Can use of cpap actually cause sleep deprivation ?

[BlizzardUK]

Now I know that sounds like a bit of a oxymoron subject header, but let me explain. Since I started CPAP it has cured me of falling asleep during the day and evening, some of which I actually miss. I no longer nap and can drive as long as I want without needing to pull over every 10 minutes, and I can stay awake at breakfast and dinner now. However, a week after I started I began to feel a bit queasy, I had eye strain problems and just felt a little rough, which I still do today. My AHI is always under 1 now, which is amazing as it was awful before. But I am only sleeping about 6 hours a day, perhaps 7. This sounds fairly normal, but is it a shock to system to someone who used to sleep all the time ? Even though I wasn't obviously getting decent sleep.

I constantly feel like I have a hangover even though I don't drink. When I look around the net it says it is often from sleep deprivation (excluding dehydration and diabetes which I have tested negative). Although I am tried when I wake up I don't feel the need to sleep during the day or evening before bed. Before I would just sit in a comfy chair or lie down and I would be asleep. I also think the reason I have eye strain is because I am on the computer longer as I am asleep less (and my eyes are open a lot more).

So did anyone here suffer from a hangover type feeling daily after starting CPAP (without drinking of course) ? It might just be me, I am unlucky like that Thanks all !!

[Julie]

Hi, it's far more likely that your settings are subtherapeutic, but to know that, you should download Sleepyhead software and find out what's really going on overnight. You can do that from the 1st Announcement, top of main pg, and it explains how to post results here (try to stick to this thread if poss. so we can follow the sequence).

[BlizzardUK]

Hi, it's far more likely that your settings are subtherapeutic, but to know that, you should download Sleepyhead software and find out what's really going on overnight. You can do that from the 1st Announcement, top of main pg, and it explains how to post results here (try to stick to this thread if poss. so we can follow the sequence).

Hi. Yep, thanks for the tip but I actually do already use sleepyhead to check, I looked back on the results, do you mean the AHI is not a correct way of measuring sleep quality ? Can I ask what you mean by sub-therapeutic ? Do you mean the results may not be correct ? I will get some results for you to post here.

[Wulfman...]

Now I know that sounds like a bit of a oxymoron subject header, but let me explain. Since I started CPAP it has cured me of falling asleep during the day and evening, some of which I actually miss. I no longer nap and can drive as long as I want without needing to pull over every 10 minutes, and I can stay awake at breakfast and dinner now. However, a week after I started I began to feel a bit queasy, I had eye strain problems and just felt a little rough, which I still do today. My AHI is always under 1 now, which is amazing as it was awful before. But I am only sleeping about 6 hours a day, perhaps 7. This sounds fairly normal, but is it a shock to system to someone who used to sleep all the time ? Even though I wasn't obviously getting decent sleep.

I constantly feel like I have a hangover even though I don't drink. When I look around the net it says it is often from sleep deprivation (excluding dehydration and diabetes which I have tested negative). Although I am tried when I wake up I don't feel the need to sleep during the day or evening before bed. Before I would just sit in a comfy chair or lie down and I would be asleep. I also think the reason I have eye strain is because I am on the computer longer as I am asleep less (and my eyes are open a lot more).

So did anyone here suffer from a hangover type feeling daily after starting CPAP (without drinking of course) ? It might just be me, I am unlucky like that Thanks all !!

In addition to Julie's recommendation, we have no idea how long you've been using this therapy or what your settings are.
Very few users experience an instant restoration or revitalization of their prior health (however long ago that was).
And, sub-optimal therapy settings or lack of sufficient sleep can make it take longer.


Den

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[BlizzardUK]

Thanks. Been using since 10th September 2015.

[Wulfman...]

For me, personally, I couldn't handle that much pressure changing. I would end up feeling like you describe.
And, even though I was sleeping about that much in my initial months of therapy, I found that I needed to get some additional hours on the weekends.
So, you need to figure out if you can get some more sleep and if the pressure changes are giving you the "sleep deprivation" feeling.
You might want to try straight pressure at maybe around 11 or 12 cm.


