Still Struggling

Hi all:
I’ve had problems staying awake since my early 20s. Over the years, I’ve always attributed my sleep problems to moderate, to sometimes heavy use of alcohol. However, after I stopped drinking completely, over a year and a half ago, the problem was just as bad. I finally seen my doctor about it, completed my sleep study, and have been on CPAP since May 31st of this year. I’ve seen very little improvement except that I can stay awake through some meetings at work, versus before when I’d nod during most, if not all, meetings.

I’ve similar problems waking up during the night as do several others who have posted in this forum. The time I stay up varies. Longer periods that I’m up are usually self inflicted: I’ll away pick up my cell phone to check the time, but sometimes, what the heck, let’s see who’s on Face Book!

I used to blame it on my wife as she likes to sleep with the TV on. So we agreed to make sure that this was actually the problem, and I’m currently sleeping in the spare bedroom, and have been for 4 weeks. however, very little has improved.

I’ve been on the following medications for at least 10 years:
Zoloft 100mg - for depression
Abilfy 2mg - for the same
Triamterene HCTZ 37.5-25 MG TB – for high blood pressure

I was also on Nifedipine for blood pressure before but have recently stopped as my BP has lowered since I began CPAP.

I am 52 years old, 5 foot 11 inches tall and weigh approximately 210 ponds. I’ve only recently gained weight and have usually been in the 180 to 190 range. I’ve been a runner for most of my life; however I haven’t exercised any since around January of this year.

My machine comes with a modem that I can request data on line. My pressure setting stays at 7. My daily average use has been 5.4 hours. My leaks, if I am interpreting the data right, are 3.2 averages, and I don’t know what the units are. Finally my AHI readings for the period are: AHI 1.4, HI 0.3, AI 1.1

I have very little knowledge of what this data means but I will be seeing my sleep doctor tomorrow afternoon and will be discussing this with him at length. However, in the mean time, I’d appreciate any feedback that anyone might provide that has similar experiences, as I am very tired of being very tired.

I would get your doctor to consult with a sleep MD if necessary because the meds you're on, everything else being equal, I'm pretty sure can make a diff. Maybe you can come off (or lower) something, maybe take it in the a.m. instead of pm, maybe your depression was all about (or largely) OSA, maybe you could use some labwork re your thyroid, or low T, or ???

Your pressure could simply be too low.

1. This journal article of 2008 did a survey of sleep centers and found that 22% didn't have a written diagnostic procedure. The procedures of the others varied. (Section 3.0 in the linked article.) My doctor set my pressure based on 30 minutes of sleep at 6 cm-H2O, next doctor set it at 8 cm-H2O.

http://www.aasmnet.org/resources/clinic ... 040210.pdf

You might want to see how you were tested versus this clinical guideline.

2. There is the issue of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome UARS causing you to wake up during the night. RERA = respiratory effort-related arousal.

http://69.36.35.38/accp/pccsu/upper-air ... e?page=0,3

The pressure to end RERAs is higher than the pressure necessary to get rid of Apneas. Sorry I don't have a reference for this, I am trying to track it down.

However, you should ask whether your doctor tested you for RERAs. If not that could be your problem.

I feel the practice of sleep medicine is poor. I currently am doing well when I sleep. I have a pressure of 15 cm-H2O and my SpO2 has increased significantly.

I would look into the meds as being a possible culprit.

49er

Don_1962 wrote:My daily average use has been 5.4 hours.

Not enough hours of sleep and if you are waking often during those hours it's going to be even worse.
Also, look up the potential side effects to your meds.

sleepy1235 wrote:Your pressure could simply be too low.

1. This journal article of 2008 did a survey of sleep centers and found that 22% didn't have a written diagnostic procedure. The procedures of the others varied. (Section 3.0 in the linked article.) My doctor set my pressure based on 30 minutes of sleep at 6 cm-H2O, next doctor set it at 8 cm-H2O.

http://www.aasmnet.org/resources/clinic ... 040210.pdf

You might want to see how you were tested versus this clinical guideline.

one would think that if your theory held water, that his ahi would be higher than the stated AHI 1.4, HI 0.3, AI 1.1

just sayin.