Why am I still sleepy?

VPAP ADAPT SV for one year, numbers are good. Yet, I still need naps. Wondering if my problem may be related to shallow breathing and other poor habits and if Pulse Oximetry might detect something during the day. I sent this message to my friend at the DME, who is an RT, along with reports since 12/28/10. I will be glad to take any comments and suggestions which might help me resolve this issue. This post is mostly informational. I will be happy to be specific with any additional details. Put your thinking caps on, please! Btw, desats did not appear to be a problem during the sleep tests and titration.
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Hello there, (Mr. RT)
As we talked, I would like to sleep on my back but AHI's and AI's jump up.

I tried sleeping on my back for part of the night of July 29th, with AHI of 13.1 and AI of 3.5. Similar results occurred on night of July 30th: AHI of 17.5, and AI of 7.3.

Hopefully you can see the AHI’s and AI’s. There may be some confusion about the dates, but the latest one, for Monday, 1 Aug 2011, shows virtually no events. AHIs are always fewer than three, many times less than one and lots of AIs = 0.0

I will try to bring a full report from 12/28/2010 by soon on a DVD.

Question: I get very sleepy and demand at least two naps during the day which turn out to be “yawning festivals.” After about 12-15 intense yawns (and I mean intense,) I feel much better. I don’t really go to sleep, or if I do it is very, very light sleep.

Can this be oxygen desaturations, perhaps brought on by shallow and otherwise bad breathing habits? Or, perhaps there are anomalies in my system other than poor breathing habits. But if oxygen desaturations are present and are significant, can they be detected and measured by Pulse Oximitry?

I’m asking about measurements taken during the day while I am occupied at the computer or TV or reading and not when I am asleep and connected with the Adapt SV. I ask this because I always have the feeling of being refreshed after about ten to fifteen good breaths or yawns as I call them.

I don’t understand exactly how the pulse oximetry works and how and what it is designed to test.

Let me know what you think if the Pulse Oximetry might be relevant in my situation.

Ernest

I have the same machine. I have only been using it since June 11. I think my main problem now is insomnea. I never get better than 6 hours sleep. I may lay there with the mask on for 9 hours but just cant sleep more. I get tired through the day.

Make sure you power your machine down say once a week to ensure you are getting correct figures. I have found they tend to give false low readings if you dont.

I also think people who get tired should consider what drugs they are taking to help them sleep. They can really mess with you during the next day.

I was just getting ready to hit the sack. Thanks for commenting. I too lie awake some during the night, which i suppose would be venturing into insomnia territory.

What do you mean by powering down? Is this simply turning the machine off? I turn mine off every morning. Also, I have to carry it into another room to download data to my computer which requires unhooking it and hooking it up in a separate place.

About the drugs-luckily, in my case, there aren't any. That's not to say there shouldn't be any or won't be any in the future if my neurologist, sleep doctor, friend advises something in my quest for rest. Are you suggesting that as something to consider?

I know I am so much better off with this treatment and that I am getting therapy even though I am not asleep 100% of the time. I believe my situation can get better.

Oldern