why am I still tired??

zoso74 · Post by **zoso74** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:33 pm

I have recently just began to use a CPAP machine after having sleep apnea for over 10 years now. The first machine they put me on had a pressure of 11 but when I woke up I was even more tired then when I went to sleep and it felt as if I was brain dead so to speak. I called my doc and she switched me to an auto machine that regulates the pressure based on what my body needs. I have used it for 4 days now and I am still frickin' tired as heck! My AHi is at 4.1 so I know thats good but how long will it take before I get relief? I am already very frustrated and I cant keep feeling like like for very much longer. I became used to my tiredness from SA and I know I can go back to that even though its not the right thing to do. Please post any help or suggestions anyone may have. I will appreciate it!!!!

Kiralynx · Post by **Kiralynx** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:45 pm

First thing you need to do is to click on the user control panel at the top of the page, and then fill in what kind of machine and mask you have. Works better if you use print instead of the icons.

Once we know that information, we can offer suggestions which may help.

Don't forget -- you have at least ten years of sleep debt to repay to your body, so that may be a factor. I'm only about three months into therapy myself, and I know I'm still tired, even though I usually get eight mask hours a night. Another consideration is whether or not you are getting mask leaks which could affect the efficacy of your therapy.

Welcome to a Forum of very friendly and helpful people!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:47 pm

zoso74 wrote:I have recently just began to use a CPAP machine after having sleep apnea for over 10 years now. The first machine they put me on had a pressure of 11 but when I woke up I was even more tired then when I went to sleep and it felt as if I was brain dead so to speak. I called my doc and she switched me to an auto machine that regulates the pressure based on what my body needs. I have used it for 4 days now and I am still frickin' tired as heck! My AHi is at 4.1 so I know thats good but how long will it take before I get relief? I am already very frustrated and I cant keep feeling like like for very much longer. I became used to my tiredness from SA and I know I can go back to that even though its not the right thing to do. Please post any help or suggestions anyone may have. I will appreciate it!!!!

Any chance you could give us some information on what specific equipment you're using?
Two typical situations:
If you're using a nasal mask and leaking air out your mouth during the night.
Your pressure isn't correct......BECAUSE, if you're using an Auto/APAP, the pressure range is probably set 4 - 20 cm. which means it's not properly configured. The minimum pressure needs to be high enough to take care of almost all of the events. If it's set too low, it'll take the machine too long to get to the "needed" pressure. Your sleep doc is more than likely "uninformed" as to how those machines work.
If you're also leaking air (mouth or mask) and/or snoring during the night, the machine is probably running the pressure all over the place trying to keep up and it's disturbing your sleep.

Den

Bluebonnet_Gal · Post by **Bluebonnet_Gal** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:50 pm

SInce you've had sleep apnea over 10 years, you have a very large "sleep debt" to pay. It can take weeks, even months, to feel truly rested. You should start noticing some improvements though fairly quickly (if you're sleeping with your CPAP every night, all of most of the night).

If your pressure it too low, it will delay or prevent you from feeling better though. However, we need more info to be able to offer suggestions. Please fill our your profile including the machine and mask you're using. Do you know what the machine is set on for your Min and Max pressure? How long before your doc wants to see you with the results?

I was prescribed an auto machine at first, but the doc did not give a min or max pressure. My titration pressure was 14. The DME (with no guidelines on what pressures to use) set it on a min of 6 and a max of 20. As I understand, it takes too long for the machine to get from the min of 6 to a pressure around 14 that I need to prevent an apnea.

I started XPAP Dec 10th and I'm still not feeling as energetic as I'd like. I have not had one day where I didn't battle sleepiness during the day. Some days I feel better, some days worse. I'm trying to be patient, but it's hard sometimes. I'm feeling terrible today - and frustrated - so I understand!

This forum helps A LOT!!! You've found the right place for help and support!

SleepyRose · Post by **SleepyRose** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:00 pm

Im still tired too as I posted a couple of days ago. Maybe even worse than before or maybe its just different.

My stats are good so I think its just a matter of your body adjusting. I had ONE day where I felt so energized so I know its actually possible.

Ive been at it since December also so you're not alone by a long shot, theres more than one person here whos still tired as all get out, even after an 8 hour night with the mask!

Hang in there please!

OmniMarconi67 · Post by **OmniMarconi67** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:27 pm

It's also in the middle of winter, having less sunlight and a lot of cold makes me not want to wake up even after starting CPAP.

Mtnviewer · Post by **Mtnviewer** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:41 pm

I'm new at this too but have had a few days of feeling very different than my OSA normal, but also days of not that energized. Overall I think that I'm slowly improving and that one really great day of energy has been a very suductive lure that I'm so appreciative of having experienced. Hopefully you'll get one too. I've been able to get my readings lower than you though. Keep slowly experimenting, reading and or asking questions is what I've learned from this forum, until you find your solutions. The alternative is always worse it seems.

SheZAAM! · Post by **SheZAAM!** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:28 pm

I'm still tired too, but less so than before I started. I posted the same thing about still being tired and was told the same thing about having a "debt" to pay back.

junie · Post by **junie** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:31 pm

I'm new here also, and I'm very tired I have a full face mask, and my no. is on 9, I have no software or to read my card, I really don't know what any of my things are at, I go to my sleep Dr. tomorrow I guess I'll see what he has to say, It's been 6 months since I been to him last time I went he blamed my tiredness on my pain pills I have arthritis very bad They also put me on Provigil to help me stay awake no luck,
GOOD LUCK TO YOU,

m1k2s3 · Post by **m1k2s3** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:26 pm

I've been on Cpap for almost 2 years and I know it's hard when you feel like your doing all the right things and your still tired. But hang in there - it does get better. Your sleep routine has changed and now you have to give your body time to adjust to it. Once you get the mask, machine and pressure right, it's important to then give yourself some time for your body to adjust. If your numbers are good, then your body is getting the right kind of sleep and that's extremely important.

One thing I did to help my body adjust was I started going to bed earlier. I'm a bit of a night owl and I usually go to bed between 11:30 & 12 but for the first month or so on CPAP, I started going to bed around 10. It seemed to help. Once my body adjusted to my new sleep routine, I started getting a solid 7 hours of sleep. The other thing I continue to do is I drink a glass of milk before bed. I read that milk contains tryptophan and that your body converts it to melatonin and serotonin — both of which help induce sleep.

The important thing is don't give up - and keep coming back to this site! I definitely learned alot from reading these posts and got a lot of great suggestions that helped me progress.

zoso74 · Post by **zoso74** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:15 pm

Thanks everyone for the tips and encouragement! I posted my machine details which I believe to be accurate but I'm not sure of the software. I was just hoping that by using CPAP I would get immediate results and it would be awesome! I now understand that I basically have to re-train my body to sleep better. I have been going to sleep earlier and that has been helping. I am just looking forward to that one day when I wake up and fell fully refreshed! I will keep at it because I know its down the line and I have already become adjusted to wearing my nasal pillows. Thanks again everyone and I will keep reading messages on this board. Everyone rocks!!!

slacker361 · Post by **slacker361** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:19 pm

have your doctor check your thyroid function

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Humidifier

Additional Comments: My machine is a ResMed S9 Elite - Pressure is 11