Anomaly- Stopped Using my CPAP

Helmer wrote:Yes, Lizistired; I'm on my third night of not using it. It's like I have a new lease on life. My over all feeling is very good, no more groggy feeling in the morning, no headache, etc. What I don't know is how long the better feeling will last. I don't plan to through away my CPAP...

So basically you are still in total denial and ignorance of what was happening during your therapy. You don't know if your AHI (events per hour) were under 5, you don't know if your mask was leaking badly, and you still don't know if your pressure was triggering central apneas(where your brain forgets to tell you to breath).
You may think you are feeling better be under all that the your organs are probably going to pot.

lazer wrote:In the 3+ months I've been using APAP. I had to skip one night about two weeks ago to undergo a home sleep study test. Woke up the next morning with a pounding headache which I rarely get and have had none of those while on the blower. Also had a terrible sore throat that luckily eased up on it's own during the day. Another ironic thing is I haven't recalled dreaming ever since this night without the xPAP to data. Not sure what is up with that.

Could it be that you were having events/arousals without your cpap and while semi-awake a good part of the night you could recall your dreams?

DoriC wrote:

lazer wrote:In the 3+ months I've been using APAP. I had to skip one night about two weeks ago to undergo a home sleep study test. Woke up the next morning with a pounding headache which I rarely get and have had none of those while on the blower. Also had a terrible sore throat that luckily eased up on it's own during the day. Another ironic thing is I haven't recalled dreaming ever since this night without the xPAP to data. Not sure what is up with that.

Could it be that you were having events/arousals without your cpap and while semi-awake a good part of the night you could recall your dreams?

I think you are correct on the first part. Regarding the dreams, I misstated that a bit. My dreaming came back very consistent for me once I began on the APAP 3+ months ago, in fact this was the first thing I noticed. Including the night of the sleep study mentioned above and to present (even back on the blower), I am no longer having or at least recalling dreams for some odd reason.

Thanks Dori, I do believe you are spot on about likely having some sort of arousals and/or events that night of the study being that I wasn't on the APAP for it. The waking up to a bad headache and sore throat can't just be a coincidence either. That was definitely physical pain that I had not experienced all the time while on APAP each and every night prior.

Helmer wrote:I've used a CPAP for 10 months. I've used it very faithfully. Last night I decided not to use it, that's right- not use it. What happened is what I've either read about heard talked about i.e., that stopping to use the CPAP may in some cases be okay because the person has learned to breath properly after using the CPAP.
I have noticed that while using it I often wake up groggy, with even a slight headache. This morning I felt human, alive, energized. Don't get me wrong the CPAP has been a big plus toward sleeping better.
My question- have any of you experienced a very refreshing night of rest by not using the CPAP after weeks, months, years of using one. Is there any truth to the fact that a person can learn to breath correctly by using a CPAP and then he/she can stop using it?

Hi Helmer!

I know one and have heard of others who have lost weight and no longer apparently needed CPAP. I have also read here, if memory serves, one man who went in for a tritration and was told he no longer needed the CPAP.

What you say seems very probable to me.

We currently have no real data on how it goes night to night. No in home long term sleep studies with our without CPAP exist.

I believe that the 25% false negative OSA test rates seen in accredited sleep study centers reflect how variable our nights are.

So CPAP has made you healthy. I think that is great!!!! So now, treat your body like precious gold - it is worth more I know - but we tend to treat ourselves badly so I am simply hoping for improvement. And, be watchful. If OSA reared it's ugly head once, you may likely see it again.

This appears now near the end of summer. I do believe there are changes in OSA that would track with seasons, I do indeed. Simply, be watchful.

And do have a lot of fun!

Todzo