Almost hate to post this

grumpygirl · Post by **grumpygirl** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:48 pm

Well, I have been feeling so crappy since starting Cpap therapy in Nov.'07 that I thought I was going to go crazy. Last night I decided I just would not wear the darn thing since my GERD was acting up horribly. Anyway, to make a long story short--I feel better today than usual. I know this sounds crazy but something is just OFF with this whole CPAP therapy. I have an appt. at the sleep doc(NP) tomorrow and plan to address this. Why would I feel so much better OFF therapy than ON. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around!!! I have severe OSA so I know I need therapy, but I've got to find the proper therapy for me. I wonder if it is the mask and then I wonder if I need bi-level. What the H**L, I'm so tired of this whole thing and being obsessed with it. I just want a good nights sleep and to feel rested!!!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:50 pm

I haven't kept up with your post so this may have already been addressed.

Could you be leaking from your mouth? If your mouth breathing treatment won't help you much.

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:31 pm

Grumpygirl
You shouldn't draw conclusions just on 1 night. Try going 2 or 3 nights off cpap and then see how you feel and if you still feel better then it may be your machine,mask,settings etc.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:45 pm

grumpygirl wrote:Why would I feel so much better OFF therapy than ON. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around!!!

Depends on many factors. Do you find it hard to sleep well with CPAP gear on? Are you able to monitor the data from your CPAP machine to see how well your breathing is doing? Do you feel you sleep soundly on CPAP?

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:04 pm

Assuming you've been formally diagnosed with OSA, it sounds to me like your treatment is simply not working--either you're mouth breathing, your pressure is set too low, or something like that. Get into your doctor as soon as possible.

I would be much more concerned about what's happening to my body all night during oxygen desaturation than about how I feel subjectively. For example, GERD is actually caused by untreated OSA (low oxygen levels wreak havoc on the digestive system during the night). The fact that your GERD is acting up so much suggests that something about your treatment is not working. Accept your diagnosis at face value and do your best to figure why your treatment is not working.

Hang in there long enough and you'll get it figured out.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:47 pm

Maybe if you stopped being grumpy (just kidding)

... I know it's hard to laugh when things don't go the way you would like, but you just have to remember to keep on keep'in on.

Talk to your doc tell your issues and if that don't help come back here and grump all you want. In time you will have it all figured out. Heck, it takes a month or more just to learn all of the lingo and get yourself the right equipment and software.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:27 pm

For example, GERD is actually caused by untreated OSA (low oxygen levels wreak havoc on the digestive system during the night).

not to mention the vacuum effect apneas have, sucking stomach acids up into the throat

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:34 pm

There are other causes of GERD.

j_dow · Post by **j_dow** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:01 am

My CPAP therapy works great as far as rest, but it has been irritating the hell out of my GERD. I can indentify with that one. I am going for a scope tomorrow with the gastro doc. to try and figure out why CPAP is causing the acid to burn more. My mouth stays completely closed and I am not overweight. It seems things aren't very simple for a lot of people just trying to get a good nights sleep. If I figure something out on the GERD I will let you know. Keep trying.

GrizzlyBear · Post by **GrizzlyBear** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:45 am

Hiya, Folks.

Ummmm. I hate to always sound like the defensive Aussie, and perhaps it's a common acronym, but can someone tell me what GERD is? Unless, of course, it's going to be something that I might have, and knowing I have it is going to make my life hell!!!!!

Regards,

Curious GrizzlyBear

ColinP · Post by **ColinP** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:19 am

I won't call you a defensive Aussie if you don't call our cricket team chokers

GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease. Over here they seem to call it acid reflux, basically as far as I can tell it mostly consists of heartburn and burping a lot (well, in my case it does). Of course, I don't have it very seriously, so I can't tell you what the real downside is. I'm sure someone who knows more than I do will help out and give us some more scientific info

Colin

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:57 am

Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus irritates it. Long term it can cause ulcerations in the esophagus. These ulcerations can become what is called Barrett's Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. And, of course, long term untreated, this can become esophageal cancer.

A hiatal hernia can cause not only reflux but also a ballooning of some of the top portion of the stomach up into the bottom of the esophagus. A common cause of GERD.

Most of us by our 60s have a slight sliding hiatal hernia as our muscle tone begins to weaken. Extra weight in the upper body area, the "apple shape" is a common contributor.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:29 am

Grumpy,
Yours in another case for APAP pver CPAP.
You have nothing but your subjective feeling to evaluate your response.
If you had APAP, you could get more definitive datya to help figure it out..

I hope you get yout doc to get you an APAP or at least rent one to get a better handle on what is happening.

I suspect an improper mask is at least, part of the problem.
But then. there are cases of some who do not benefit from PAP.
Documented data would go a long way to nailing this down.

Hang in there.
----------

Questino for the day:
Why do fireman have bigger balls than policeman?

Because they sell more tickets.

Almost hate to post this

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