Side affect of Sleep Apnea? What to do?

MrRob · Post by **MrRob** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:33 am

I always had back problems (stiff and sore lower back) and grinding my teeth while sleeping. When I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and went on the CPAP I no longer had the back pains nor the grinding of my teeth.

In the past month or so I have been getting tired and the feeling that the CPAP is not working anymore for me. I am now feeling the back pain for the past week or so and this morning I felt my mouth sore like I was grinding my teeth like I used to.

Anyone have these "side affects"?

I need to get to my sleep doc but I heed to find time when I can make an appointment. I do not want another sleep study either though. I think it was great in diagnosing the Sleep Apnea but they need to find a way to do an in the the home study in the persons natural environment. Who really sleeps in a sleep lab?

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:40 am

I have been thru this cycle twice in 12 months - just ended a 2nd bout of it.

I had been discussing with someone else here that I wondered if some of us develop something like an immunity to cpap therapy (sounds odd but it could be viable).

I got round it both times by changing the type of machine - 1st time I switched to a Bilvel (after 6 months) & the good patterns came right back - now after another 6 months same again but I am almost back to straight cpap & getting good results again in the sense that the alertness has returned.

Am still experimenting with this but am now able to record detailed Pulse & SpO2 data that I can line up with the output from my current machine a VPAP III.

Good luck with your progress.

DSM

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:07 am

Mr Rob,

Is your original titrated pressure 9? Ok correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have a dr that won't increase your pressure? I think I read that on another support forum. I would say if your feeling the pre-CPAP feeling again, then try increasing the pressure by 2. Give that a couple of weeks and if that doesn't work then I would suggest you request an APAP from your dr to try for a couple of weeks. That way you can see what your pressures are ranging. From there your dr. can increase your pressure accordingly.

Melinda

woozle · Post by **woozle** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:24 am

Have you switched masks? I now have 4 different masks - tried 5 - and using the apap function, have found that diff masks change my pressure about 2

the swift - 8
umff - 11
oracle - 11
f & P 407 - 10
hybrid - 8

and thus would assume that if I switched these masks and did not use apap - my apnea's would have increased had I kept the pressure at 8

I was using the swift and my ahi's went from 2 to 9 as I had a stuffy nose - so switched to f & P and that has stabilized at 10
I have found that with more mouth breathing, the higher the pressure is - for me - wonder if it is due to keeping the airway open from a different angle than thru the nasal area

MrRob · Post by **MrRob** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:29 am

I use the Swift Nasal Pilows. I found thats the only mask that works for me. The nasal or FF masks leak too much.

Anyone experience back pain from Sleep Apnea?

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:41 am

For me, 80% of the time I will wake up with a sore back. Luckily I can walk it off pretty quickly. I think for me, this is because I get a more restorive sleep and don't move much anymore.

Melinda

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:02 am

I am struggling with some of the same effects but I have not yet exercised the discpline and will to put what I think the solution may be into effect.

I think the solution may be (I repeat MAY BE) something that someone else on the forum referred to a while ago -

Increased exercise
Decreased calories
No eating 3 hours (or so) b4 bedtime

I would add stress reduction practices like meditation and increased attention to positive sleep hygiene habits like dark quiet room, same bedtime/same rising time, bed for sleep or sex only, etc.

I would attempt these things before other more radical steps but I am a very, very black pot speaking to only possible black kettles.

One of the reasons I say this, particularly for those of us with more than a few years of life under our belt, is that I suspect that when we treat our OSA then other underlying issues like poor fitness, arthritis, GERD, poor dietary habits etc. come to the fore. It has not been a "magic bullet" for me and I have found few magic bullets in my life.

David

MrRob · Post by **MrRob** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:27 am

Exercise - HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Cant do it. No energy or will.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:02 am

MrRob wrote:Exercise - HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Cant do it. No energy or will.

Yeah, I understand, I really, really do but I think it is a key answer - a really big one. The energy comes from the doing from what everyone tells me. I'm not terribly good at it either. I have a friend that exercises like others brush their teeth. I envy his discipline and good habits.

David

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:47 am

about exercise:
just go walking. Go outside and walk for 15 minutes. Work your way up to 30-60 minutes and do it most days of the week.
I walk a mile most days and more on the weekend. It gets me outside in the fresh air, makes me feel better and walking is really good for your back.

Maryb

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:01 am

Maryb wrote:about exercise: just go walking.

...Just...

is one of those strange words that a number of folks just seem to have problems with.

...Just quit smoking (took me 6 times).
...Just eat less (yeah, still working on that).
...Just get up earlier
...Just don't be so sensitive.
...Just don't get P.O.'d at injustice

Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to do better.

David

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:20 am

Snoozin' Bluezzz-
sorry.
Just didn't mean to offend you.
I know it can be hard to do somethings--I'd sure like to get rid of a few pounds but that chocolate bar is so tempting.
I guess it's been easier for me to walk because I love to be outside in nature and so it turns out to be a really good way for me to get exercise.
Maybe there is some other way for you to get exercise which has a lower activation barrier.

Maryb

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:26 am

Maryb wrote:Snoozin' Bluezzz-
sorry.
Just didn't mean to offend you.

I know you didn't. I was just having some fun while making a point. I think that MrRob is having more difficulty with the idea of exercise than I am. I like to walk but my knees are really complaining right now. A pool would be a good answer but that is far from convenient for me right now.

Take Care

David