Complex apnea?

Great point, Lazarus. I actually tried that 2 years ago and stayed off caffeine for almost a full year (!). I was blown away how much more I was dreaming initially, and it felt actually quite good for a descent period afterwards. Initially, I felt that I may have solved something in my sleep puzzle…. Overall, I had the following experience:
1. I did not need or craved coffee in the mornings or at all (before I started this experiment, I had already reduced my consumption to only 1 coffee in the morning)
2. Sleep “felt” much deeper initially for the first few weeks
3. Then it was normalizing to some degree in the sense that I had the same sleepiness issues I had previously in the afternoons
4. While I was not sleepy in the mornings, I could feel that it took me longer to get my brain going, which was an issue for work productivity (i.e., sharpness)
5. Also, I felt much more relaxed immediately, when I got off caffeine (I am not an anxious person per see, but I felt more at ease)
6. Eventually though, I realized that my core sleep issues were not really solved (both in terms of how I felt throughout the day and what sleep scores / CPAP numbers told me)
7. So, I reintroduced my brain to caffeine again step by step to “kick-start” my days and that’s where I left it since then. (~1 cup of coffee in the mornings)…. I am operating under the assumption that this is indeed OK if I keep consumption low and early in the morning.

Having said the above, I had not fully solved the leakage problem/consistency problem with my CPAP therapy at that time and there is a possibility that a combination of now hopefully better working CPAP therapy and caffeine abstinence creates a better sleep outcome…

Just getting off caffeine was an intensive experience as I quiet cold turkey from one day to the next .

I also got my T results back --- and I don’t like them to be honest. While the values are within the “normal” range, they are very low. barely within range. Haven’t talked to my Dr. yet but I assume he won’t be able to put me on TRT with those values. Let’s see what comes out of this but I feel that could be an important issue I should address as well in regard to overall life quality and sleep (although it’s a chicken – egg problem, since poor sleep can cause low T values and vice versa).

Gfox, some doctors are open to this kind of approach: "I know my T values are within the normal range, but given my problems with daytime sleepiness and tiredness, and given that my values are at the low end of normal, I'd like a chance to find out whether modest supplementation would make a difference to my daytime state. If it doesn't make a difference, we'll be able to eliminate one possible cause for my problems; if it does make a difference, we can discuss adjusting the dosage further for longer-term use."

In other words, you acknowledge their potential reservations, remind them of the full context, and convey an attitude of reasonableness and experimentation.

I can't remember: have you been tested for anemia, thyroid problems, vitamin D deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, Lyme disease, and autoimmune disease (especially in the connective-tissue-disease family)?

Thanks, Miss Emerita. Will try that line of argumentation if he balks at the treatment. I fear more that he argues the insurance might not pay for it and it can get very expensive quickly.

I do indeed have technically a light case of amenia since my red cell count has been on the low side for years (just at the lower boundary, or even below). It has not gotten worse over the years and it’s not iron-deficiency-related. Went also to a hematologist and got more tests done, but since nothing popped up and my symptoms are not very anemia like (other than the sleep issues), he concluded that those levels are normal for me (“you seem to have a lower baseline”). He could do a bone marrow test but was not worried about cancer since my values are quite stable over the years.

I also take a bunch of supplements just in case something is amiss, including multivitamins, magnesium, iron occasionally, potassium, vitamin B etc. --- no other medications taken on regular basis.

I do struggle with allergies once in a while which could possibly interfere with my sleep and recently, I have taken Loratadine to ease symptoms when they are ramping up (symptoms are around having a stuffy nose or itchy ears). During sleep, especially when using my CPAP machine, I don’t feel any of the symptoms.

Considering going to a cardiologist to see if they can run some tests for hidden heart diseases...