I started using a CPAP machine (my first time on a CPAP) that changes pressures and records data, two days ago.  After using this for five days it's supposed to determine what pressure to set the machine that will be prescribed for me.  This machine keeps me awake more than not using a CPAP at all.  Is this common?  Another sleep problem diagnosed during my stay at the Sleep Center, besides Sleep Apnea, is that I never reach sleep levels three or four.  Almost all of the little sleep I do get is REM sleep.  Could this be why this machine doesn't seem to help helping?

It takes awhile for things to all work good...SA causes people to not reach the proper sleep stages..this is most likely the reason you are not getting into 3 & 4.  There are other possible reasons too..but first, getting the right setting for the xPAP (yours being an APAP) and then being 100% compliant with the treatment, willingness to work out the quirks and do the needed tweaking need to be done.

Your APAP is probably set at the widest possible range of pressures..the changin of the pressure can cause you to keep waking up..and the wide range may not be able to treat all of your apneas....you may be having an event which requires a high pressure to clear..but if the machine base pressure is on say 4 it doesn't increase the pressure fast eonough to clear the event (my theory).

What is the pressure range set at on your machine?  What does your Data say the following day for AHI and Leaks?

Just to let ya know...SA didn't happen over night and the symptoms are not going to go away overnight for most..it may take several months.  You are in the very beginning of treatment..and really not being fully treated right now because you do not have a titrated pressure....kinda like you are in the ball park...are up to bat but not yet swinging...you have never played the opposing team and never been in that ball field..so the balls/errors/strikes/base hits & home runs  are still ahead of you.

Keep us posted and ask tons of questions...you will be at home plate before you know it.


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BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Thank you for the quick reply.  The starting setting on the machine is 5.  I was told it will adjust itself up from there.  I was not shown how to retrieve any data from this machine.  I have had trouble sleeping my whole life.  At six months of age the pediatrician my mother took me to prescribed phenobarbitol to put me to sleep at night because I rarely slept even then.  I functioned quite well on two to three hours of sleep until about five years ago (I'm 59).  Now I'm tired all of the time and my blood pressure has recently gone up.  I saw a segment on 60 Minutes about sleep deprivation in March.   I started the process then to try to get help but dealing with the red tape of an HMO is a slow process.  I should have my own machine sometime in October.  I will keep plugging away and hopefully this will work.