Anyone else felt this way before?

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:01 pm

When I first started cpap (almost 5 weeks ago), by the end of the first week, I really noticed a dramatic difference. I felt the increased energy, the decreased irritability and the abcense of my need for afternoon naps. The past 2 weeks, however, I have been feeling like my "old self" again. Took 3 naps in the past 1 1/2 weeks, very cranky yesterday, craving to snack to get my energy from food and just washed out. I thought maybe that cpap therapy would be like a roller coaster on its way up, but instead wondering if its a cycle of ups and downs. Now I know I have had slight troubles with mask, but finally think I am doing better in that department. So I guess I'm just wondering if this is normal, that even if you are compliant with the machine and the mask is working, can you still have not-so-good days? And this many in a row? To the Females: Could this also have something to do with our cycles? I've been so used to feeling like this 24/7, that I forget that maybe it just has to do with that reason.

Sleepless in St. Louis · Post by **Sleepless in St. Louis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:48 pm

I think your experience is pretty normal. I have ups and downs as well. But, my feeling is that as long as I am better than pre cpap days, then it's worth the effort. Remember that cpap can only really address sleep problems related to OSA. I would not be a good sleeper even if my wind pipe was the size of the Lincoln Tunnel. Factors like stress, insomnia, seasonal allergies, etc. etc. can still come into play. As far as your second question if anyone can help me figure out the relationship between women and their cycles on a reliable basis, I will mention them or their children in my will. I promise. I'll mention them, but I may not give them anything.

lferrel · Post by **lferrel** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:51 pm

Hi,

For me the therapy effect is stable. The biggest variation is from the various masks that I try out. Some give better statistics than others.

I think you raise an interesting issue that I have thought about at times; i.e., dual diagnoses. Among other things, I have diabetes, and I know from experience that when uncontrolled it can cause problems with sleep.

Lowell

Missy · Post by **Missy** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:18 pm

Hi! I think your experience is par for the course. I have been on cpap since mid-May and I have had a few ups and downs. The initial "honeymoon" period is really common. I have found that if I'm 100% compliant and tell myself that it will get better, it does. When I have a downturn, I just remember how great I feel when the cpap therapy is going well and it gives me incentive to stick with it. Keep up the good work. Oh, also, try to nap with your cpap on. Then you'll get used to the mask easier. Good luck

Dawn

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:37 pm

Yeah your experience seems to be consistent with what I have been feeling too. I'm into my second month on CPAP and its been a bit up and down. My first 1-2 weeks where great. I was soooo tried from months of not sleeping well that I sleep like a baby when I could finally breath better. I had a huge REM rebound which was nice too. Once I got some of the initial sleep debt worked off some I started having problems with waking up in the night, mask issues, difficulty exhaling, etc. I switched from a basic CPAP to one with C-Flex which has helped some since its easier to breath. The new machine says that I am still averaging about an 11 AHI per night so its possible that that is a factor to.

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:11 pm

Yeah, it was the same for me. My first couple of nights were great. Then I had some so-so nights combined with some good ones. Then my whole second month or so was pretty bad. I think there are a lot of factors: There is the so-called "sleep deficit" thing. Whether or not it is a true physiological "deficit," it seems to be a real. I guess our bodies had to do some adapting to us not getting good sleep for years and now they have to "adapt back" in some way. Also, there is getting the whole equipment thing just right, getting the right gear, with the right settings and making the little tweaks you have to make, etc.

Finally, in my case, I just started thinking more about sleep. I started getting serious about consistent sleep times, always allowing for enough sleep, keeping stress down, especially in the evenings, not eating for three hours before bedtime, regular exercise, etc. All that has helped, but it all took some time to really get into my habit patterns.

After nearly 4 months or so, it is still not perfect. I still have bad nights and bad days, sometimes the two are related, sometimes not. But there are a lot fewer of them. Also, I think it is still improving, although now improving at a slower pace. Like a lot of people, I thought CPAP would be an immediate, continuous, "black and white" difference. But it wasn't.

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:15 pm

Thanks everyone. It is very reassuring that cpap therapy is not a quick fix, I really thought it would be. I can't wait to have the energy to exercise again, b/c I know that's when I felt best, but its kind of like a catch 22, I don't exercise, b/c I don't have the energy, but lack of exercise = lack of energy.

