Waking feeling dizzy, headache, groggy, light headed

[mozart]

I've been consistently using my machine for about 2 weeks.

I am now starting to remember more the reasons why I quit using it several years ago.

I am waking most mornings feeling dizzy, groggy and light-headed. I also have more headaches in the morning and my face/head feel almost numb. My brain is very fuzzy in the morning and it takes hours before it wears off. Yesterday I had to actually lay down and take a nap in the afternoon because I am so sleepy. I felt much better before I started back on my APAP (which is why I haven't been using it). I also feel like I have been beat up all night because my back is killing me.

My AHI is slowly coming down more and more each night (or at least the averages are).

Here are my current data and settings:
AHI: 2.1
90% pressure: 11.9
Min pressure: 11.5
Max pressure: 20
Leak: 32.2 (a little higher than normal, but I've been messing with my mask a lot to get it seated properly)

Any ideas? I want to stick this out, but I literally can't think. I feel like I do when my Thyroid meds are not working. They are working fine and I was feeling fine until I started back on cpap therapy. Now I feel like I am walking in a fog all the time again.

I have bumped up my min pressure by .5, but everything else is where my doctor set it several years ago. I don't have any software for my machine and probably no computer than can run the software anyway. So for now, this is all the info I have.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Michelle

[KarD786]

How many nights has it been since you began use again? I am actually waiting for my cpap as I just finished the titration study last week. From my understanding it may take between a week all the way to a few months to start feeling normal again. This may be because your body is adjusting to to a good nights sleep and beginning to recover from recurring damage. I definitely did not feel better the night after my titration study as I believe it will be a while before I feel the benefits. I definitely don't think it can be more beneficial for you to discontinue CPAP. If you have been using the cpap and are still having issues, there may be another underlying issue. I am also hypothyroid and agree with you that the fog of sleep deprivation is equal to or worse than not being on the correct meds. Best of luck to you. I would really reccomend you stay on the cpap as depriving your brain and organs of oxygen in addition to interrupting the normal sleep cycle is not good for you.

[kteague]

...I am waking most mornings feeling dizzy, groggy and light-headed... more headaches in the morning... my face/head feel almost numb... brain is very fuzzy in the morning and it takes hours before it wears off. I also feel like I have been beat up all night because my back is killing me... feel like I am walking in a fog all the time...

You shouldn't feel like this. Keep getting suggestions and seeking solutions. If you need treatment, you need it. But you shouldn't have to sacrifice your well being in other areas. Surely this is not as good as it can get for you. An ill fitting mask can cause all kinds of grief from pain to headaches to poor sleep, resulting in bad days. What comfort measures have you already tried, such as mask liners, padding, etc.? Is your back pain old or new. Just hoping it doesn't hurt from being tense trying to not displace the mask. Give us some more specifics so we can keep the ideas coming. You'll have to pick and choose what might really relate to you, but at least you'll have some ideas to bounce off of.

[Julie]

I wonder if you were told that it's vital to keep the mask vent uncovered by any bedding, because you'll end up re-breathing CO2 if not, and it can make you feel dizzy (and more). But if you also have naturally lowish blood pressure and Cpap also lowers it, that could have an effect as well.

[mozart]

How many nights has it been since you began use again?

I used it about 16 nights in a row.

What comfort measures have you already tried, such as mask liners, padding, etc.?

I have purchased a hose hanger, but that is all. I also have changed my mask from an older style swift to the airfit p10. I feel like I'm getting a good fit. I'm not having any pain around the mask and my leak rate seems ok I think.

If you have been using the cpap and are still having issues, there may be another underlying issue.

This may be true, however it began almost immediately when I began using my CPAP. I think it is directly related.

Is your back pain old or new.

My back/neck pain is now new, but I have taken great lengths to minimize it when I sleep. Most nights (pre-CPAP) I feel well-rested and not sore when I wake up. I feel that I probably don't move around as much with the mask on, either due to sleeping more deeply or sleeping without moving as much.

I wonder if you were told that it's vital to keep the mask vent uncovered by any bedding, because you'll end up re-breathing CO2 if not, and it can make you feel dizzy (and more). But if you also have naturally lowish blood pressure and Cpap also lowers it, that could have an effect as well.

I don't think that I am covering the vent at all. My bedding is not usually up near my face and every time I wake up I am either on my back or on the edge of my pillow.

Last night I lowered my max pressure to 14 and lowered the starting point of the ramp down to 8 from 9. I also used the humidifier all night (even though I hate having warm air blown at me all night). And I increased the C-Flex. This morning my AHI 7 day average was down to 1.9.

I feel a tiny bit better, but I think that some of it has to do with my ears.

I do not have any sinus problems right now, but my ears feel very full and keep popping this morning. That doesn't explain the foggy brain or the numbness/tingling in my face.

Thanks for all your help so far!

[fliptopbacon]

Hi there. I can definitely relate to your problems with CPAP. I had the same issues as you at first. I am thinking that the foggy feeling for me was caused by pressure leaking into my middle ear. Once I swallowed or yawned with the mask on, it was all over. I would get that feeling that my ear was full and it would pop all day long. This can throw off your equilibrium and make you feel awful.

Normally, you can yawn or swallow once off the mask and the pressure will equalize. However, the pressure of the CPAP can cause your eustachion tubes to get clogged with mucus and relieving the pressure becomes impossible.

One recommendation that I got from this site is sealing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. It sounds strange, but I can now swallow and the pressure does not get behind my ears. I think that and just getting used to the machine has gotten me to the point that I now feel great when I wake up in the morning. I am right at a month on CPAP and I can now say that I almost enjoy wearing it now.

Just keep with it. You will realize the benefits eventually. I am a rookie, but hopefully I can at least help point you in a productive direction to solving your problems.

[mozart]

I took a break last night. While I woke up a little sleepy this morning because I read too late last night, I was not at all lightheaded or groggy. My ears are still popping though. I feel a lot better today. I went to the DME and got a different mask. I'm hoping something that does not blow air directly into nose (and ears) may help. I've never had anything but a nasal pillow mask so something different may work. We'll see. I'll try again tonight.

[Snowbelle]

Hi Michelle.

I have been feeling dizzy, numb in my head and foggy all day long. I didn't think that it could be my bipap machine, but after reading your post, I am going to try not using my machine tonight. I have been falling down too. I got an Cat Scan and it came out fine. I need to figure this out too.
Thank you Michelle for sharing this.
Annie

[Goofproof]

Hi Michelle.

I have been feeling dizzy, numb in my head and foggy all day long. I didn't think that it could be my bipap machine, but after reading your post, I am going to try not using my machine tonight. I have been falling down too. I got an Cat Scan and it came out fine. I need to figure this out too.
Thank you Michelle for sharing this.
Annie

Good Luck, you have been reading in our way back machine, these people moved on 3 years ago. Jim

[Julie]

Snowbelle, you're replying to a 3 yr old thread and the OPs long gone.

But, I would see your MD because you could have an unrelated inner ear or other problem like vertigo or Meunier's if you're that dizzy. Not everything's about apnea or Cpap.