bipap causing anxiety

I have never had a problem with depression or anxiety until 2 weeks ago. Had a sleep study done, confirmed what I already knew, yes I have sleep apnea. Since the first night using it I have had terrible anxiety and depression. Not from the mask, I could care less about that, it doesn't bother me. Its during the day, all day long everyday. Went to the ER and all the did was give me some Valium and send me home. My sleep dr just said eat health and keep going. Any bode else experience this? I know I need to use the bipap, and want to. But not if I am going to feel like this. This has by far been the worst 2 weeks of my life. And btw, I have felt no difference in better sleep, or feel more rested, nothing positive at all. Thanks for any advice you'll have.

Tx625 wrote:I have never had a problem with depression or anxiety until 2 weeks ago. Had a sleep study done, confirmed what I already knew, yes I have sleep apnea. Since the first night using it I have had terrible anxiety and depression. Not from the mask, I could care less about that, it doesn't bother me. Its during the day, all day long everyday. Went to the ER and all the did was give me some Valium and send me home. My sleep dr just said eat health and keep going. Any bode else experience this? I know I need to use the bipap, and want to. But not if I am going to feel like this. This has by far been the worst 2 weeks of my life. And btw, I have felt no difference in better sleep, or feel more rested, nothing positive at all. Thanks for any advice you'll have.

Hi Tx625,

Welcome to the forum although I hate the situational circumstances.

You might want to start by using the link in my signature to fill out your equipment profile. Hopefully, you have a data capable machine that will enable you to access data to see if your treatment is optimal as if it isn't, that can definitely cause depression and or anxiety.

Also, you might want to check out the sticky at the top of this forum in dealing with change because being diagnosed with something like apnea can be overwhelming and cause anxiety and depression. This mas alot helpful tips that might help you cope.

Newbie adjustment experiences are quite common and you have come to the right place for advice in getting on track.

Hang in there.

49er

Not sure where to enter equipment info but here it is. ComfortGel Blue Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear - Medium, PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine, PR System One 60 Series Heated Tube Humidifier with Heated Tube. What other info is needed?

Pressure settings are, 10.0 cm - 16.0 cm!

If you register as a member, then go to the User Ctl Panel under the logo on the left, then go to Profile and (using text rather than icons please) fill out the full name and model # of your machine, mask and anything else (pressures?) you think would help us here, they'll appear automatically whenever you post, under your notes.

Thanks, did it, not sure what software though.

Tx625 wrote:Thanks, did it, not sure what software though.

Since your machine works with Sleepyhead, which is free, you might want to go to this link to download it.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/

And when you have some extra time, there is a sleepyhead tutorial by one of our forum members, Pugsy, at the top of the page for you to review. Feel free to ask any questions.

As far as posting images of your data, hopefully, someone else will chime in on that issue. That isn't my area of expertise.

By the way, do you use the ramp feature?

49er

Looks like you're getting some good direction on making sure your treatment is optimized. That's always key. I wasted a few months early on with treatment that was not effective. While you are sorting through that I'll just throw out a bit to think about...

At 2 weeks in your brain may not have yet accepted all the new sensations as normal and safe and may be in a state of alert, contributing to poor sleep. If that's the case, time should help. Your receptive attitude to the mask is something you've got going for you. If there's more going on, giving details could help you get targeted replies. For instance, do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you sleep in short bursts but it feels deep, or is it seemingly always shallow sleep? If you could just give us a specific description of your sleep. Some meds affect sleep, and other sleep disorders can as well. For instance, even once my sleep apnea was effectively treated, I still couldn't sleep well due to having a limb movement disorder during sleep. It can be a process of elimination to pinpoint other contributors once the sleep apnea is addressed.

Some on here report feeling even more sleepy and lethargic after starting treatment. It's commonly thought be a response where once the body/brain realizes it can safely sleep it wants more of it trying to play catch-up. I'm not qualified to suggest what is or is not depression. Just mentioning this in case it's a factor with you.

If you are on any meds, once you begin sleeping better and you are dealing with a rested body/brain, you and your doctor may have to re-evaluate if the former dosage that worked in your sleep deprived state is still right for you.

Good luck going forward.

For what it is worth my sleep doctor said it can take the brain up to a month to trust that thing on your face and to let you sleep deeply. For years it has been waking you up to keep you alive and it isn't going to stand down from that just because you stick a thing up your nose.