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:51 am

Melissa:

My experience is that you can't just wait for the CPAP to give you the energy to exercise. The exercise thing is something you have to overcome some intertia on. You are right, it is a cycle. If you exercise, you will sleep better, which will then give you energy to exercise even more, etc. But you have to "prime the pump" to get the cycle going and my expereince was that CPAP alone doesn't do it. I have found that even light, consistent exercise really helps my CPAP experience.

There are no shortages of exercise programs, but one I like for beginners is "Quick Fit," by Bradley. It is just 15 minutes a day, you can do it in street clothes and the only equipment is some light dumbells. I mean, anyone can do 15 mintues a day!

Sleepless in St. Louis · Post by **Sleepless in St. Louis** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:07 am

I think MandoJ hit it right on the head. A few years ago I was in the best shape of my life. I was really into cycling and consistantly did about 1-2 hours a day on my bike. I know I had untreated apnea at the time looking back, but being in shape enabled me to "get by" most nights. Of course just a little slipage in this routine and I was experiencing the worse sleep habits of my life. Recently, I've been feeling good enough to start walking again, and I even got out my bike for an hour yesterday then went out to dinner with some friends (I'm telling you that part because I had a few glasses of wine which usually make my sleep a litte worse). Well today I feel about as good as I have in a long time because I think the exercise really seemed to help me sleep. So, you really have to force yourself, even if it means really low levels of exercise, to get back on the bike, or put on the walking shoes, or what ever your exercise of choice. You may sleep better as a result, be less grouchy, feel more upbeat etc. I look at it as starting the process of reversing the long spiral into sleep hell. I know I did not get to my lowest point overnight, and will not get back to feeling great overnight. But, one step at a time. One of those steps for me will be to make sure I force myself to get the exercise I need.

SpookyFodder · Post by **SpookyFodder** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:17 am

Wow I kind of thought I might be the only one who has experienced the roller coaster effect. It is nice to know others have had similar experiences. My "honeymoon period" lasted 3 weeks then I started to feel absolutely horrible again. I actually called in to have a pressure adjustment (from 7 to 9) and it seems to have made a significant improvement. Its only been a couple of days so lets hope its a lasting improvement.

On a side note I kind of feel a little sheepish because I seem to have been hit so hard by this and although severe, my sleep apnea is not nearly the worst I have seen. My AHI is only 52 and my blood oxygen sats dropped to 80%. But I also had 30 leg movements per hour and intermittent bradycardia. Two years ago I had a heart attack and a coronary stent implant. At that time I also found out I had moderate coronary artery disease. I have been on disability for the last 3 years. Could the leg movements and/or bradycardia possibly explain the severity? The heart attack was mild one and although it contributes to an overall decrease in stamina I don't think its a major contributing factor to the fatigue. I really want to unravel this so I can have my life back.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:39 am

Sleepless in St. Louis wrote:I think your experience is pretty normal. I have ups and downs as well. But, my feeling is that as long as I am better than pre cpap days, then it's worth the effort. Remember that cpap can only really address sleep problems related to OSA. I would not be a good sleeper even if my wind pipe was the size of the Lincoln Tunnel. Factors like stress, insomnia, seasonal allergies, etc. etc. can still come into play. As far as your second question if anyone can help me figure out the relationship between women and their cycles on a reliable basis, I will mention them or their children in my will. I promise. I'll mention them, but I may not give them anything.

I'm sorry that I didn't get to respond to this much sooner!
Lincoln tunnel - funny, but true!
Female cycles - Well, we would have to kill you if we told you - that is if we ever figure it out ourselves. For safety's sake, I'd suggest you tread lightly every 28 days or so, ha ha. (remember, it's not intentional - that's why it's called "The Curse" - we'd gladly trade situations)

This is also ironic - I have recently (past month) felt that I've been regressing in my cpap treatment - trying to figure out what I did wrong! So, I'm still in great company, and that's good news.

Thanks for all the suggestions. In addition, I need to be very sleepy in order to go to bed and have a successful night of treatment. I changed masks last night, at it was still on this morning. Suddenly, my favorite has 'failed me'. But I'm sure it's temporary...I think.

Anyone else felt this way before?

Anyone else felt this way before?

ups and downs with cpap therapy