Wow!

[CollegeGirl]

Okay, so I'm celebrating something probably silly and arbitrary, I don't know - but I'm celebrating it anyway. I usually have AHI's between 0.1 and 1.4 - but last night I achieved my first ever 0.0!

What was different about last night? Well, I had a new pillow, but I doubt that had anything to do with it (but it might have!), BUT I was also sick (still am). I have the whole nasal congestion/very sore throat thing going on. But I stuck to using my Aura/Headrest anyway, and I'm glad I did. Too bad I'm sick - I'd like to know if it feels any different to have absolutely no events at night.

Something good has come of this though - it has been the "kick in the pants" I've needed to decide to go talk to my doctor about possible OTHER causes of the perpetual daytime drowsiness I've got going on. If my apnea is this well under control, the tiredness is most probably not a result of the apnea (right?). I'm tired of being tired. So I'm off to the doc at the first available opportunity. I'm about to start my senior year of college, and I don't want to sleep through it.

Also on my checklist of "things to do now that the new insurance year has begun" : Go to an ENT and try to pin down what exactly causes my apnea. Get a new hose and filters. Get new cushions for my masks. Get two more masks. (They buy two a year. Why wait? Currently in my drawer: F&P HC431 FFM (hate it), Ultra Mirage FFM, Activa, and Adams' Circuit (nasal pillows device probably older than I am). I'm thinking my next ones are going to be the Breeze...and i haven't decided on the second yet. Maybe I'll get a second Aura just so's I can deconstruct the first ).

[Guest]

I've needed to decide to go talk to my doctor about possible OTHER causes of the perpetual daytime drowsiness I've got going on. If my apnea is this well under control, the tiredness is most probably not a result of the apnea (right?).

Are you sure you don't leak through your mouth. That can be a cause of daytime drowsiness. Occassional leaking through the mouth when the lips open can reduce the effectiveness of therapy. These leaks may not be large and frequent enough to cause hypopneas/apneas and thats why AHIs are low but they do make you come out of REM sleep.

[MandoJohnny]

I had a similar situation in that even after I got my numbers consistently good on CPAP, I was still tired during the day. I looked into the possibility I was mouth breathing, but that wasn’t it. My doc diagnosed RLS, even though I didn’t think I had it. But once we got my RLS meds right, I started sleeping like a log and not feel drowsy during the day.

Three other things helped me a lot, but they were hard for me to do. No caffeine after Noon, no alcohol at all, and no eating past 3 hours before bedtime.

[CollegeGirl]

Guest, thank you for the advice, but, yes I'm sure I don't mouth breathe because I tape my mouth.

MandoJohnny,
Thanks for your input as well. I'm pretty sure I don't have RLS going on (it wasn't diagnosed in my sleep studies, and I don't have any symptoms of it), but I'm definitely going to try the three things on your list. I don't drink, so no alcohol won't be a problem. No caffeine after noon will be something I'll have to get used to as I'm a big fan of iced tea. I also do tend to eat closer than 3 hours to when I go to bed - I'll have to try changing that, too.

Thanks to both of you.

[OwlCreekObserver]

Very impressive numbers, CollegeGirl! I'll bet you aced your SATs also!

Heck, I'd be thrilled if my AHI was consistently below five.

OCO

[Goofproof]

Welcome to the Club! It does have a down side, In order to get into the Club, I have to use the mask I don't like. I'd like to use the other, F & P 431 I have, but i don't want to mess up this months numbers, (I know it's a little silly)

I have my Caffine fix at suppertime, and if I don't eat something before bed I don't sleep good. I guess I dream of food. Jim

[OSAGuy]

"Three other things helped me a lot, but they were hard for me to do. No caffeine after Noon, no alcohol at all, and no eating past 3 hours before bedtime."

There is also a fourth suggestion: If you smoke, quit. Before anyone decides to remind me of how difficult it is to quit don't bother, as I am an ex-smoker and am very much aware of how difficult it is to quit smoking. But based on my experience it is possible. It took many attempts, but finally stuck - Have been tobacco free for 2 1/2 years..

[OwlCreekObserver]

"If you smoke, quit. Before anyone decides to remind me of how difficult it is to quit don't bother, as I am an ex-smoker and am very much aware of how difficult it is to quit smoking. But based on my experience it is possible. It took many attempts, but finally stuck - Have been tobacco free for 2 1/2 years..

Congrats, OSAGuy. I've been smoke-free for probably 25 or 30 years now. I lost one brother to lung cancer. My other brother is probably in his final days of emphysema and it isn't pretty. I normally avoid preaching about the evils of smoking, but couldn't restrain myself today.

