New CPAP user....having trouble waking up

[Mds1922]

Has anyone else who first started out experienced having a hard time waking up.

I've been using my ResMed 10 with nasal pillows. I've had good compliance so far, I'm about a month in. But I just can't seem to wake up. It's like my alarm would go off, I'd turn it off and immediately go back to sleep for another 1 -1.5. I'm now consistently late for work. I've had to set my alarm for 2 hours ahead of when I really want to wake up in order to be at work on time. I know this is not the way it should be. I've seen my doctor twice and both times I told him about this. His advice: get more sleep and move my alarm clock farther away. He also said that my body is been deprived so long from REM sleep that when my alarm goes off, I'm probably still in REM. I get the Rem part because I've been dreaming like crazy since I started cpap but it just feels wrong that i feel like I'm not even conscious when I wake up and dont even remember or hear my alarm go off. It feel like I'm drugged every morning.

I am averaging 6-6.5 hours. The nature of my job and my ridiculous commute dont always allow for for 8-9 hours of sleep a night. I am looking to move and change jobs so at least my commute will be alot shorter.But until then, I have to deal with this issue.

I feel like my doctor isn't really taking this seriously. I've experimented and have not used my CPAP and I have no trouble waking up. But then I am dragging the whole day and feel sad and no desire to do anything. When I DO use my cpap, I can't wake up but I have loads of energy throughout the day and feel like I'm naturally caffeinated.

My last visit I requested a copy of my sleep study and compliance report so I can see what is going on. Alot was not explained to me so I've had to supplement my learning through this forum and YouTube videos.

Sleep Study AHI: 16.4
RESMED THERAPY: Min pressure:4; max pressure: 20 ; median: 8.7; 95th percentile:12.6; max: 14.5; AHI: 0.4; EPR: 2

Last night, I logged onto my air app and updated the AHI portion in the myHealth tab. I did this before i went to bed. I also started the ramp time to 5 minutes. But that's all i changed.

This morning, i was able to wake up and GET up when my alarm went off. So surprised! I have a slight headache but I am also entering PMS so maybe that's why? But I am alert which doesn't happen without Cpap. Maybe providing the actual AHI to myair made the difference? I incorrectly had AHI as 0.1 and I changed it last night to 16.4. I noticed alot less air last night when I opened my mouth. Before, it would feel like a wind tunnel when I opened my mouth. FYI, I dont breathe through my mouth when I sleep, I just open my mouth to test it. It's a weird quirk I've developed.

Please let me know if there is something else I should be doing or if I should change doctors. (I'm seriously considering dropping him).

I appreciate the help. I will continue to look through the forum for answers and tips. Thanks!

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum

Get the software
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment
and let's see if anything stands out shouting fix me and you will feel better.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

Maybe providing the actual AHI to myair made the difference?

No...whatever data you provide to MyAir doesn't affect your actual sleep quality.

[Mds1922]

Thanks! i downloaded SleepyHead but my REsMed Airsense 10 does not have a SD card. how would i get the info off the machine without it? I dont have an SD card handy.

[Mds1922]

I found a way to get ResMed Software, Lets see if I can actually get it. Thank you for the link Pugsy!

[Pugsy]

You are going to need a SD card no matter which software you want to use.

Any generic SD card will work. 2 GB is plenty big but they are getting hard to find now with all the bigger capacity SD cards being more popular..
I got mine at WalMart but any similar store that has SD cards is a good source. Sandisk SD card 8 GB size..works fine. Bigger than I need in capacity but the smallest capacity they had at the time.

Doesn't have to be expensive or fancy..

[zonker]

welcome to the forum!

when you get the chance, please use the control panel and fill in your equipment. that way, it shows up at the bottom of each of your posts, like mine does below.

makes in easier for folks to keep track of which user is using what equipment.

good luck!

[ChicagoGranny]

I found a way to get ResMed Software, Lets see if I can actually get it. Thank you for the link Pugsy!

Before you get too far with ResScan, just know that Sleepyhead is very much preferred by CPAPers who have used both.

[D.H.]

I agree with what was said.

However, I want to add to three more possibilities.

The first one is the possible presence of an additonal sleep disorder, such as Narcolepsy.

The second (and more likely), is that you've probably had Sleep Apnea for a long time and have built up a considerable sleep debt. Over time, you should be able to "pay it off." Best bet is to try to go to bed a little earlier, and maybe take afternoon naps on the weekend.

The third is that you had the underlying problem before, it's just that you never were able to achieve a deep enough sleep for this to actually happen.

[palerider]

I found a way to get ResMed Software, Lets see if I can actually get it. Thank you for the link Pugsy!

Before you get too far with ResScan, just know that Sleepyhead is very much preferred by CPAPers who have used both.

ResScan is for masochists.

[Muse-Inc]

After initial 4 nights of hell, I started sleeping 9 hrs/night for a month or so, then leveled off to 8. Now, 11 yrs later, I feel best with 8 hrs but usually get at least 7 each night. This is all very individual.