Gasping Awake While Sitting Up During Commute

[Violet]

Yikes! This is new... I didn't have this happen even before I started therapy.
Numerous gasps have been waking me up during my commute, on a bus, to and from the office. And I feel the increased heart rate right after. This is happening about 5 times a trip the last 2 days.

I always sit upright due to lower back discomfort (which has actually been going away lately) and my head is always leaning back against the headrest, therefore, my chin is not down while sleeping.

How am I going to stop that? It's not nice.......

My results the last two night on the new ffm are great, even though I still crash about 2:00 p.m. and into the evening.

2/18
pres 10 leak 0 AHI 0.6 AI 0.0 HI 0.6
2/19
pres 10 leak 0 AHI 0.9 AI 0.2 HI 0.7

History:
I'm doing everything I can to get stronger. I pitifully, walk the treadmill and yoga workouts 4 days a week. I take fish oil, b complex, vitamins, calcium +D, Flaxseed oil. PCP has been diligent with heart, lungs tests, continual blood work and check ups.
My exhaustion, physically and mentally, came quickly. Before July 08 I felt good, worked out hard at lunch and weekends and walked briskly keeping up with almost everyone in the city. Then in July 08 OSA hit me hard and I was diagnosed in Dec 08.

[library teacher]

You may have some other problems that need to be checked by a medical doctor.

[nobody]

I think the bigger question is why are you falling asleep during the day if your CPAP therapy is working for you? Maybe you have another sleep disorder.

[Jason S.]

"Gasping awake" is what prompted me to mention it to my doctor. I've had OSA for 20+ years but my only symptom was post-lunch sleepiness, which I wrote off a "post-lunch sleepiness". I am not overweight. I'm a side sleeper, but the few times I turned on my back I woke up gasping. Also sitting in a recliner watching TV I would fall asleep and wake up gasping.

My guess is your head position on your commute is such that it's extremely conducive to blocking your airway. I would try to stay awake on your bus ride and catch some ZZZ's later when you have access to your CPAP.

[Violet]

Sorry, nobody. When I said "I crash about 2:00 p.m. and into the evening" I meant that I start to feel extremely tired and sleepy at work around 2:00 p.m.

And, Jason S., Sometimes it's just impossible to stay awake on the bus, commute is extremely long.

Thanks for your thoughts. Like everyone, I'm just trying to figure it all out.

[kteague]

Hopefully your daytime sleepiness will improve, and if not, there will be other efforts made to find out why. Did you happen to have limb movements in your study? Has your thyroid been checked?

As far as neck position, I have to be careful with mine. Leaning my head back just a bit too far can be as bad as it falling forward. If while my head is leaned back my jaw relaxes, that's a surefire recipe for trouble breathing. If I'm on a lengthy ride, I find it best to use one of those c-shaped neck pillows backwards and rest my chin on it - keeps my head from going either direction. Or for appearances sake, a scarf wrapped strategically under the chin can help prevent the dreaded jaw drop.

Beyond that, I have read where someone got a dental device to help out while traveling. Best wishes in figuring out what will work for you.

Kathy

[gasparama]

Are you getting enough sleep? Are you able to follow your therapy's effectiveness through the software program? If your AHI is low and you're logging sufficient hours, then you may just need to find a way to reposition your head. Before starting with CPAP, I had that problem just about anywhere at anytime. I did that in my classroom when reading to the kids. I was just a gasping, snorting freak show. So, it is of concern that your therapy is doing the needed job. Please keep us posted on how you progress in solving this problem.

[Gerald]

Violet.....

You might want to invest in a SPO-7500 Oximeter....to cross-check your CPAP machine.

There may be some other medical problem (besides apnea) that's causing the problem.