Saving your life is the bottom line. Sleeping better is a bonus.

OCO

[Sergeant Bob]

"Three other things helped me a lot, but they were hard for me to do. No caffeine after Noon, no alcohol at all, and no eating past 3 hours before bedtime."

There is also a fourth suggestion: If you smoke, quit. Before anyone decides to remind me of how difficult it is to quit don't bother, as I am an ex-smoker and am very much aware of how difficult it is to quit smoking. But based on my experience it is possible. It took many attempts, but finally stuck - Have been tobacco free for 2 1/2 years..

For me the first week was the easiest (awful hard to smoke when you're intubated).
I smoked for 35 years and quitting was the second best thing I've ever done for myself (and my wife).

[CollegeGirl]

Congrats to everyone who is now smoke free. I myself don't smoke - as an asthmatic with a smoke allergy who grew up suffering in a house of smokers, I have a supreme hatred for it. I don't drink, I don't smoke - it's a good thing I bite my fingernails or I'd have to start looking for some other vice.

Seriously, congrats to those that have quit. I've spent 22 of my 27 years trying to get my mom to quit with no success. She just doesn't want to do it. She's now almost up to a pack a day. I've been asking her to do it for her health for years. Even when I ask her to do it for my future (Gee, Mom, when you develop emphysema or lung cancer and I have to quit my successful career to care for you, how are you going to feel?) it doesn't work. She's 63. And I really have no leverage to stand on, because her father and his mother both smoked and lived into their nineties. She expects the same.

OCO - Yeah, lots of people would kill to have my numbers. That's why I can't figure out why I'm still tired, and why I'm deferring to - *sigh* - a doctor. I've gotten so used to being self-reliant, I don't like to leave my health in the hands of someone I've never met before. I'll do what I always do, I guess - make sure I research the heck out of anything he says and analyze it til I understand it better than he does.

[frapilu]

Hey CollegeGirl,

When you get an answer, please come back to tell us what it is. I don't have a machine that gives me numbers so I have no idea but my 3 week trial with an autocpap said my ahi and stuff were fine. I have also lately started taping my mouth. I have diabetes but my numbers are very good for that (at least that I can test myself!).

So why am I always tired too?

France

[KansasRT]

Have you ever had an MSLT as part of your sleep study? That is where they have you stay the next day and take a series of Naps. They are looking for narcolepsy. Have you ever fallen asleep while talking on the phone or while doing something that holds your interest? Narcolepsy can also be accompanied by cataplexy which is sudden muscle weakness, or sleep paralysis. I am not trying to make a diagnosis, just trying to give you something to think about. I am not sure of the exact numbers, but I know that there are alot of people that suffer from narcolepsy and are never diagnosed because for some reason Dr's miss the diagnosis.

[snork1]

..They are looking for narcolepsy. Have you ever fallen asleep .......while doing something that holds your interest?.....

thank you.
This answers my long standing question if my extreme urge to fall asleep in my engineering meetings is a sign of narcolepsy.

.."while doing something that holds your interest?..."

If that is a critical point, then I'm in the clear for narcolepsy.

[CollegeGirl]

KansasRT, thanks so much for your reply. No, I've never had an MSLT. But I've never fallen asleep while doing something I'm really interested in, either. (Well, I can't say never. Maybe if I'm reaaaaallly tired). And besides, if it was narcolepsy, the Provigil I was on for six months might have at least helped a little. As it is, it did nothing for me.

The problem is staying awake even in times when I'm not so interested in what's going on (like in dull classes at school). The teachers don't tend to appreciate it when you can't keep your eyes open. I've actually tried holding my eyelids open. It just doesn't work. Maybe I'll have to invest in some sunglasses so they can't really tell.

Seriously, though, I am concerned about this last year of school. I've come so far, and it's taken me so long - I'm almost there! Two more sets of midterms and two more sets of final exams and I'm done!

I'm actually feeling rested today, for a change. It's a weird feeling for me. I don't really know what to do with myself.

[leaveye]

I know that I'm just stating the obvious, but I started CPAP about 5 months ago and ran into the same issue. I was getting a good night's sleep, but still having a hard time gathering up enough energy to function. I went back to the doctor and she said pretty bluntly..."Diet & Exercise". She prescribed the "South Beach Diet" and any kind of aerobic activity 3-4 times a week. I was about 20 pounds overweight, not very severe.
I dusted off the old NordicTrac and started eating some whole grains and plants... As it turns out, that is just what I needed. I feel freaking fantastic. I'm actually ready for school this year!

-LM