Feel horrible on CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Oceangirl
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat May 29, 2021 6:51 am

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Oceangirl » Sun May 30, 2021 11:22 am

zonker wrote:
Sun May 30, 2021 10:59 am
Oceangirl wrote:
Sun May 30, 2021 10:11 am
Julie wrote:
Sat May 29, 2021 9:02 pm
Exactly - we need to be careful not to cover the vents with bedding or anything else to allow CO2 to escape, tho' a thin sheet apparently shouldn't be a problem.
Hard to say for sure but I do have a lot of blankets and pillows and at times I’m sure my position could be covering the holes.
well, try it without ANY covers. i don't mean when you go to bed at your regular time. just try it for a bit at some other time, like take a nap for a short time.

that might show evidence that the bedding is to blame rather than the mask.

good luck!
Yes, and it is strange that it doesn’t even happen every time I use the machine. Some days I don’t have any symptoms at all. So maybe somehow I am covering the holes when I am sleeping. I sleep on my side and back and tend to move around all over when I sleep. Maybe I’ll try sleeping with a thin sheet. The blankets I have are thick and I have 3 pillows lol.

Oceangirl
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat May 29, 2021 6:51 am

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Oceangirl » Sun May 30, 2021 11:30 am

Julie wrote:
Sun May 30, 2021 11:03 am
Or just arrange them so they'll be unlikely to cover the holes when you sleep - after all, you said your symptoms were horrible, or aren't they?
Yes, and I have several symptoms that are listed as effects from too much CO2:

Fatigue
An inability to concentrate or think clearly
Headaches
Flushing
Dizziness
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Palpitations (a feeling that you are having a rapid heart rate)
Panic, or a feeling of impending doom
Confusion
Muscle twitches

I feel like a strange sense of being completely disorientated it’s not like normal panic, I feel completely loopy. It also says it can take hours for the effects to subside since I feel this horrible feeling for hours on end the day it happens. It’s not like short panic and it goes away.

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Miss Emerita
Posts: 3732
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 8:07 pm

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Miss Emerita » Sun May 30, 2021 11:48 am

Just to mention it again -- your symptoms also seem similar to those of hyperventilation, which results in CO2 levels that are too low (stuff copied/pasted from trusted web sites):

Symptoms of hyperventilation (too little CO2):
Fast or deep breathing
Shortness of breath or the feeling that you can’t get enough air
Anxiety, fear, panic, or strong feeling of dread or doom
Dizziness
Chest pain or squeezing in the chest
Fast, pounding, or skipping heartbeat
Sweating
Numbness or tingling around the mouth and in the fingers
Muscle cramps in the hands or feet.

Symptoms of hypercapnia (too much CO2):
Fatigue
An inability to concentrate or think clearly
Headaches
Flushing
Dizziness
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
Increased blood pressure.

You might ask your doctor for a blood gas test during one of the days when you're experiencing symptoms.
Oscar software is available at https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

Oceangirl
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat May 29, 2021 6:51 am

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Oceangirl » Sun May 30, 2021 12:14 pm

Miss Emerita wrote:
Sun May 30, 2021 11:48 am
Just to mention it again -- your symptoms also seem similar to those of hyperventilation, which results in CO2 levels that are too low (stuff copied/pasted from trusted web sites):

Symptoms of hyperventilation (too little CO2):
Fast or deep breathing
Shortness of breath or the feeling that you can’t get enough air
Anxiety, fear, panic, or strong feeling of dread or doom
Dizziness
Chest pain or squeezing in the chest
Fast, pounding, or skipping heartbeat
Sweating
Numbness or tingling around the mouth and in the fingers
Muscle cramps in the hands or feet.

Symptoms of hypercapnia (too much CO2):
Fatigue
An inability to concentrate or think clearly
Headaches
Flushing
Dizziness
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
Increased blood pressure.

You might ask your doctor for a blood gas test during one of the days when you're experiencing symptoms.
Yeah, it’s not a bad idea. I never have those same feelings when I’m not using the machine at all.

Janknitz
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Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:05 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Janknitz » Mon May 31, 2021 2:27 pm

How did you end up with this outdated machine if you don't have a doctor or insurance? How were you diagnosed with sleep apnea?
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Dog Slobber
Posts: 4180
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:05 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Dog Slobber » Mon May 31, 2021 8:31 pm

Your symptoms would not be related to hypoxia (rebreathing CO2), the symptoms you're describing are symptoms you might experience while suffering from hypoxia, but not for the full day.

A possibility is your are feeling unwell because of lack of sleep. CPAP is difficult and many of us have terrible, unrestful sleep while adjusting. As you get accustomed to it, hopefully the symptoms will lessen and eventually go away.

Oceangirl
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat May 29, 2021 6:51 am

Re: Feel horrible on CPAP

Post by Oceangirl » Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:35 pm

Janknitz wrote:
Mon May 31, 2021 2:27 pm
How did you end up with this outdated machine if you don't have a doctor or insurance? How were you diagnosed with sleep apnea?
I went to a clinic then lost my job and health insurance so got the machine online from a donation place for $100.