Thank you for your input. I do have a faulty aortic valve, but none of my doctors seem to be concerned about it. I just feel powerless to get anyone in the medical field to investigate my situation past the basics. I don’t know whether they just don’t know what to suggest, or they seriously think my results are okay. I have had fibromyalgia for 35 years, so I am used to being told there is nothing they can do. When I first got the CPAP Machine, I felt about 50% better right away, which was great, but now I can’t help thinking I could be doing much better. Maybe I need to request a referral to a heart specialist or a neurologist. I have also read comments about titration which sounds like it might be helpful.
Hi everyone, my original AHI was 98, I was prescribed a CPAP and have used it every night for a year. My AHI dropped immediately but has varied between 5 and 20 for no reason I can discern. My doctor and provider both seem to feel that given where I started, this is an acceptable result. I was told not to worry so much about the numbers. When I suggest lowering the pressure I am basically ignored. I am concerned not only because of the inconsistent (and high) AHI but also because the clear airway apneas (according to DreamMapper) range from 14 to 98. Am I crazy to think that this is too high? Are clear airway apnea’s the same as central apneas? A month ago I talked them into trying an auto bipap machine but if anything the numbers are worse. I would appreciate any input or opinions.
Thank you for this article Rebecca. I have been treated for sleep apnea for about a year now, with limited success, but I think I have had it for many years, and it is labeled “severe”. I also have fibromyalgia which also includes “brain fog”. I have been struggling for two weeks to complete my income tax, and it is not that complicated. I have done both mine and my husband’s yearly for about 50 years. The careless errors in math and the problems focussing when copying numbers have increased so much over the past several years that last year I allowed my husband to pay to have them done professionally. I know I need to do something to “retrain my brain”, and I have thought about several of your suggestions. l do jigsaw puzzles and play solitaire on the iPad, but I know that exercise is my biggest challenge. I plan to start walking soon...right now our road is covered in ice. I have even thought about taking up the guitar! I have also noticed a decline in my sense of direction...so frustrating! It’s so nice to know that I am not alone, and that there is something I can do that might help.
Hi Ruby, I am a brand new member here; as a matter of fact I joined so I could reply to your blog. You are so right about the extreme frustration caused by things that are objectively not that important. I sometimes have what I call a “meltdown” over events that I later realize are not worth getting worked up about. Quite often it has to do with the computer for me, but sometimes it is about trying to get help from my doctors and sleep apnea providers. It does help to know that I am not alone...thank you!
