It's all going down hill

Hello guys,

I stumbled onto this forum about five months ago and has found it to be very encouraging. I am hoping someone can give me some feed back for this problem I am having.

Here is the problem: I have been using CPAP for two weeks now. The pressure is set at 7. That's what my doctor prescribed. The thing is I seem to have gotten worse since I have been on the CPAP. I am experiencing more tiredness and more sleepiness. I went to lunch with my daughter last week, and I was so sleepy I thought my face was going to fall over into my plate. For two days I felt like I was walking in a fog of drowsiness that was pulling me under. For an entire day afterwards, I slept the whole day away just to feel like I had gotten enough sleep.

On the job, my body aches with tiredness, even though my work load is the same. I don't seem to be able to focus well on things and have very little motivation to get things done. My doctor prescribed 20mg of Celexa (antidepressant) for depression several months ago. It's been helping, but since I've been on CPAP, I sometimes feel depress.

All of this has been very discouraging. I feel like giving up the CPAP way of life and going back to the way things were. I was miserable then but I am more miserable now.

Has anyone of you guys experienced feeling worse with CPAP before feeling better?

Thanks for the input,
balba

Balba,

This is only my reaction to your post.

1) You have great gear to aid you
2) Feeling as bad as you do is really odd if a useful sleep study was done
3) Starting xPAP therapy does create tensions & stresses, usually for the better
3) I find it hard to believe that 7 CMS is adequate but I am guessing

Goodluck

DSM

For several weeks I felt worse after starting CPAP. I asked about it and was told that since I had been severely sleep deprived for years, my body was finally getting some deep sleep and I wanted more! Sure enough, after a while, that feeling went away.

My advise is to hang in there - if you still feel terrible after another week or so I would contact the dr.

My pressure is only 6 - but it has made a world of difference. I have been on CPAP for almost 10 months now.

It can be touch and go at first... My initial prescription was for 7cm but after a month or so got it adjusted to 9cm and that helped. Also had to bump it up when I went from a nose mask to one that covers my nose and mouth. Larger volume of the big mask meant less pressure so it had to be compensated for. Eventually I got my machine set to where it works with either the nose mask or the big one.

I'm one of the few (it seems) on this board who doesn't believe in APAP. Mostly because I don't mind the pressure when I strap on the mask and activate the machine every night. Talking to my Dr. I found that CPAP works most of the time- there are some nights where the sleep is different and it's not 100% effective but overall- most nights- it is very effective and it helps a great deal.

One thing you might want to discuss with your physician is supplementing your xPAP therapy with pharmaceuticals. My Dr. prescribed Provigil (anti-narcoleptic) for me because I was nodding off at boring meetings at work, etc. and after I started that med. I have had no problems feeling tired at all during the day anymore.

It's all a big adventure and eventually you find a comfortable place where it al balances out- just takes time.