CPAP Night Seven

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:07 am

Muse-Inc wrote:
GaryG wrote:...still getting tired when I drive. That's what I'm trying to fix.
About 4 yrs ago, read an article on a study of alertness in one of the women's mags, First or something, anyway, it said best results were achieved with having a person drink 1/3-1/2 cup (no more than this amt) of coffee first thing in the morning. I tried it and it worked for me...1/3 of a small cup of coffee after bathroom trip...gotta be really soon after waking. Eventually I found I got the same results with 1/2 cup of decaff...having a coffeepot with a set ahead brewing cycle works well. But I gotta admit my worst sleepiness was in the afternoon and evening -- after heroic fighting to wake up, mornings were actually my most alert times. Driving home had me on the cell phone to ensure I stayed alert, my cell phone carrier gave me extra mins for this when I started CPAP, 'course I'd been with that carrier for yrs and yrs by then.

Muse, so I guess its wrong of me to discount my sleep doc's recommendation of caffeine. And thanks for mentioning it. Still, I think I'd rather try C-man's CoQ10. I'm a hyperactive type of guy and prefer not to take a stimulant like caffeine.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:11 am

Wulfman wrote:Gary,

What distances do you drive? And, are there any particular times of the day that you get drowsy when you drive?

I need to drive about 40 minutes to work. I can usually stay awake. What I find problematic is getting in slow moving traffic, especially the stop and go stuff on a highway. That's when I have to really be careful. For me, that seems to be the trigger. Can occur any time during the day.

Wulfman wrote:If you're taking ANY medications, you can check them on DRUGS.COM to see if they might have any side effects that are relating to your drowsiness.

Yes, I stopped my zyrtec for claritin, which doesn't work as well, (oh well), and also starting taking my zoloft earlier in the evening instead of at bed time. But defintely this is very important.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:13 am

DoriC wrote:Gary, just wondering if your lovely wife has noticed any subtle differences in your daily routine. I say that because my husband kept saying he didn't really feel any better ......

Dori, I think you may have hit the bullseye here. Will defintely follow up with her.

Autopapdude · Post by **Autopapdude** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:35 am

Yes, I stopped my zyrtec for claritin, which doesn't work as well, (oh well), and also starting taking my zoloft earlier in the evening instead of at bed time. But defintely this is very important.

Zoloft can definitely cause sleepiness. I have a friend who has taken Paxil and Zoloft alternately for a few years, and finds that it makes him midday to evening sleepy. It may not be the OSA treatment that makes you sleepy. I take panic disorder meds, and that can definitely make me sleepy, although it seems to have little or no effect on my AHI, as I take it during the day.

KatieW · Post by **KatieW** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:19 am

Gary, I'm following your progress with interest. A 2 week trial seems like a good idea.

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:12 pm

Gary, I don't have OSA but I do have severe asthma,allergies and Zyrtec is the only med that controls my nasal symptoms. But the Dr told me to take it at night because of daytime drowsiness and it still controls my allergies during the day.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:47 pm

DoriC wrote:Gary, I don't have OSA but I do have severe asthma,allergies and Zyrtec is the only med that controls my nasal symptoms. But the Dr told me to take it at night because of daytime drowsiness and it still controls my allergies during the day.

Dori, since zyrtec can lead to drowsiness I was told to discontinue it. I thought it might be ok and wouldn't affect me during the day, but I'm willing to discontinue for a bit until I feel more in control of my CPAP therapy. I hear ya, and I do get some (but less) benefit from claritin.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:52 pm

KatieW wrote:Gary, I'm following your progress with interest. A 2 week trial seems like a good idea.

And I'm following your progress as well, and thanks for the encouragement.

secret agent girl · Post by **secret agent girl** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:55 pm

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:37 pm

GaryG wrote:...I'm a hyperactive type of guy and prefer not to take a stimulant like caffeine.

That's why I do decaff; already too wired most of the time and caffeine really makes jacks me up. I have found the regularly taking deep breaths helps to counter sleepiness, so when sleepiness strikes I practice deep slow breathing (too fast and ya get light-headed) for a few minutes every so often. Can you temporarily shift your schedule to avoid being in traffic?

Autopapdude · Post by **Autopapdude** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:20 pm

Yupp...me too. The Relaxation Response works very well, in conjunction with OSA therapy.

http://www.relaxationresponse.org/steps/ Link to Relaxation Response technique.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:13 am

7 nights of CPAP at a pressure of 10. MY AI for the week was 0.5, had 0.6 last night and also included two nights ago at 0.5. Note my leaks are not zero - using the Activa LT and keeping the straps loose for comfort. But I don't really see a correlation between the leaks and AI, so I'm not too concerned. Now my question is, in search for 0.0, what's my next step?

KatieW · Post by **KatieW** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:25 am

GaryG wrote:7 nights of CPAP at a pressure of 10. MY AI for the week was 0.5, had 0.6 last night and also included two nights ago at 0.5. Note my leaks are not zero - using the Activa LT and keeping the straps loose for comfort. But I don't really see a correlation between the leaks and AI, so I'm not too concerned. Now my question is, in search for 0.0, what's my next step?

Gary, are you feeling less tired? I agree that your leaks don't correlate with AI, but do they disturb your sleep at all? Since you have the Active Lt, you might consider getting the Mirage SoftGel cushion, which fits the Activa Lt. It's on sale at Direct Medical Supplies for $26, or perhaps cpap.com will price match. In spite of the rippling (topic on another thread), I really like it, and would recommend it for leakage.

Your next step? ....stay the course, or bump the pressure up a little bit? I don't know.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:31 am

Ultimate question........How do you feel?

My thoughts are to either leave it the way it is for a while longer or try bumping it up another .5 cm (or one whole cm.) for another week or so. I suggest you make the decision.

Den

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:50 am

KatieW wrote:Gary, are you feeling less tired?

Maybe slightly.

KatieW wrote: I agree that your leaks don't correlate with AI, but do they disturb your sleep at all?

Don't have any recollection of leaks while sleeping.

KatieW wrote:Your next step? ....stay the course, or bump the pressure up a little bit? I don't know.

Thinking about it. Actually, I found it funny when my wife asked me at bedtime, "'So what are you going to change tonight?"

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