Hello everyone,
I'm a long time sleep apnea sufferer, but new to this forum

I confess I am at a loss. I have sleep apnea. I have a cpap. I use it.

But i never really get full benefit of a night's sleep. Sleep well one night...lousy the other.
I can wake up a feel like I am well rested, but 'crash' ie exhausted i the middle of the day.

I am going through more tests, and I have just finished a sleep study which did not yield much info.

I would like to lead a normal productive life...having a job is just a dream right now.

If your treatment just wasn't working properlly, and you or your doctor figured out what was wrong, I would love to hear from you.
If your sleep apnea mystery has been solved, please post what the problem was and how you solved it.

thanks,
psb

Do you have a Full Data Capable Machine? If so, try posting your AHI, Pressure, and Leakage.

If not, see if you can get a Full Data Capable Machine, so that you can know whether your CPAP use is lowering your AHI.

AHI = the Total Apnea + Hyponea Events per hour. The lower the AHI ( < 5 ), the better.


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

Nasal mask or full face mask?  
I'm betting a nasal mask and you're leaking air out your mouth at night......which means you're therapy is virtually non-existent.

Seal the leak and you'll probably start feeling better.

Hi PSB!

Or even better, what did your sleep study show?  What was your AHI during your study?  Is your current pressure OK?  Did you have limb movements that might be disrupting your sleep?  Did you use your usual mask?  Was your sleep study reviewed by a doctor accredited in sleep disorders so that if you have other sleep related issues, they could hopefully catch them.  Have you reviewed your study yet with your doc?

You could be tired from some other issue, have you had a thorough physical?  It sounds like that is what you are doing now.  Do you have any new stressor or has something in your life changed?  Sometimes, however, healthy people do have residual sleepiness even with CPAP use and in those rare cases, Provigil is usually prescribed.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

In the bar near the top of the page are some links, one of them being Profile. Click on that link and scroll down to where you can add the brand and model of CPAP you are using as well as whether you are using a humidifier and what mask you are using as your Signature. That will save you having to type that info in every time you ask a question or need help.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

depression is a possible cause of fatigue and sadly a CPAP can do nothing for it


_________________
respironics comfort gell mask,resmed S6 lightweight CPAP, pressure 10 no humidifier
NO DOCTOR EVER ASKED ME IF I SNORED

I get the impression that people in here record their own AHI at home? What do you have Smart Card Readers?
Or do you have a more advanced CPap machine then i do?

(My CPAP : Respirionics RemStar Pro C-flex, with a comfort gel Nasal Mask.

Thanks for your post, please let me know about how you track your AHI?
thanks
psb

sleepIsHell wrote:

Do you have a Full Data Capable Machine? If so, try posting your AHI, Pressure, and Leakage.

If not, see if you can get a Full Data Capable Machine, so that you can know whether your CPAP use is lowering your AHI.

AHI = the Total Apnea + Hyponea Events per hour. The lower the AHI ( < 5 ), the better.

_________________
Male: 43 250 lbs (down from 275!)
Sleep apnea since early 30s
CPAP: Respironics RemStar Pro C-Flex
Mask: Respironics Comfort Gel
Humidifier: not in use.
Medication: Recently prescribed Ropinirole for newly found leg movements

My most recent sleep study showed a some leg movement while asleep. I am now taking Ropinirole for it...have yet to find a 'right' dosage. It's hard to find a right dosage when this problem only occurs while i am asleep :)

My pressure is curren and up-to-date.  My sleep study was reviewed by a big cheese expert in the field. He has more letters after his name than I can count.
As for new stressors, my problem is not new. I have been struggling with sleep apnea for years. I do get some relief from Sleep Apnea, but it is limited.

Thanks for your reply.I have learned that other people on here seem to be tracking their own AHI and what not...any info you have on that would be helpful.

psb

Vicki wrote:

Hi PSB!

Or even better, what did your sleep study show?  What was your AHI during your study?  Is your current pressure OK?  Did you have limb movements that might be disrupting your sleep?  Did you use your usual mask?  Was your sleep study reviewed by a doctor accredited in sleep disorders so that if you have other sleep related issues, they could hopefully catch them.  Have you reviewed your study yet with your doc?

You could be tired from some other issue, have you had a thorough physical?  It sounds like that is what you are doing now.  Do you have any new stressor or has something in your life changed?  Sometimes, however, healthy people do have residual sleepiness even with CPAP use and in those rare cases, Provigil is usually prescribed.

Vicki

_________________
Male: 43 250 lbs (down from 275!)
Sleep apnea since early 30s
CPAP: Respironics RemStar Pro C-Flex
Mask: Respironics Comfort Gel
Humidifier: not in use.
Medication: Recently prescribed Ropinirole for newly found leg movements

The Respironics Pro w/C-Flex is data capable but I have Resmeds so can't tell you how to access that data. The Resmeds have an advanced or detailed patient menu that the doctor can script access to. In that menu you can access your data but not accidentally or intentionally alter your therapy settings. Is your Pro the M Series Pro or the earlier "classic"? If it is the M Series it was say so. If I remember correctly the M Series integrated humidifier is on the side of the Pro and the pre-M Series Pro's integrated humidifier is on the front of the Pro.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

psb wrote:

I get the impression that people in here record their own AHI at home? What do you have Smart Card Readers?
Or do you have a more advanced CPap machine then i do?

(My CPAP : Respirionics RemStar Pro C-flex, with a comfort gel Nasal Mask.

Thanks for your post, please let me know about how you track your AHI?
thanks
psb

sleepIsHell wrote:

Do you have a Full Data Capable Machine? If so, try posting your AHI, Pressure, and Leakage.

If not, see if you can get a Full Data Capable Machine, so that you can know whether your CPAP use is lowering your AHI.

AHI = the Total Apnea + Hyponea Events per hour. The lower the AHI ( < 5 ), the better.

I have an M series with A Flex, so Not sure if we have the same machine. But you should read the Provider Card that came wiht your machine. It gives instruction on how to Reset the Machine to set the Pressure, and also displays all the Screen Menu Options. One of the options should be, "Show AHI" or something like that. Maybe it is currently set to OFF. You should set it to ON.

But this on-screen only provides limited Info. What you really need to get is a Smart Card Reader + the Viewer Software. With this, you can download the data on your smart card onto your PC, and it will show you the complete Information including # of Apneas, # of Hyponeas, total AHI, Leaks, Vibratory Snores.

What I do daily is view this information on my PC, and see how my Therapy is going. So far, my AHI has been pretty low, < 3. So Although I might feel "tired", I know that at least, my AHI is low, and therefore, the stress and harm done to my body by Sleep Apnea is Low.

So you can't really go by how you "feel". You need to look at your AHIs and your Leakage to determine whether CPAP therapy is helping you or not.

SO once again, I recommend you get the USB SmartCard Reader, and the Viewer Software. Good luck!


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

psb wrote:

My pressure is curren and up-to-date.  My sleep study was reviewed by a big cheese expert in the field. He has more letters after his name than I can count.

There are great docs who make important contributions to the field of sleep medicine within their own narrow specialty, but can be clueless about advancements in other areas. Complex sleep apnea was first described in 2005. Some big cheeses diagnose and treat it, and some don't. So it's still worthwhile to get a copy of your full sleep study report, as already suggested, and review your diagnosis and treatment.

So what  was the date of your most recent titration study?
Was it before or after the 25-lbs weight loss? That can make a difference in the optimal pressure needed to treat your condition.