Probably another dumb question!

All,

Before I was diagnosed, I would sleep all night (pretty much) and just feel terrible the next day. I have blood pressure problems and all classic symptons and my condition was confirmed through the study. I really never woke up not being able to breathe, but I snored ALOT.

Now, if I take a nap or go a night without my machine (during a recent trip), I WILL wake up and be out of breath sometimes multiple times per hour.

Am I crazy, is this just in my mind, or have others experienced this and it is a commonly known fact? I never remember it before, but now that I am using the machine, I feel it when I am sleeping and not using the machine.

Thanks.

I haven't slept without my cpap yet, but it sounds like your body (brain) has become accustomed to sleeping with your machine, and it doesn't like going without oxygen, so it's letting you know by waking you up.

Can I just add that I don't think this is a "dumb question" at all. I'd like to know the answer to it as well.

Irene, Dotty,

That was the explanation I was thinking about too, that the brain was now used to better sleep and now it wakes me up because it is starving for air.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks all!

Pre-cpap nights the affects accumulated gradually over time. So gradual you didn't really notice a black and white good and bad day/night.

Use the machine for a little while and get used to the good effects of the therapy and then go back to a night of no therapy and the difference can be remarkable because the change is so abrupt. It is quite common to experience this marked difference. Some even mention it even if they don't think the therapy is working well so they blow off hooking up to the machine and wake up feeling like total crap. Then they realize just exactly how bad they did feel before cpap and how that cpap does help even if they didn't notice the help because it was gradual.

TylersDad wrote: I take a nap or go a night without my machine... Am I crazy?

Thanks.

Yes.
You're welcome.

carbonman wrote:

TylersDad wrote: I take a nap or go a night without my machine... Am I crazy?

Thanks.

Yes.
You're welcome.

When you're kidding around, you might want to consider adding emoticons. Oh wait, you were serious. Sorry about that. Never mind.

Just my $0.02 worth..for what it's worth

TylersDad wrote:...Now, if I take a nap or go a night without my machine (during a recent trip), I WILL wake up and be out of breath sometimes multiple times per hour...

When you start getting restful sleep, our brain which has been keeping us alive at night by not letting us sleep very deeply says ahh, it's okay to relax into deeper sleep 'cause we're not suffocating during sleep; it gets used to this allowing you to sleep more and more deeply (read restfully). Then, whammo, you decide for matter reason to not sleep with xPAP...the brain is shocked by an apnea...shazamm, no more sleeping deeply and with every non-breathing or super-shallow breathing event that causes oxygen deprivation the brain panics causing it to flood the body with fight or flight survival chemicals...racing heartbeat, dramatic hypertension, deep rapid breathing (panting), anxiety, hot flushes...sound familiar? 100% xPAP compliance is the 'cure' for this.

carbonman wrote:

TylersDad wrote: I take a nap or go a night without my machine... Am I crazy?

Thanks.

Yes.
You're welcome.

Carbonman, you're a hoot. I think I like you!