2.43, which is considered reasonably good
You machine was on for 9 hours, 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
You had no major mask leaks (maximum was 13.00 L/min).
Your pressure was under 10.8cmH2O for 95% of the time.

which part don't you understand?

[Julie]

Looks pretty good to me!

[yaconsult]

It looks like it's doing its job and preventing most of the apneas. You should download and install the wonderful free Sleepyhead software described at the top of the forum pages. Then you can look at your data and see, breath by breath, what happened all night. The summary you posted shows that it's doing what it is designed to do. But if you want to optimize your treatment, it's up to you to look at the data the machine collects and make decisions on needed adjustments. The DMEs don't do it. The doctors don't do it. It's up to YOU!

CPAP is something you get used to and it takes some practice for most people to get accustomed to it. If you don't use it then your health will continue to suffer. Sleep apnea is NOT just about how tired or rested you feel - it very serious health complications.

Cardiovascular trouble was three times more likely in men with severe untreated sleep apnea than it was in men with treated sleep apnea. In fact, rates of heart trouble were about the same in men with treated apnea as they were among simple snorers — who have noisy but regular breathing during sleep — and nonsnorers.

The Takeaway

Obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing hypertension, heart disease including heart attacks and heart failure, stroke, and diabetes.