Inflammatory cytokines and EDS

[csel]

I have used CPAP and variants (BiPAP, APAP) for over 10 years, but continue to experience daytime sleepiness (EDS) and brain fog. I suspect elevated inflammatory cytokines contribute to my EDS, though whether they are a RESULT of sleep apnea, CAUSE sleep apnea, or both remains to be determined. Through extensive reading I suspect it is a two-way street. I also have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

I'm tired (pun intended) of being advised to tinker with my CPAP ("change to APAP, increase the pressure, add humidification, change masks", etc. etc. etc., because I have tried all this without success.

Has anyone ever tried other approaches to lowering inflammatory cytokines - weight reduction, avoiding foods that increase inflammation, eating more foods that decrease inflammation, exercise, etc. etc.? What are your results, vis a vis daytime sleepiness and brain fog, and your thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your input.

-CSEL

[elena88]

yikes, this is way out of my league, but I can tell you my little story..

I had CFS many, many years ago, went to all sorts of docs, none of them helped me!
I was so tired, it wasn an effort to sit in a chair and breath. My body was shutting down or something.. it was awful..

Then I found more of a holistic doc, who changed my diet, sent me to a dentist who removed my amalgam (mercury) fillings, and I was completely well in no time..I was even "glowing"

diet change was to all natural ingredients, no artificial chemicals, no preservatives.. and no gluten, or refined carbs or sugar.
so I stuck to that for quite sometime, healed, then I was able to eat a little bit more stuff, but still I dont eat preservatives, etc..
I shop at trader joes.. and buy organic.. I guess Im sensitive to things... more so than most folks..

anyway, that was my experience with chronic fatigue syndrome,and I did have a doc diagnose that, along with epstein barr.
Not its all just a memory..

[csel]

Thanks for your reply. I have tried a full allergy diet with no results. I'm sure it may work in some people, but CFS and FMS are multifactorial and present differently in different people. And IMHO being positive for Epstein Barr or the myriad of other viruses is probably more a result of the immune system being messed up, not a CAUSE of CFS.

Any other thoughts? Thank you in advance.

[sonyat]

Anti-inflammatory diets usually involve getting rid of wheat, corn, dairy, soy, and potatoes, at least initially. The more insulin your body produces, the more the inflammatory pathway is activated. This is true even if blood tests show no allergic reactions to these foods. Most doctors and naturopaths who promoted anti-inflammatory diets also suggest increases omega-3 fatty acids.

In my own experience I sleep better and have better concentration when I'm eating mostly protein, fruit, vegetables, and nuts. But I've never had full-blown CFIDS or fibromyalgia. Just a lot of aches and pains and fatigue without being able to sleep. CPAP has helped a lot in terms of improving the quality of my sleep. Yoga also helps, but go to a real yoga studio, not the gym, for a good yoga class.