Depression & Sleep Apnea

[lawdognellie]

amandalee,

I was actually diagnosed with depression as a child and after self-treatment didn't work, I started taking drugs. I've been on HIGH doses of anti-depressants for over 10 years. My mood definitely improved (aka, no longer feel worthless, etc.), but my main complaint, the overwhelming fatigue has never gone away. My neurologist wrote me off, saying it was just atypical depression. I finally found an amazing psychiatrist who told me that when fatigue is a primary complaint, rather than a symptom of another complaint, it should be treated as its own illness. He sent me in for the sleep studies and voila, I have sleep apnea. Been on it a year and it has majorly helped. I am still tired a lot (also have hypersomnia), but a lot of the "depression symptoms," such as forgetfulness, mixing up words, etc. have really gone away. I can now sound somewhat coherent.

Sarah

[NarcoApneac]

If your depression is caused by your sleep and health being trashed by sleep apnea then treatment for your sleep apnea will help you. My overall mood has improved with CPAP, and I certainly wouldn't trade my headgear for my old mood.

Good luck.

[kteague]

Drummergirl,
Mild sleep apnea is still sleep apnea. Hope she follows up soon.

Andrew,
Does your provider and doctor know you have been unsuccessful with your cpap treatment? You may need a different mask or even different settings on your machine. You have not given this enough time to say it isn't going to work. Just says it isn't working as it things stand now. Hopefully you will hang around and give more info and determine to work through this.

Kathy

[nothing]

Hello everyone. I have a story exactly like amandalee's. Unfortunately I live in the UK where in my experience any applicable knowledge of OSA seems virtually nonexistent. Luckily I've been able to make email contact with a professor at Stanford Sleep Centre.

Unluckily, though I was supposed to have a telephone conversation with him yesterday, there was some problem with international dialling.

The professor asked for my number (by email) so he could call me. So my very simple question is: how do you guys in the US call someone in the UK?

Say my number is 030 92620783
Do you dial 44 30 92620783
(or 44 030 92620783)?

I know I sound like an idiot but I'm at the end of my tether and just about managing to hold it together. So figuring out even something this simple seems beyond me at this point.

[Wolfmarsh]

Two replies here:

Nothing: 011 44 30 92620783 is what we would dial.

amandalee:

For me, depression was a symptom of my OSA and sleep deprivation. I was never formaly diagnosed with it because (I am ashamed to say) pride kept me from admitting it to anyone.

I will however tell you that I had some pretty nasty thoughts about how life would just be better if it was over as opposed to continuing the way I felt, just like it sounds like you are.

Luckily you found this place. This is a resource full of people who have experienced exactly the same thing you have, and when it gets overwhelming, there is always someone here to help. The live chat feature is awesome, and you can always PM myself or someone else if you just dont want to talk publicly about these types of feelings.

The important thing in my eyes is that you are talking about them, which is the first step to dealing with them.

CPAP isnt a miracle cure (although it feels like it sometimes), and you still have the emotional "scars", if you will, that are left by having thoughts like that. Even though I am sleeping like a champ now, I still have an occasional day where I get frustrated or pushed to the limit at work and I switch back into the pre-CPAP mood/depression where I just want to be left alone.

Hope you feel better.

[Guest]

Andrew,
Does your provider and doctor know you have been unsuccessful with your cpap treatment? You may need a different mask or even different settings on your machine.

_________________

My personal doctor does and I'll be seeing my sleep specialist in another 2 weeks...I'll be voicing my concerns and difficulties then.
Here in Australia I don't get masks through health insurance, so taking a number of mask for a test drive (so to speak) is simply not practical nor affordable. My present one cost just over $200 so I'm relunctant to spend a similar amount in the hope it 'may' be better. Of course it might be, but it also may not.
I think the psychological barrier of having to sleep with the help of a machine is one I'll have to overcome.
At the moment I feel as though I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't.
Thank you for your concerns...it's always nice to know that travelling down an uneasy path, there's many other's who've gone there before you.

