still feeling tired after cpap for 6 months

I have been using my cpap machine for almost 6 months now. Before the cpap I spent 10-12 hrs. in bed trying to get enough sleep. After my sleep study I found out I had very severe sleep apnea and wasn't really sleeping at all. Once I got my machine I was hoping to wake up feeling great but I don't. I don't have any symptoms of sleep apnea while using my machine and have minimal leaks. I go to sleep fairly quickly (I take 1 or 2 homeopathic insomnia pills under my tongue)but wake after 5 or 6 hrs. so I get up and go to the bathroom. I do dream and I do wake at times during the 5-6 hour time but go back to sleep. I now can go back to sleep at the 5-6 hr time (at first I couldn't) for a couple more hours but I still wake up and feel tired most of the day. I was hoping to be doing good by the 6 month mark!
Any ideas??

Does your machine have stats? Leak rate, ahi, ai, hi? Can't really tell what's going wrong without more info.... but I'll bet something needs adjusted.... either the pressure is wrong, the mask doesn't fit properly and leaks too much, or something.

Ladybug's right. There's something amiss with the pressure being too low or some sort of mask leak. Many times when one falls asleep with the mask strapped on and sounding quiet like there are no leaks, as the body relaxes into sleep your posture can change or your head can lean just enough so that your mask leaks. When you become alert again you might not notice it because it will stop as your muscles tense back up. Try setting a dictaphone on your nightstand and recording what it sounds like if your machine doesn't have all the electronic felgercarb on it (mine doesn't!).

If you're using a nasal mask, you're probably leaking your therapy air out your mouth at night (most common reason for this symptom). If so, you're not getting much (if any) therapy. Ever wake up with a dry mouth?


Den

Not to be a stick in the mud but I've been on cpap almost 3 years and still don't get refreshed sleep. I fall asleep during the day if I sit down. Maybe some people aren't meant to sleep well. I still see my sleep doc every 3 months. I don't know what else to do. My mask seals very well, I have a chin strap and tape my mouth.

newname wrote:Not to be a stick in the mud but I've been on cpap almost 3 years and still don't get refreshed sleep. I fall asleep during the day if I sit down. Maybe some people aren't meant to sleep well. I still see my sleep doc every 3 months. I don't know what else to do. My mask seals very well, I have a chin strap and tape my mouth.

Do you, or your sleep doc periodically, review your nightly AHI, AI, HI, and leak rates? Someone recently said in another post that it is like 'flying blind' if you do not. Also, suggest you update your equipment info in your profile.

If you are not rested something is not right! I would see my DR and find the problem. I feel very lucky that my health has improved 100% since I began treatment.
It may require an additional sleep study to discover the problem exhaustion has a funny way of hiding things. Thank god for accurate diagnostics.....

Just a thought...how's your sleep hygiene? I'm about 10 months into treatment and if I don't take care in other parts of my life (colas, not relaxing before lights out, that kind of thing, not releasing the day's stress) - I sleep poorly......hope this helps - best wishes to everyone.

Sounds like you need a different sleep doctor.

i agree, try a different sleep doctor. mine seemed disinterested right after he billed for the study.
now to offer some help, try a full mask rather than just the nasal. that helped me a lot.
good luck to you