You might want to do what we recommend for people who have trouble with their masks - spend a few hours watching tv or reading a good book or playing video games while wearing the system. This might teach your brain that that thing on your face is safe and nothing to get upset about.

I just started using an APAP on May 28th. It took me a few weeks to get the hang of it, but once I did, I began to feel so much better and much more rested. Have patience and faith in yourself that you are doing a good thing for yourself. Best wishes to you!

The mask itself does not bother me one bit, I actually look forward to using it in hopes all will get better. I have always had a hard time falling asleep, so nothing new there. I have been sleeping in short burst's, but sleeping deeply. I keep having to wake up and adjust my mask because my mouth opens up and falls out of the bottom of it. I was told today that if your air pressure is set to high it can cause anxiety. going to doc tomorrow, I sure hope he is some help, this sucks.

Anybody

If your mouth opening causes the mask to displace, then you are not getting therapy at that time. Waking to a sudden blast of air would make me wide awake. You may need to consider a chin strap or a better fitting mask. Do tell them this exact problem at the appointment. It may be that your treatment is ok, just your equipment giving you problems. In my opinion your first focus should first be resolving your mask issue with the mouth opening and verifying through data that your treatment is indeed therapeutic. Troubleshooting is best done methodically. Until these first two things are addressed you really can't get a clear picture of other possible issues.

Tx625 wrote:I have never had a problem with depression or anxiety until 2 weeks ago. Had a sleep study done, confirmed what I already knew, yes I have sleep apnea. Since the first night using it I have had terrible anxiety and depression. Not from the mask, I could care less about that, it doesn't bother me. Its during the day, all day long everyday. Went to the ER and all the did was give me some Valium and send me home. My sleep dr just said eat health and keep going. Any bode else experience this? I know I need to use the bipap, and want to. But not if I am going to feel like this. This has by far been the worst 2 weeks of my life. And btw, I have felt no difference in better sleep, or feel more rested, nothing positive at all. Thanks for any advice you'll have.

CPAP can clear some obstructions, that is good.

CPAP pressure adds “gain” to the respiratory control system and that can be bad[1]. It is kind of like some of your leg muscles just got a big mechanical boost. Or like springs are connected to them. You need to learn to walk again.

Your doctor knows that the longer you try CPAP the greater the chances are that your body will make the necessary new breathing reflexes that will enable good use of the machine.

I have found it quite useful to spend some quality time with the machine during the day. Time on the bed learning to breath quietly as I should be at rest and in bed (the machine makes it easy to over breath). While in the bed check mask fit as you move to all the regular positions as well as looking into hose management. Then time with mild distraction. A book, some music, light TV. I believe that the more your system has daytime practice using the machine the faster the new reflexes (chemoreflexes) will be made and make themselves useful.

This can also be related to arousal threshold. Well, I believe that is helped by exercise. I do not mean a little exercise. I mean to the point where you are honestly tired for the day. In my case I have been pursuing an active lifestyle for several years. I started with like 2000 steps a day and made about an over all average of 10,000 steps a day last summer (with plenty of 20,000/d mixed in). Winter I still make over 5000 steps a day but now supplement several hour of cycle time (knee maintenance as well as movement). I find that my breathing is much more stable, I sleep through the night better, and my circadian rhythm is more consistent doing a lot of exercise (I am a bit past active lifestyle at my current amount).

Stress from additional arousals will drive you toward sugar. Please watch sugar intake (less than 100g of added sugar per day). As well by eating fiber you reduce the tendency of sugar to warp your metabolism. You need good metabolism to keep your breathing stable.

I really do believe that all who are proscribed CPAP should also be given a dietitian and personal trainer to work with as well for three years. Talk with your doctor about this and regardless of his referral go get them. You need them.

You should probably have your D3 levels checked. Dr. Stasha Gominak has noted (find her and Holick's YouTubes) that many parts of the brain that deal with breathing are sensitive to D3 levels. Those who are working with the D3 hormone (A.K.A. Vitamin D3) (e.g. Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council) seem to be finding that the very low side of the “normal” range of 30-100 ng/L produces a range of symptoms including OSA, pain, and infection. All believe that a level lower than 50 ng/mL is not good and Dr. Stasha Gominak recommends 60-80 ng/mL for good health.

[1] http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1 ... pJVaUN385Z

There are FF masks that just fit under your chin a bit and might help you with that - e.g. look at the Forma, or possibly others here will know which ones are suitable.