Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours.

Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - Printable Version

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Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - susilosaja - 03-19-2017

Hey guys. Been using cpap for about 9 months. My AHI was 16 before cpap, and have been under 5 while using it. I still feel sleepy after all this time.

Here are some things I noticed. Before cpap, I usually woke up after 5-6 hours, but could easily sleep again for a total of 7-8 hours. But I feel sleepy, my brain is foggy and tired during the day. There was a time where reading even few sentences on a book is so hard. I have to paused a lot to take breaks when watching movie in my room. My mood sucks.

After using cpap, I notice I've been more motivated, my mood improved, and I can think better. But I still feel sleepy. My brain often still feel tired. I still woke up after 5-6 hours, but here's the thing : I couldn't sleep again if I kept the mask. Sometimes I could sleep again if I took off the mask.

Same thing in the afternoon. I often felt sleepy and tried to take a nap. But when I wore the mask, lot of the time I couldn't sleep. If I took off the mask though, lot of the time I could sleep. Basically it's much harder for me to sleep if I use cpap. But if I slept without cpap, I will usually feel crappy when I woke up.

I do Progressive Muscle Relaxation and read a book in the evening before bedtime, so generally I don't have problem getting to sleep at night. I also do not notice any major discomfort while wearing the mask. I also exercise and meditate everyday.

So what I would like to ask is, why I could only sleep for 6 hours if I wore the mask? Why is it hard for me to take nap when I wore the mask? Is it possible there's slight discomfort from the machine? I'm thinking of changing mask type, will it helps? Any other advice?

A doctor said that maybe 6 hours sleep is enough for me. I told her I still feel sleepy. So she gave me 5-htp to increase melatonin production. It didn't help.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - PoolQ - 03-20-2017

It sounds like there is something that is making you uncomfortable using CPAP. The therapy is working and treating your apnea. Look at your starting pressure, some find 6 just a little too low. I actually need 6.5 to feel like I get enough air. I am that sensitive.

CPAP usually makes me feel a little congested and I am constantly adjusting the humidity, sometimes to the point of turning it off and just using passive humidity or none at all. I use those nose strips every night to help keep my airway open. Sometimes I also use aroma therapy to help keep my airway open.

It is always difficult to find things like this as I am not quite awake nor quite asleep. For me personally I had to change to the VPAP machine as there are more settings that I could adjust and now most nights I get 8+ hours of nice sleep. Good luck and keep trying

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - OpalRose - 03-20-2017

Can you post a screenshot from #SleepyHead?

Even though you say your AHI is under 5, which is technically treated, it could be better.
Your pressure may need adjusted.

See the tutorials in my signature line, and post here.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - Rcgop - 03-20-2017

I have been on CPAP for a year and just in the last few weeks I feel I have gotten THERE. THERE meaning good sleep, numbers, feeling good.
Don't chase numbers, chase comfort and sleep. I too had a long tim adjusting and many frustrating nights. Progress was slow but steady AND noticeable.

Best advice I can give is make comfort a priority and have patience.
Boy, my spelling and grammar are horrible.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - susilosaja - 03-20-2017

Thanks guys. Can't notice feeling of discomfort so far beside the nasal pillow pressing a bit on my upper lip, but I'll try to pay more attention.

@OpalRose, how many days of screenshot do you need? Below I'm posting the last 3 days.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - AshSF - 03-20-2017

Your higher proportion of CA index in AHI may be due to excess co2 washout due to high EPR. I would first cut EPR from 3 to 2. Evaluate the difference over at least one week.

This should help reduce your CA index. If it works, you may want to set it to 1 and re-evaluate for a week.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - susilosaja - 03-20-2017

(03-20-2017, 10:24 AM)AshSF Wrote: Your higher proportion of CA index in AHI may be due to excess co2 washout due to high EPR. I would first cut EPR from 3 to 2. Evaluate the difference over at least one week.

This should help reduce your CA index. If it works, you may want to set it to 1 and re-evaluate for a week.

Thanks. Going to give this a try.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - susilosaja - 03-20-2017

(03-20-2017, 10:24 AM)AshSF Wrote: Your higher proportion of CA index in AHI may be due to excess co2 washout due to high EPR. I would first cut EPR from 3 to 2. Evaluate the difference over at least one week.

This should help reduce your CA index. If it works, you may want to set it to 1 and re-evaluate for a week.

I tried EPR 2 for a few minutes and I seem to felt less comfortable. Felt a bit hard when exhaling. Should i keep going? Will i get use to it?

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - Marillion - 03-20-2017

My experience has been that it becomes easier to get used to a lower EPR setting if you stick with it for a bit. Going from 3 to 2 is not too big of a jump but I did notice it if I really focused on it when I first changed it. Try not to focus on it and I think you will acclimatize to it fairly quickly.

RE: Still sleepy after 9 months. Could only sleep for 6 hours. - OpalRose - 03-20-2017

(03-20-2017, 11:04 AM)susilosaja Wrote:
(03-20-2017, 10:24 AM)AshSF Wrote: Your higher proportion of CA index in AHI may be due to excess co2 washout due to high EPR. I would first cut EPR from 3 to 2. Evaluate the difference over at least one week.

This should help reduce your CA index. If it works, you may want to set it to 1 and re-evaluate for a week.

Thanks. Going to give this a try.

Just for the record, I agree with AshSF concerning EPR.

Turning it down may help with the CA's, and in turn help with the daytime sleepiness.

It's not just total AHI number that matters, but the breakdown of AHI, which is why we need to see data.

Good luck, and hope that makes a difference. And as Ash said, give it at least a week. Smile