CPAP cause groggy feeling during day?

I am on my 5th week using CPAP for medium sleep apnea (I am not overweight). The CPAP seems to have generally improved my sleep quality and duration, however, I experience a type of groggy/sleepiness all day on somedays that I think is associated with using the CPAP.

Before using CPAP, I experienced variable tiredness during the day (By the way, I have a sedentary day job). But with CPAP, the tiredness, although less severe, is often there all day long. My eyes feel droopy and I experience mild stupor. (I am tempted to slap myself, like Captain Kirk did to himself on Star Trek that time.)

Is this just my body getting used to sleeping better?

Now, is that a contadiction or what? Ha!

Hi Sleepotomos,

What you may be experiening is called "REM Rebound".

REM rebound happens when you first start cpap therapy and you are totally sleep deprived. Your body wants to hang on to as much REM sleep as possible. This can make you feel groggy for the first month or so. The eventually goes away.

Ted

HI!
I had more energy 2nd/3rd wk, now I'm more tired again, during day. What gives?

But I hang in there.

Interesting thing, I too, have on 2 occasions over the last 3 1/2 wks yanked the swift/chin strap off, and was not aware.

By 6/7 a.m. I've had it from the whole night, take it off and go back to sleep for awhile, not a good idea? Allowing airway to constrict again? Does this set someone back? Might be why tired feeling is back?

Altho' overall do feel improvement? Might this be the REM rebound that is mentioned? What do we do for this setback.

Just keep hosing? And when I feel the urge early in morning, LEAVE MY MASK OK?

Titrator wrote:Hi Sleepotomos,

What you may be experiening is called "REM Rebound".

REM rebound happens when you first start cpap therapy and you are totally sleep deprived. Your body wants to hang on to as much REM sleep as possible. This can make you feel groggy for the first month or so. The eventually goes away.

Ted

Gailzzz,

It took me about 6 weeks of pulling the mask off until I just left it on. It took me a few months to be able to sleep more than 4 or 5 hours. I have a feeling that my body was wondering why I was sleeping so much.

After the first year, everything just came into line. from time to time I still have excessive daytime sleepiness. I have been trying to sleep at least 8 hours per day. It seems to make a difference. It takes planning to sleep that long.

Ted

Ted,

You're right, for those of us who have spent years with erratic sleep habits, it does take some work to be consistant and allow for a good nights sleep.