[socknitster]

Andrew,

There are a lot of variables with xpap treatment that can be tweaked. Don't give up yet. I was where you were after 2+ weeks and then got some better tools to work with and am now 100% compliant and feeling better each and every day.

Tell us your details so we can make suggestions for you. And sign up, there are lots of things to explore here as a member.

I'm having my tonsils out, but that is the only surgery I would currently even consider for treatment. UPPP is falling out of favor and I wouldn't recommend it.

Jen

[socknitster]

Andrew, I for one, and I know there are others here who would do the same, would be willing to send you old masks that don't work for us if you would like to try them b4 you buy, or you can buy used masks at a lower price in our "mask roulette."

I currently have an ultra mirage full face mask size small that I can't use, but unless you are a small-framed guy I doubt it would suit you.

Are you using a nasal-only mask? Perhaps you are leaking air out your mouth and need to try tape. What is your current set up? We might be able to help you. Please don't give up.

This disorder is devastating--but I have gone from 40 mg of Prozac when starting xpap down to only 10 mg every other day with no discontinuation side effects or mood problems--there is hope. If the depression you suffer from is related to apnea, cpap can help you if you find the right arrangement. It is finding the right arrangement that is key. I'm surprised insurance isn't covering your medical supplies, but I'd rather be in credit card debt than be tired and feeling like crap--just my humble opinion.

Feel free to pm me and I will do my best to help you.

cyber-hugs,

Jen

[chriml]

Andrew, I am new to this only a month. I felt just like you and understand. It is a little hard to get used to the masks but you have to go to bed saying I will use this and I will start feeling better. I didn't think I would feel better but I did. Everyone here kept saying you have to stick with it and it will be worth it. I have more energy during the day now and a little less depressed. I do have other issues with family problems that causes some of my depression but since I am getting sleep again I am feeling so much better. I don't know what you take for depression but my doctor has me on zoloft and she added trazodone to that and that helps me relax and sleep and it is not addictive. Talk to your doctor and really give it a go and you will have good days and some bad but I love feeling good during the day after feeling like C... for 3 years. Good Luck and try to be optimistic.

[jskinner]

I'm finding it almost impossible to get used to it and since bringing it home I've noticed a marked increase in my depression.

CPAP can be hard to learn to tollerate that is for sure. I would encourage you not to give up yet and to keep trying.

I feel both despair and depression increasing and cannot see a solution at hand.I'm off to my sleep specialist again in 2 weeks. I'll will be asking about surgical solutions as an alternative to Cpap.

If you can't tolerate CPAP you might want to consider trying a dental device. It doesn't work for everyone but in some cases (like mine) it does help. I would certinally give it a try first unless there is a real obvious surgical solution.

[NeedinZs]

Amandalee,
You are a very smart girl! I hope you find you are able to get off your meds, and feel much better eventually with CPAP.

I agree there are instances when meds for depression are useful for some.

But then again, I have been offered them, when I came in to the Dr. for actual herniated disc, the flu and pneumonia, and of course, sleep apnea.
Yeah, those things might make one depressed...but lets address the REAL cause of the symptom, Docs, before sweeping them under the rug with medication.

Best of luck to you all. Let us know how you're doing Amanda!

John M --I like your approach.

[amandalee]

Wow, reading so many stories similar to mine is pretty heartbreaking (no one should have to suffer like this), yet also strangely comforting.

I am actually looking forward to starting CPAP. As unpleasant as it was to wear the full-face mask during my sleep study, it has to be better than feeling miserable all the time. I was still pretty tired the day after my study, but for once I woke up feeling "awake" instead of half-dead. I'll do my best to be compliant with the CPAP treatment, if there's a chance I can go off these horrible, expensive psych meds.
I would do pretty much anything to feel okay and not have to take these drugs that don't make alot of difference (the Cymbalta makes it so that I don't just sit and cry nonstop, and the Adderall helps me not to fall asleep during the day). Hmm, I'm willing to bet that those problems go away once I start getting proper sleep. Interesting how that works

Andrew-- I hope you can find a mask that works for you, or your treatment can be adjusted somehow so you feel better. I'm sure it's really frustrating to think that there's a treatment available, but it isn't really helping you... Just as frustrating as waiting to start treatment because the sleep center is trying to decide whether or not they want you to come back for another test so they can figure out the right pressure (which is where I am). That feeling of despair, knowing that help is available but is out of your reach in one way or another is just terrible.

