How long is too long?

[Trublue616]

Hello all! I am new to the world of CPAP and this forum. I started using my CPAP February 04 of this year after waking abruptly gasping for air which led to a panic state. Since that moment (December 26 @ 3am, hard to forget) everything has gone downhill. Anxiety and depression has set in and most of my normal daily functions has not been the same. Everything I used to enjoy I don’t anymore. Work has been a struggle most days (anxiety/depression) and my love life is non-existing (lack of ambition) Which is weird because I loved both before my episode. I also was a patient of the Michigan Medical Marijuana program but for some reason now cannot smoke anymore due to increased anxiety. I have had many doctor appointments since then and one was to my sleep clinic. Had done an at home sleep study and was told I have minor OSA at 10-15 occurrences per hour. I believe my prescription pressures of 5-10.
So my question is, how long until I feel the benefits using my CPAP? I know it does vary from person to person but I am hoping someone maybe has been through what I am currently going through. I am now on a couple antidepressants which I’ve never needed before the morning of December 26! They seem to help a little but I still have anxiety/depression most days. I have read that having sleep apnea can cause a lot of my current problems I’m dealing with which makes sense because I was all good before that morning but I was wondering how long until I notice if my CPAP therapy is working or not?
I can see this forum has been a lifesaver for many and I am hoping I can take away at least a little for some hope.
Thank you all and god bless

[LSAT]

It absolutely will vary from person to person..everyone is different. For some people the change is immediate and for others it may take months to be able to see. Stick with it. Download the Oscar software to maximize your therapy. https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/.

[Trublue616]

LSat.. Thank you for the reply! I assume Oscar software is only for laptops/tabletop computers? I only have my phone and a couple tablets Is this software similar to the myAir app? I hope to hear from the rest of the community soon!

[Pugsy]

The software available to use offers MUCH more detailed data than MyAir offers.
Unfortunately there is no app for it. Mac versions, Windows versions and even Linux but no apps.

But you still have MyAir and the data on the machine's LCD screen to at least give a small idea as to how the therapy is going.
It's a start anyway.
To see the data available on the machine itself (which is the same data that MyAir reports) you have to change a setting in the clinical set up menu though....Essentials must be set to "Plus"...the default from factory is "on" which just shows hours of use.
Explained in the manual along with how to get to that Essentials setting to set it to Plus
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

So you can at least share that data and we can maybe spot something that needs improvement.

We also need to know all your machine settings....get them from that clinical menu.

Also need to know exactly what symptoms you are having you were hoping to reduce or eliminate...
And we need to know all the medications you are currently taking....really important because often medication side effects play a part in our unwanted symptoms.
Anti depressants are especially bad....the side effects can be quite pronounced and actually mimic the typical sleep apnea symptoms.
Plus they are well known to mess with sleep architecture and some even suppress REM stage sleep.

[redskyatnight8]

Pugsy, can you link to some posts on problems with antidepressant medications? I'd be curious to read more about this. Thanks.

[Trublue616]

Pugsy, thank you! I will work on posting all this info this evening after work. I appreciate any and all information I can receive. It has been a long 4 months since that episode and all I really want is to get back to myself. Actually a better person with better sleep! Without all these medications if possible.

[Pugsy]

Pugsy, can you link to some posts on problems with antidepressant medications? I'd be curious to read more about this. Thanks.

I will try to find one thread that I remember where a person talks about how she felt after she finally got off the anti depressants.
It's been a while and always longer in the past than I think it was so it may take me some time.

In the mean time google the meds you take and look at several sources and read up on the side effects.
Also google SSRIs and sleep and google SNRIs and sleep and read some of the literature. Most SSRS and SNRIs are well known to mess with sleep....cause insomnia...cause REM suppression....cause fatigue.

https://www.sleepio.com/articles/sleep- ... and-sleep/

I don't know which med you are on but chances are it will be either a SSRI or SNRI.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/d ... s-3504539/

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/sleep- ... ants-sleep

[Trublue616]

Pugsy, How can I share data?

So you can at least share that data and we can maybe spot something that needs improvement

I also changed the “Essentials” option to Plus already.

[Pugsy]

There is data on the machine's LCD display. You can write it down and then type it here in a post.
That's about all you can do without a computer to use available software but it's a start.

All explained in the manual.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

[Trublue616]

Under the Sleep Report, correct?

[Pugsy]

Yes...Sleep Report and there's more there than what is on the first screen. Have to do a bit of scrolling..
Also...the Sleep Report defaults to a 30 day average report but the time can be changed to 1 day report.
Any time the machine loses power and starts up again...the machine will revert back to the 30 day thing so we have go in and change it to a one day report.

[Trublue616]

1 day 1 month
Days used=1/1 30/30
Days 4hrs =1/1 30/30
Avg Usage= 6.0hrs 8.4hrs
Used hrs =6.0hrs 252.2hrs
Pressure = 7.9 9.0
Leak = 10L/min 12L/min
AHI = 0.5 0.6
Total AI = 0.1 0.2
Central AI = 0.0 0.1

Hopefully you all can make that out. There was supposed to be a space between 1 day/ 1 month. You get it

[Trublue616]

Also for medications I take...
Melatonin 10 mg bedtime
Trazodone 50 mg bedtime
Buspirone 15 mg three times a day
Lexapro 20 mg bedtime

[Pugsy]

Exactly what symptoms are you having during the day that you wished you didn't?

How many hours of sleep are you averaging? Real sleep and not just laying in bed awake?

[Jas_williams]

1 day 1 month
Days used=1/1 30/30
Days 4hrs =1/1 30/30
Avg Usage= 6.0hrs 8.4hrs
Used hrs =6.0hrs 252.2hrs
Pressure = 7.9 9.0
Leak = 10L/min 12L/min
AHI = 0.5 0.6
Total AI = 0.1 0.2
Central AI = 0.0 0.1

Hopefully you all can make that out. There was supposed to be a space between 1 day/ 1 month. You get it

Based on last nights figures and you monthly average your AHI is great, there are no leaks to worry about and your using your machine for a reasonable period of time. So what is your concern ? Nothing wrong with your numbers. I see nothing hear to be causing your anxiety and depression your sleep apnoea is adequately treated. Maybe it’s something else causing you to feel the way you do