Den

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[BlizzardUK]

For me, personally, I couldn't handle that much pressure changing. I would end up feeling like you describe.
And, even though I was sleeping about that much in my initial months of therapy, I found that I needed to get some additional hours on the weekends.
So, you need to figure out if you can get some more sleep and if the pressure changes are giving you the "sleep deprivation" feeling.
You might want to try straight pressure at maybe around 11 or 12 cm.
Den

.

Thanks. Certainly worth me trying to see if it helps. If it finds I need more pressure do I just have a apnea episode ? I can't even feel I have air going up my nose with the nasal pillows, but I guess my internals probably can.

[Julie]

AHI is the number of apnea events you have overnight and it's 'correct' (to answer your question). Pressure settings are the numbers dialed into your machine's that determine how much air the machine pumps to keep your personal airway open... e.g. low setting 7, high 15 (arbitrary #'s for here), but if the low one is too low to effectively interrupt an apnea at a higher level (e.g. 12) because it takes too long to reach that from 7, you won't get the benefit of the machine... so SH shows a picture of things to take into acct when reading it. I'm not sure why you feel so bad now because your numbers are pretty good, but you do have a component (RERAs) I'm not so familiar with, so hopefully someone else may be able to advise here. One thing - is it possible you sleep with your head tucked down on your chest a bit? If so, it cuts off your air supply and one way of helping is to wear a soft cervical collar - keeps your head up, airway open and, incidentally, your jaw (if not lips) closed, which would help prevent leakage if it was a factor (which it doesn't seem to be tho' according to SH). Lots of people have tried the collars tho' and use them routinely.

[Wulfman...]

For me, personally, I couldn't handle that much pressure changing. I would end up feeling like you describe.
And, even though I was sleeping about that much in my initial months of therapy, I found that I needed to get some additional hours on the weekends.
So, you need to figure out if you can get some more sleep and if the pressure changes are giving you the "sleep deprivation" feeling.
You might want to try straight pressure at maybe around 11 or 12 cm.
Den

.

Thanks. Certainly worth me trying to see if it helps. If it finds I need more pressure do I just have a apnea episode ? I can't even feel I have air going up my nose with the nasal pillows, but I guess my internals probably can.

Yes, in all probability, the "event" occurs without the machine addressing it. However, you need to be aware that virtually NO APAP will attempt to stop an apnea if it's in progress......it'll wait till it's over with and then decide whether to increase or decrease pressures. That's why the algorithms are designed to increase pressures on Flow Limitations and/or Snores.......thinking that they're precursors to apneas. Sometimes they are and sometimes they aren't.......and that doesn't apply to EVERYBODY, either.
Looking at your report, I see very few hypopnea or apnea events, but a few snores which a little extra pressure (and some nasal cleansing before bedtime) may reduce or eliminate.


Den

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[chunkyfrog]

Sometimes it's not always the apnea.
How recently have you seen your doctor?
Apnea can hide symptoms of other problems.
Think blood, infection, hormones, etc.

[BlizzardUK]

I haven't seen a doctor yet, I want to go but keeping putting it off, which I know I shouldn't. It could be chronic eye strain, I guess that might give a similar feeling, my eyes have gone from 10+ hours of being closed each day to only 6 and much more computer and TV and tablet use.

[IDontSnoreISwear]

You've mentioned using the computer more than usual. I'm not sure what your age is, but when I was nearing 40 and starting to need reading glasses, I would get exhausted by 10 am at work. Once I had reading glasses, I could work all day long with no problem.

Just a thought.

[BlizzardUK]

You've mentioned using the computer more than usual. I'm not sure what your age is, but when I was nearing 40 and starting to need reading glasses, I would get exhausted by 10 am at work. Once I had reading glasses, I could work all day long with no problem.

Just a thought.

I am 37, so maybe the same is happening to me ?

[Wulfman...]

You've mentioned using the computer more than usual. I'm not sure what your age is, but when I was nearing 40 and starting to need reading glasses, I would get exhausted by 10 am at work. Once I had reading glasses, I could work all day long with no problem.

Just a thought.

That's what I thought, too. Got the glasses and it didn't help solve the "real" problem. The following year I had my sleep study.


Den

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[LSAT]

I agree with raising your pressure. If you are staying in auto mode raise your minimum to 11 and your maximum to 18. If you are going to fixed pressure as Den recommended, set it at 12. Your AHI looks good, but there are large changes to the pressure that may be disturbing your sleep.