EDS Denial or 'The Frog in Boiling Water'

I'm recovering from a Sleep Apnea side effect, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or EDS. Since starting Recovery a year and half ago, I'm amazed how I've accepted this state of mind.

I wake up every morning, generate my Encore Report from the night before, everything looks pretty good. The remainder of the day is 'comical' routine of not being able to concentrate, make decisions, looking for things I can't find and feeling really really fatigued.

Cleaning my CPAP equipment can be a major chore, I slip behind. Last Spring, I got a severe Sinus Infection which I suspect resulted in Bell's Palsy.

I get sick, I force myself to rest and sleep during the day. I get better... But still, without being aware, I slip back into the EDS. The EDS state of mind is one of Denial. I'm not able to discern my slipping into a 'Mental Fog'.

God Bless the loved ones who care for someone with SA. I would imagine they know intuitively what signs to look for that just aren't normal.

From what I can figure out, the last bout of EDS was worsened by excessive caffeine. Stress brought on the onset of EDS. I felt exhausted and started drinking more caffeine. My head would clear, I could think and had energy to do at least the bare minimum.

I would quickly chug a 'Big Gulp' of Mountain Dew, for a brief moment, felt normal from the head rush. Yeah, that's where I want to be, a clear head that can think!! Sound intoxicating??

Well, the Encore Reports looked fine, I'm willing to bet little if no REM sleep was occurring at night due to caffeine intoxication.

I'm down to one cup of coffee now, and have been sleeping 8-9 hours. I've also taken daytime naps when feeling tired. the EDS is slowly lifting. One bad night or 6 hours of sleep, EDS starts to come back.

I just have to continue striving towards 'Normalcy'

Make sure to get a full thyroid panel: TSH, free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies at a minimum. A low functioning thyroid system causes huge deficits in cognition, commonly called brain fog, that make the cognitive probs from SA much, much worse. I found 1/2 cup of decaff right outta bed (read this in an article yrs ago from studies to improve daytime alertness) made a big difference BUT I am esp sensitive to caffeine, you might need the full 'leaded' version . The article also said no caffeine the rest of the day to improve nighttime sleep. My daytime sleepiness was gone when I sleeping 8 hrs straight, but now that I'm having nighttime wakeups or have short sleep, it's come back so I'm back drinking several cups of decaff coffee or teas until 2 PM at which time their caffeine interfers with my falling asleep.

Muse-Inc wrote:Make sure to get a full thyroid panel: TSH, free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies at a minimum.

A second vote for BOTH T4 & T3. Many doctors will argue that you only need a TSH and Free T4 because T3 is derived from T4. However that is not always so. I had to get into a pretty heated argument with my wife's internist over this and he finally sent her to an endocrinologist. The endo said her T4 was under control but T3 was borderline. He prescribed Cytomel and she went from serious struggle to move to going night and day for the next 2 days. Of course once she adjusted to it she became "normal" - gotta love normal!

I'm glad you brought up the Thyroid testing. I think this is easily overlooked and I had to remind myself to get my Thyroid checked.

I've had slight hypothyroidism in the past and those symptoms can really melt into the SA side effects. Thank God for the Internet! Medical Folks just can't give you much time. I have to research and research to understand what I'm experiencing and how to remedy. This web site is critical. **Research has shown the Internet has become a powerful tool for Doctors too**

I'm feeling better with one cup of coffee. Oddly, now I'm sleeping lightly at night. A long Apnea will wake me, but I'll wake up for sure after 8 hours.

Put in a nutshell, it's a mental and physical balancing act with a aging body!

Muse-Inc, thanks for your Input! I hope you didn't have to wear 'High Waters' last week The 'Hooch' came up to our main Entrance to the Complex. Our small Bridge, one way to get out, was under water. Child home from School for three days until we could get out. Atlanta cleans up quickly

If you have a moment, PM any good Sleep Doctors, Sleep Centers you know of i.e. Cobb or Fulton County. We've moved back after being gone for seven years Thanks so much!!

Sleep well,

SG

I've noticed some interesting changes with regard to caffeine and CPAP therapy.

