Desperate (tremor vs. headache)

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum, but I've been reading posts for some time and it really helped me.

The reason why I'm creating this post is that I am really desperate right now after 4 months of using my cpap. I'll tell you my story in order so that you better understand.

I'm a 31 yo male, 5'11'' and I weight around 160 lbs. I eat well, do physical exercice, do relaxation exercices... But even with this profile, I suffer from sleep apnea that is probably related to my jaw structure and the size of my tongue (according to my dentist and my ent).

So, when I discovered that I was suffering from sleep apnea (around 7 AHI), I started with the Somnolent oral device http://www.somnomed.de/somnodent/somnodent/ which worked with eliminating my sleep apnea. However, I was still suffering from major headaches, memory losses and I was not feeling rested. So I did a sleep clinic at the hospital and the doctor figured out that the device was not helping me with hypopnea, Therefore, I have decided to buy a cpap.

At first, I tried the ResMed S9 AutoSet with Humidifier http://www.papsmart.com/index.php?route ... HwodiqoEnQ for a 4 weeks test and it worked wonderfully. So, I finally purchased the Resmed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™, the "better" version.

However, I have been using this machine for 4 months now with not so good results. although all my stats are good according to the device (AHI around 0.7, no leaking, air pressure at 6.5...) At first, it worked well, but after a while, I started to have the following symptoms:

- Hyperventilating (while using the machine only)
- Major dizziness
- Panic attack
- Tremors (an MRI scan showed that my brain was perfectly normal)

I guess, that the hyperventilation the main cause behind all the other symptoms. In order to fix those issues, I have tried the following:

- Different masks (nasal, full...)
- Relaxation techniques (even though I'm not stressed out nor claustrophobic)
- Lavender drops on my mask
- Nasonex to unblock my nose
- Sleeping with my oral device and my cpap
- Nasal stripes
- Nose cones

I went to see the respiratory therapist (sales rep? ) who sold me the machine. According to her, the machine worked perfectly. So told me to go see my lung specialist who prescribe me the cpap. However she's currently on vacation and I won't be able to see her soon (I live in Canada and our healthcare system has its good and bad sides).

Yesterday, I have decided to go to the emergency out of desperation (hoping maybe to see a lung specialist) without any success: the doctors there new next to nothing about sleep apnea.

So, right now, I have the choice between my cpap symptoms or my hypopnea symptoms and I don't think I'll be able to specialist before I go crazy. I though to maybe purchase the Resmed S9 since it worked fine the first time, but I'm not even sure that it'll worked and since I'm tight on money, I want to be sure that my condition will improve using a new device.

Four more thing:
1. I might have a deviated septum which, I guess, could be the reason why I suffered from hypopnea
2. I am currently using nifedipine on a daily basis for an anal fissure which could cause side effects such as shortness of breath. However, even when I stop using it for three days, it doesn't help with my sleeping.
3. I don't currently live under major stress that could've trigger the hyperventilation.
4, I am not claustrophobic.

Overall, I'm quite depsrate and I'd like to know if anyone out of you had a similar experience and what would be a solution to help my case before I can see my doctor.

Best regards,
Steven
_________________
Machine: Resmed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ http://www.resmed.com/us/en/consumer/pr ... toset.html
Mask: AirFit™ F10 http://www.resmed.com/us/en/consumer/pr ... t-f10.html
Humidifier: AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ included humidifier

Here is a link to Drugs.com on the side effects of your med. It sounds as if your symptoms could all be explained by the drug.
Nifedipine Side Effects
The serum half-life is fairly short so the discontinuance should have eliminated it as a cause. But individual reactions vary.

2. I am currently using nifedipine on a daily basis for an anal fissure which could cause side effects such as shortness of breath.

Since Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker, what is the reason that it is being prescribed for an anal fissure?

JDS74 wrote: Since Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker, what is the reason that it is being prescribed for an anal fissure?

It can be applied as a gel to help relax the muscles and allow the fissure to heal http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc ... c-overview

-Bill

Thank you guys !

I'll try cutting out the nifedipine. If that work, I'll consider having a surgery in order to fix my anal fissure problem.