After reading these posts though, I am a little more hopeful. Thanks. Maybe once I get my xPAP and get used to it, etc, I'll be able to get some things accomplished: exercise more so I can finally lose the weight I've put on, do better at work, clean & organize my apartment (which is a filthy, disgusting mess), have a social life instead of crashing on the couch and watching TV, and so on. You all know how it is. I'm soooo glad I found this forum.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, clean

[jskinner]

Just as frustrating as waiting to start treatment because the sleep center is trying to decide whether or not they want you to come back for another test so they can figure out the right pressure (which is where I am). That feeling of despair, knowing that help is available but is out of your reach in one way or another is just terrible.

Ask your Dr. to prescribe you an AutoPAP now so that you can get started on your therapy right away. (The machine will figure out the necessary pressure) There is no good reason to have to wait longer (althought this is very typical). If they still want you to come in for another study thats ok but there is no need for you to continue to suffer in the mean time...

[socknitster]

[quote="amandalee"]Wow, reading so many stories similar to mine is pretty heartbreaking (no one should have to suffer like this), yet also strangely comforting.

I am actually looking forward to starting CPAP. As unpleasant as it was to wear the full-face mask during my sleep study, it has to be better than feeling miserable all the time. I was still pretty tired the day after my study, but for once I woke up feeling "awake" instead of half-dead. I'll do my best to be compliant with the CPAP treatment, if there's a chance I can go off these horrible, expensive psych meds.
I would do pretty much anything to feel okay and not have to take these drugs that don't make alot of difference (the Cymbalta makes it so that I don't just sit and cry nonstop, and the Adderall helps me not to fall asleep during the day). Hmm, I'm willing to bet that those problems go away once I start getting proper sleep. Interesting how that works

Andrew-- I hope you can find a mask that works for you, or your treatment can be adjusted somehow so you feel better. I'm sure it's really frustrating to think that there's a treatment available, but it isn't really helping you... Just as frustrating as waiting to start treatment because the sleep center is trying to decide whether or not they want you to come back for another test so they can figure out the right pressure (which is where I am). That feeling of despair, knowing that help is available but is out of your reach in one way or another is just terrible.

After reading these posts though, I am a little more hopeful. Thanks. Maybe once I get my xPAP and get used to it, etc, I'll be able to get some things accomplished: exercise more so I can finally lose the weight I've put on, do better at work, clean & organize my apartment (which is a filthy, disgusting mess), have a social life instead of crashing on the couch and watching TV, and so on. You all know how it is. I'm soooo glad I found this forum.

[lilsheba]

I just want to add my two cents here about depression and anti depressants. I was on Luvox for 10 years and recently made the decision to get off of it and go to therapy instead. I was sick of being tired all the time, and having no interest in a lot of things. Plus I don't think it's working for what I do have which is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder and Anxiety. Well when I went off the meds (gradually even) I ended up getting migraines, daily for a while and then every other day for a while. With those I went to a neurologist who saved me life! I mentioned my fatigue and lack of energy to her and she's the one that referred me to the sleep center, where I got my recently diagnosis of sleep apnea. Now that I'm off the drugs completely, have good migraine drugs for when I still get the weekly or so migraine, and have had a few nights so far of CPAP I feel much better. I'm not perfect but I'm better! I can make it through a work day now. Not much else after it but it's something. I"m also having sinus surgery to clear out deep rooted infection which will hopefully get rid of the migraines.

So I feel good about the decisions I made and I"m grateful to the doctor that led me to the sleep center. I never knew I had sleep apnea before all this.

And now I have a question, I've been reading about the mouth taping. I gotta ask what kind of tape do you all use? Medical tape? I'm assuming that's what it is but you never know I have a nasal mask and my mouth stays shut most of the time but it does open sometimes, and I can feel the air rushing out.

Thanks!

Jeanine