Success Finally But Why Don't I Feel Better?

[lwieland11]

I've been doing well with the BPAP...low AHI(around 5), long sleep time, little to no leaks, no aerophagia. For example, my MyAir score last night was 95/100. AHI was 5.5. Sleep with mask on for over 8 hours. This has the typical scenario lately. I'm encouraged by the numbers. So why don't I feel amazing? I know how it feels when CPAP/BPAP works. That's not how I'm feeling. I don't look or feel good. No clarity of thought. Brain fog. No burst in energy. Could this be diet related? Thoughts? Thanks.

[Julie]

Wish you had attached this to the last notes you wrote so we could see what's already gone on... so not having them to compare to what I see is possibly longish sleep hrs (as you might with not-well treated apnea) and what we consider to be a high-ish AHI for Cpap use (5 is an arbitrary no. docs use as some kind of cutoff, but has been shown to be inadequate for well treated apnea.

Don't remember your settings, so can only suggest raising the low one a bit... and not depending on My Air to tell you much - I'm sure Sleepyhead must have been suggested long ago and will show you much more detail. I would not call what you have a 'success' esp. if you only go by the numbers... not if you still don't feel better.

[lwieland11]

I have tried several times unsuccessfully to post Sleepyhead results because I have a Mac.

[Julie]

So do I ... and SH was written on a Mac. You shouldn't have a problem... look at the instructions. There are people here who can help with that (I have DL'd the program but don't use it as I don't feel the need - very consistent sleep and results - my machine gives enough info using Cpap.com's website prod. pg for it where you enter screen data, that I don't bother).

[freetimecreations]

I have tried several times unsuccessfully to post Sleepyhead results because I have a Mac.

What step are you stuck on when posting your Sleepyhead results? Or what steps have you completed successfully before you you get stuck?

[palerider]

I've been doing well with the BPAP...low AHI(around 5),

That's not a low AHI. that's a bad AHI. AHI under 2 is a good AHI

For example, my MyAir score last night was 95/100.

Unfortunately, meaningless.

AHI was 5.5.

I'd feel like roadkill with an AHI of 5.5.

So why don't I feel amazing?

See above.

[chunkyfrog]

Your definition of "success" falls short of a positive outcome.
Some numbers are useful--but not always the ones we are told.
PaleRider knows.

[zoocrewphoto]

Doctors and insurance companies use ahi of 5 as a criterion for whether you have sleep apnea or not. But itdoesn't really represent what is great and when you will feel better. '

Consider this. An ahi of 5 means that your sleep is disturbed an average of 5 times an hour. If you sleep 8 hours, that is 40 times a night. That's really not that great. Better than untreated, but most people can get much better results if they use the data to dial in on their ideal settings.

Many people have found that they notice more of a difference when the ahi is below 2. Many is usually under 1, and extremely rare to reach 2.

Other reasons to have good numbers and not feel improved:

waking up frequently - which could be caused by leaks, pressure changes, something uncomfortable, something unrelated to cpap

not enough time asleep

pain

medications

mattress, pillow, noises, temperature, etc

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

How long have you been on therapy?

I can tell you right now that if you asked me how I felt the day after my first night, I would tell you that I felt like I had been catapulted into a solid stone wall by a giant medieval trébuchet and then run over by a bus. A modern double-decker bus.

But, if you asked me right now, after being on therapy for four months, I would tell you that I feel friggin' fantastic. The difference between day one me and four month me is astounding. If you haven't been on it for very long, give your body some time to adjust to being able to breath properly, although an AHI of 5.5 is...high, for me at least. I rarely hit over 2, but when I do I feel like garbage, or like I described previously. Some lucky people feel fantastic after the first night, but the majority of people tend to see very small daily upward swings.

Don't give up!

[lwieland11]

Thanks, Midwest. I was first diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2003! I've tried many different types of machines, masks, etc. SEVEN sleep studies to date and they want me to do another. Ridiculous. I'm currently on a BPAP now w/backup rate. Pressure of 17. For a girl whose AHI was 29+, AHI of 5 and sometimes under seems like a miracle that I thought I'd never see. I have found a way to eliminate the aerophagia I was dealing with for so long. I sleep only on my side with mouth shut and this seems to be working. Still tweaking and hoping for more because I don't look or feel rested. There may be other reasons for that. Just wondering if I can improve my BPAP therapy any more or is this the best it's going to be.

[Julie]

Are you suggesting that 29 was some kind of extreme (on testing)? It's not, compared to so many who test much higher, but in any case the 'severity' of your tested AHI has no bearing on how high of a pressure(s) your Cpap is set at... that's done after gauging how narrow your airway is when titrated - e.g. I may have had a really low AHI (14) on testing, but a very narrow airway so would need high pressures, whereas others might have tested high (e.g. 75) but only need a relatively low min. pressure of 6 to keep their airway more open. Apples and oranges!

[Jas_williams]

post some daily graphs to this thread and we can see if we can help you further, an AHI ave of 5.5 still has room for improvement.

[freetimecreations]

post some daily graphs to this thread and we can see if we can help you further, an AHI ave of 5.5 still has room for improvement.

I have tried several times unsuccessfully to post Sleepyhead results because I have a Mac.

What step are you stuck on when posting your Sleepyhead results? Or what steps have you completed successfully before you you get stuck?

[palerider]

post some daily graphs to this thread and we can see if we can help you further, an AHI ave of 5.5 still has room for improvement.

I have tried several times unsuccessfully to post Sleepyhead results because I have a Mac.

What step are you stuck on when posting your Sleepyhead results? Or what steps have you completed successfully before you you get stuck?

Considering the fact that SH is written on a Mac, ...

[ChicagoGranny]

Pressure of 17.

That's a high pressure. Wearing a firm foam cervical collar has helped some lower their pressure and improve their AHI. The collar holds the neck in the best position for airway patency. You can get some idea about the different collars here - viewtopic/t172782/Success-with-Dr-Dakot ... evice.html