Sleep Apnea

gettingready

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in August last year - after years of various doctors trying to fob me off with "you must be depressed", finally seen a sleep clinic specialist and sleep apnea was dignosed.

I have been using CPAP machine to sleep ever since then but I honestly do not feel any differentce at all.

I am still always tired, I do not sleep well, I keep on waking up, I have to have a nap in the afternoon and that can last up to 4 hours (!!) and when I wake up I still feel half dead.

The readings from CPAP mask card are fine, no air leaks etc so it "should" be working but it is not - not changing how tired I am pretty much 24/7.

And constant headaches and feeling dizzy on top of that.

All blood tests etc come back normal, had CT and MRI - all normal.

Any suggestions? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Anyone aware of any good support forums perhaps too?

Thanks a lot.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

gettingready wrote: »

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in August last year - after years of various doctors trying to fob me off with "you must be depressed", finally seen a sleep clinic specialist and sleep apnea was dignosed.

I have been using CPAP machine to sleep ever since then but I honestly do not feel any differentce at all.

I am still always tired, I do not sleep well, I keep on waking up, I have to have a nap in the afternoon and that can last up to 4 hours (!!) and when I wake up I still feel half dead.

The readings from CPAP mask card are fine, no air leaks etc so it "should" be working but it is not - not changing how tired I am pretty much 24/7.

And constant headaches and feeling dizzy on top of that.

All blood tests etc come back normal, had CT and MRI - all normal.

Any suggestions? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Anyone aware of any good support forums perhaps too?

Thanks a lot.

(I'm going to get a slap for this......)

You're already doing the weight loss.

Smoking? :whistle:

Rinsing the sinuses with salt water daily with a neti pot or saline spray (yes, I know it's errrrgggggghhhh, but it can help get any gunk related to sinusitis, tobacco, cat hair, pollen and the like out, along with just keeping everything a bit moister).

Is everything really dry when you wake up? You can get a humidifier to go with the machines, apparently. Especially useful when you're right next to a radiator as you sleep.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Oh, and are the little darlings climbing on your chest as you sleep? Or just fighting over who gets the best spot at stupid o'clock?

gettingready

You not gonna get a slap, you need to stay alive to cook that curry for me

Already got humidifier with the CPAP, mask and tube washed/rinsed every 2 days.

Cats/dog don't wake me up, having to pee does - had some scans done last week for that will see GP the coming week for results.

Rinsing already with sinus something thingy....

I just do not feel that CPAP is helping me at all, can not feel any difference since I started using it

gettingready

Smoking - when I am 70kg for 3 days running... or was it 65kg?

65kg I think...

THEN will try to stop smoking.

If I try to stop now, will eat the cats.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Have you checked the CPAP filter?

gettingready

Yup, got 2 and wash/change regularly....

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Have you been back to them? There's something called central sleep apnoea instead of obstructive, which might be treated differently.

Other than that, I've noticed a few people on myfitness with OSA/CSA. Maybe setting up a group there would help get useful input to take back to the sleep clinic?

gettingready

Thanks Jo - never seen that group on MFP - if you come across them again, would you pls PM me the link?

Toothsmith

Smoking binds carbon monoxide into your bood cells. This is the reason people die from carbon monoxide poisoning - the CO goes into the same space that the oxygen molecule should go in the haemoglobin, but it doesn't come out so it makes that bit of blood useless for carrying oxygen.

With smoking, it doen't put as much CO into your blood as a faulty boiler, but it does put some in. And each fag puts a bit more in.

If you have a condition which restricts the amount of oxygen getting into your blood in the first place - then smoking will make it much worse than it otherwise would be.

If it was a choice between losing weight and stopping smoking - then I would say that stopping smoking would be the most important one, and the one most likely to make you feel better more quickly.

Toothsmith

One other thing.

Dentists can make an appliance that holds your jaw forwards a bit at night which can help open the airway a bit more.

Some patients can find these rather uncomfortable though, so if you do enquire about one and decide to get one - be prepared to have a few uncomfortable nights getting used to it.

All in all though, it's no worse than some of the orthodontic appliances kids have to get used to if they're having their teeth straightened.