New and Way Too Tired

I have been using a CPAP machine for one week. Actually, it's an auto CPAP with C-Flex and heated humidifyer. I got tired of trying to get straight answers from the DME so I used the advice of this group to pick the machine and, thanks to Rested Gal's advice, I switched my mask selection and got two good masks. Also, I realize that anything like this takes a period of adjustment. The first night I used it for 3 hours. Since then, except for last night when I didn't use it at all, I have used it all night.

My problem, and the reason I didn't use it last night, is that I'm more tired than ever in the morning. Dead tired. I used to be tired from too little sleep or low quality sleep, but I could get moving in the morning. Now I feel very tired when I get up. I'm tired during the day but I do think I'm more productive. I have a high pressure job. Some days in the past I could be so tired I couldn't function well. With CPAP I feel at least as tired but I feel I am more mentally alert. Seems odd to me.

Unfortunately, as I'm sure many of you have done, I was praying that the CPAP would miraculously cure my sleeping problem. I know this isn't realistic but simply a hope. I'm very willing to stick with it and get through the initiation process, but I'm surprised at what I'm experiencing. I skipped last night because I didn't want to go to work today feeling so tired.

Has anyone else had this experience. Instead of feeling much more refreshed with CPAP in the beginning they felt as tired as ever. I don't know if this is normal or if it represents some type of problem.

A few facts:
My sleep study indicated 35 events per hour and 44 during rem sleep. I was diagnosed as a 9 pressure setting.
I've used the CPAP setting with and without CFlex and the auto CPAP setting with and without CFlex. I find CFlex more comfortable but don't see a major difference between them.
On auto the pressure does hover around the 9 setting where I was diagnosed (I have the software the MyEncore so I can see the details).

I would appreciate any advice someone could provide regarding how tired I'm feeling with CPAP.

Thanks, Don

Don,

I would love to tell you that you are the exception but actually you are more the norm. You have a good set up and things will improve but it doesn't happen over night. There is always an adjustment period where you have to get used to sleeping with the equipment. While you are not waking up due to Apnea events you still may not be getting deep sleep because the mask and new environment is still keeping you slightly awake.

There is a thing called sleep debt that is also coming into play. You spent years accomodating to not sleeping well during the night. It takes some time to catch up with that. Now that your body is getting more oxygen it will start re-discovering how to sleep. Part of the reason you are so tired in the morning is your body wants more of that good sleep.

After a while you may find another problem some of us deal with which is where you sleep for a few hours and find yourself wide awake for no reason. This again is the result of accomodating our disorder. Prior to CPAP we may have been semi-unconsious for many hours but maybe only got 4 hours of rest for every eight we sleep. So when we get good rest after 4 hours our bodies say well thats as much as you ever got and the eyes pop open.

You are on the right path and sounds like you are seeing some results. Expect more and more, just keep at it.

Don,

DITTO on what Mike said. In additon to that, my question is "What do your software reports say in regard to your AHI, etc.?" What pressure (range) is your machine set for? If that pressure isn't knocking down your apneas and hypopneas, perhaps you need to bump up the bottom number a bit. It definitely takes some time to get settled in to using these things.....BUT, you have to use them. If you've got a long weekend coming up, like most of us, get LOTS of sleep with that thing and see if that helps. It can take months for the "sleep debt" to get paid back. I was still seeing some more improvement in some areas of my health after almost a year. My daytime sleepyness went away very soon after I started, but the other things take more time. Pace yourself and try to have patience.
Monitor your software.....it works!

Best wishes,

Den

This is very interesting! I am also experiencing these symptoms.

I have been on Apap for two weeks now and am experiencing some of the same symptoms. The first week and a half I was very tired and found it hard to awaken in the morning. After that I reached a point where I would awaken after four hours feeling like I was done sleeping. I seem to be able to sleep a little longer each night now and am up to 6 hours. I have gotten past the feeling tired in the morning, and that is good news.

Let's look forward to getting past these adjustment periods. Thanks for support all.

Mark