NEW USER - EXTREME TIREDNESS

Been on CPAP for 3 weeks. Experiencing extreme tiredness in the mornings. I didn't really have daytime tiredness before going on CPAP. I had the sleep test because of morning headaches and snoring issues. This showed up apneas sufficient to require treatment.
This tiredness is a huge disappointment as everything seemed to be going so well. All my readings appear OK - AHI average 4.0. Leaks not a problem. Any ideas anyone?
Using ResMed S8 Autoscore 2 CPAP with humidifier & Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 nasal pillow mask. BTW, I started with Swift LT mask but found it difficult to keep in place. The Opus is very similar but with better (for me) pillow design so it doesn't get moved out of place as easily.

thanks

Welcome! Is the tiredness new since starting CPAP? What are your overnight numbers? How many hrs are you sleeping? Got a sizeable sleep debt to "make up"? Waking up at night?

Welcome again. Some more questions.... What pressure are you using? Could you be mouth breathing or leaking?

Yes, mouth breathing (when you're asleep and unaware) seems to happen a lot once some people go onto Cpap - the air pressure adds just that little bit more energy to the air and our mouths open up, losing the air meant to go downward. A full face mask vs just a nasal one is what we usually use, but you can experiment with special tape (do a forum search for taping) for 1-2 nights and see if you feel better.

Thanks for the suggestions. Always slept well so no sleep debt. All stats downloaded from the CPAP machine show the 7.0 setting is controlling everything well. Average AHI 4.0/hr, negligible leaks. Don't know about mouth breathing. Wasn't a problem when I did the sleep test. They had a chin strap to use on me but I didn't need it. Do the machine stats indicate whether there is mouth breathing? I've emailed the machine stats to the sleep centre doctor and waiting for him to get back to me.

Mouth breathing is just the most severe type of a leak we experience. It is certainly visible in the machine data.
I had a really bad time for the first several weeks of my treatment.
I had leaks, but my machine was also set up for split night so for the first 4 hours it was not at prescribed pressure.
Are you coming fully awake for any reason during the night.
I felt like I was being bothered severely by the treatment until I got further into it and fixed the machine setup and the leaks.

BTW- An AHI of Four is technically OK, but I run less than two every night.
It might also be useful to know what the make up of the AHI is. What part Obstructions and what part Hyponeas. Also, what is the length of the apnea event.

Good luck on improving your results.
TerryB

warrain wrote:Thanks for the suggestions. Always slept well so no sleep debt. All stats downloaded from the CPAP machine show the 7.0 setting is controlling everything well. Average AHI 4.0/hr, negligible leaks. Don't know about mouth breathing. Wasn't a problem when I did the sleep test. They had a chin strap to use on me but I didn't need it. Do the machine stats indicate whether there is mouth breathing? I've emailed the machine stats to the sleep centre doctor and waiting for him to get back to me.

You say you have an Autoset II (capable of running in a range of pressures) but you mention a (CPAP/single) setting of 7. How is the machine actually configured? Are you using EPR? If so, what setting?

Most of us THOUGHT we slept well.......until we had our sleep study.

Recovery does take some time. At least "months". Depending on how long sleep apnea has been sneaking up on you, your body has learned to compensate.....to a point. This all takes a toll on your system and the benefits from this therapy are not immediately apparent........even when everything is tweaked.

EDIT: Are you in Australia? I (probably) mis-interpreted your initial post when I read "Using ResMed S8 Autoscore 2 CPAP"......thinking it was an Auto......when it's apparently a straight-pressure CPAP. Sorry about that.


Den

Thanks again for responses. EPR is set to 1. The CPAP is on a fixed setting of 7 as it's not the automatic machine. I have the download program and can see all the stats including in graphic form. These have been reviewed by the Sleep Centre people who say the settings are appropriate and working well. The extreme tiredness has dissipated somewhat the last two nights so maybe I just needed to get used to it.
Yes, I'm in Australia, home of ResMed, inventors of the CPAP device.