PROBLEMS WHLE ON THE CPAP

ksmom · Post by **ksmom** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:32 pm

Has anyone or someone you know who has obstructive sleep apnea experience any of the following problems? Hard to wake up and to be only partially awake; fall asleep standing up or while walking fall to the floor as if fainting but are asleep; prior to falling to the floor his eyes appear to be glassy; while in a partially awake state unable to speak or use one word or short sentences; appears mentally challenged while in the partial awake state. My 12 year old son experiences all of this. He says that he feels very tired prior to falling to the floor. Also during the afternoon he will drift in and out of sleep which lasts for a couple of hours. Or in the morning, wake up partially and stay in that state up to 5 hours. He uses his CPAP every night.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:50 pm

Sounds to me like you need to talk to your doctor.
If the causes are from his sleep apnea, his treatment may not be working.
BUT, there may be something else wrong.

What you described does NOT sound like anything that could result from successful CPAP therapy.

Best wishes,

Den

ksmom · Post by **ksmom** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:05 pm

Thank you...

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:11 pm

From what you described during the day time, I would check into narcolepsy- here is some info from NIH:

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In rare cases, some people may remain asleep for an hour or longer. In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), three other major symptoms frequently characterize narcolepsy: cataplexy, or the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone; vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon awakening; and brief episodes of total paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep. Narcolepsy is not definitively diagnosed in most patients until 10 to 15 years after the first symptoms appear.

Narcolepsy Fact Sheet

Definitely something to talk his sleep doctor about, though you may need one who is also a neurologist instead of the more common pulmonologist.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:12 pm

Like Den say's, and soon! Jim