New, Severe, Really Concerned

[Julie]

I think I would drive myself crazy, not to mention more events of one kind or another, if I was constantly almost asleep, but consciously trying to figure out just how I was breathing, whether I was more, or less asleep, what level my consciousness was at, whether I should wake up on purpose to readjust the machine, etc, etc. You need to just put on the mask, think of something nice far removed from OSA/Cpap and just let nature take over without your looking over her shoulder. If you wake up at some point, just close your eyes again and dream of nice things, and next thing you know you'll be up ready for work (or what passes for that these days!). Give the machine and your system a chance - your body knows what to do whether or not you believe that, and the machine knows what to do to unless you purposefully try to sabotage that looking for perfection.

[NewToSleepApnea]

Last night I didn’t do it. I just powered through. But it’s more to confirm that wow what I’m feeling is actually happening. I wish it wasn’t and it was just anxiety or in just head.

Can anyone else feel when they are not breathing and their O2 is going down? I’m not fully asleep yet. This is literally the only part I am really struggling with. I know I’ve said it before, but it’s the first breath after I stop consciously telling myself to breath.

[Julie]

Then just let it happen - you haven't 'died' as a result of it happening, so it's unlikely to happen tonight. Don't think about stopping breathing or imagine you can tell your 02's going down... is it possible to have quiet music in the background without messing up your marriage (sorry I can't remember your status)? Can you pretend you're a big time director making a movie - just go on to the next scene . I know all this sounds cuckoo, but what you're doing is not getting anywhere anyhow, so what's to lose?

[NewToSleepApnea]

Great advice. I agree with you. That’s very similar to what I tried to do last night. Just roll with it. And I do listen to music / podcast to drift away.

Lets hope for some success tonight!


Chris

[palerider]

No I don't have a recording oximeter. But I can feel myself slip into unconsciousness. And I can force myself to breath whenever I want, but I'll wake up. So I just let myself slip into it and its as if my body forgets how to breath on its own.

'forgetting to breathe" results in central apneas, your reports aren't showing centrals, (for the most part) the reports are showing obstructives.

[palerider]

Yea I had it at 9.5 min. Maybe I’ll raise it to ten.

That was what I suggested to start with.

[NewToSleepApnea]

My pulmonologist got back to me and wanted me to start tonight at 9.5 min / and raise it to 20 max. Also wants no ramp. So I’ll try this and see.

And pale rider - I usually feel them at the times it says clear airway the most. Like the long stretch of CAs in my last graph. I don’t doubt I have both. But even if the machine says obstructive, how accurate is it always? I’m asking, I really don’t know.

All I know is what it feels like and it hasn’t changed in 17 days. But Just not as often with the CPAP machine. The sensation stays the same.

[Julie]

Ok... what do you feel like during the days, the last 17 anyhow? Do you feel like your normal self (apart from maybe some sleepiness) or are other things different too?

I ask because - and I hate to bring it up - there are a lot of people who have few, if any, obvious symptoms of the virus, maybe just feel a bit off or something, but until they get tested, aren't aware of being 'sick', just feel lousy, or lousier than usual. Is there any chance at all (I know, hard to track) that you might have picked it up, don't know it, and are just getting through? Been tested?

[NewToSleepApnea]

Got tested and was negative for covid.

Before this started I was never noticeably tired. Now, I’m tired. But I can work out hard etc so nothing should be wrong with my lungs. But huge anxiety and bilateral numbness. Chest feels odd but figure it’s anxiety / new to cpap.

I’m dedicated to using this forum, Oscar, and data to the best of my ability. Just freaked out that I can’t fall asleep or get a sleep lab!

[Julie]

Do you understand that apneas are about obstruction (such as your tongue) blocking your airway and not something wrong with your lungs?

Cpap just holds your airway open a bit long enough for air to go down to your lungs, but otherwise has nothing to do with them as such.

[NewToSleepApnea]

Yes. You asked how I felt during the day and that it could be a virus.

[NewToSleepApnea]

Starting at 530am I slept great. AHI under 2.0. Felt refreshed. That was the time I kept the 9.5 min / 20 max but used the ramp at 8 for 15mins.

Before then, was the wake up just before falling asleep scenario. Getting very gassy with this higher pressure.

Gonna need to just keep trying to power through the first half of the night's wake-ups.

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[jim22]

Chest feels odd but figure it’s anxiety / new to cpap.

That can happen. You are using your breathing muscles slightly differently. Instead of working to breath in, you are working a little harder to breath out. Yiur muscles will develop and you will stop feeling it.

I have experienced the arousal on first falling asleep realizing i need a gasp of air. Its probably part of the falling asleep process, and for me it happens usually when i fall asleep without the CPAP. It happens repeatedly and will keep me awake. I figure its at least part obstructive, and dont get it often when using the CPAP. I have adjusted my starting pressure to be near what he machine tends to settle with, and i dont use the ramp, so i get that much pressure right away. Cpap only helps obstructive apnea, so let it do its thing and otherwise dont worry about it. If you are really stressed about it, look for a recording oximeter and see waht your stats are really doing.

Jim

[NewToSleepApnea]

Jim - thank you so much. That makes me feel a lot better that someone else has first sleep arousals. Definitely is keeping me awake for hours! Really happy to hear that yours seems to go away. I feel the added pressure actually is making it worse sometimes but I don’t know.

Really considering buying a recording oximeter. Just so expensive but think I’m gonna bite the bullet. Now whatever it ends up saying the only people I have to tell are on this forum!

[huydts]

TL;DR, but

2) if your AHI isn't under *TWO* while on cpap, *it is not working for you* and needs to be adjusted.

Why are you giving such a worthless demotivating reaction?

I would love to see you explain it... So please pale Rider explain