Previous to using CPAP, I had major caffeine crashes in the afternoons when I had caffeine in the morning. To the point where I would sometimes cry on my drive home from work. It was horrible, but I was so tired at work that it was sometimes the only way to meet deadlines. I would limit myself to caffeine once a week or so.

Since beginning CPAP, the crashing has stopped, but I find that I do not sleep as well when I've had caffeine earlier that day. It's a bummer because I thought I could finally enjoy a morning joe, but I've decided to steer clear.

It's so easy to rely entirely on the Encore Reports. Really, it's a great tool for determining leakage, sinus problems etc.... What the my Doctor's Nurse always asks, "How do Feel?" and "How do you know you've had a good night sleep?"

Every morning, before looking at the Encore Report, I stretch my muscles. If my muscles feel refreshed, I know I had a great night of sleep. If my mind seems foggy or I'm out of it, I know I don't feel all that hot.

Usually around 11:00 A.M., I start to have EDS. I may wake up yawning, have energy for three or four hours, slight fogginess and then I'm spent. Either a Nap, or push myself. I'm a walking Zombie!! The duration just isn't there!! So, is it a bad night's sleep or years of sleep deprivation?

Denial sets in, I can push myself for months not catching up. Fatigued, poor memory, bad cognitive skills and forget about healthy boundaries. I give up on standing up to high maintenance people.... Relationships suffer, no doubt...

It's like the details on the Thyroid Test, how am I going to remember to take the test, more or less, make sure it's complete, when I'm a 'Potted Plant'??

A small percentage of OSA people, even when "treated" with xpap can experiance EDS. I'm in that group. My Dr. gave me a 7 day trial of Nuvigil. It seemed to work at first but now when i take the 150mg tablet at 9:00am I'm sleepy again by 1:00pm. You would think a $12.00 pill would last a little longer. BTW they give this stuff to fighter pilots on long missions.

Previous to using CPAP, I had major caffeine crashes in the afternoons when I had caffeine in the morning. To the point where I would sometimes cry on my drive home from work. It was horrible, but I was so tired at work that it was sometimes the only way to meet deadlines. I would limit myself to caffeine once a week or so.

Maryland_Mike, my heart goes out to you!! I'm a 'Stay at Home' Dad over the years and did consulting out of the home. The Consulting went away due to this illness. Concentration, couldn't think fast enough to compete with other Consultants, and I began to lose interest.

I have so much respect for those suffering from SA that are hanging on and getting the job done the best they can!

Take care,

SG

BTW they give this stuff to fighter pilots on long missions.

Yeah, I've taken Provigil at 300mg, Nadda! Right to sleep!! I don't know if I develop a tolerance to Provigil or the EDS is so frickin bad!

Mikee, I've heard that too, they give it to soldiers in battle to stay sharp and awake over several days.

It's a wonder drug for EDS, taken on a 'need be' basis. Some report it as 'addictive'. It's prescribed for bipolar Depression and ADD.

But, I have to remember to take it when I'm tired.... Oddly enough....

Sleep well,

SG

SuperGeeky,

This is just a side thought, but irrespective of what the cpapdata says, have you done any recording of a nights SpO2 data ?

Just wondering, it could help eliminate O2 sat as an issue

DSM

This is just a side thought, but irrespective of what the cpapdata says, have you done any recording of a nights SpO2 data ?

Just wondering, it could help eliminate O2 sat as an issue

DSM, my thoughts this morning when I looked at my Encore Reports. Since my recent Sleep Study with new titration, I can see a pattern of Apnea Flags every ninety minutes or so.

The Apnea Flags sometimes can be a 'streak' indicating lengthy period of not breathing. If I have a great night, but just one of these 'streak' events, how much damage is done? Of course, not breathing for a length of time is going to cause cell, specifically brain damage.

Also, if I am not doing titration correctly myself on a BiPap, what is the risk of Carbon Dioxide? In other words, my breath is not being pushed out properly because of weak breathing and BiPap isn't assisting....

Off hand, the only way I can think of noticing Carbon Dioxide, inside of Mask becomes too warm. I'm not to confident with that....

I was scoping some pretty cool inexpensive Oximeters, perhaps I should invest in one.

Thanks DSM!

take care,

SG