Introduce Yourself!

Thank you, everybody! you have made me feel so much more hopeful. I have struggled over the past few years with depression and fatigue, and I think it mostly has to do with never really sleeping. I feel like I'm in a daze all of the time. I am trying the full face mask bc I'm a mouth breather, but ugh…I hate it. I'm trying to stick with it bc I would love to have a day where I wake up rested. When I first got married, I used to bother my husband bc I'd wake up so early and start buzzing around, asking what we were going to do that day! :) I definitely didn't have sleep apnea then! It's strange. It wasn't until I was pregnant with my second child that I started snoring. I lost pregnancy weight but snoring stuck. Originally, I thought I was tired from having babies, but now they're older, and I'm still delirious. Good to know things can get better. Thanks for taking the time to write to me.

depression & fatigue. I was not getting past stage one of sleep so I know how you feel. If your face is not fitting the mask correctly don't waste your time. try the pillars and a chin strap. I eventually learned to keep my mouth shut most of the time & if it drops i wake up & rest my hand under my chin without thinking about it. You really should be able to sleep on your back with a full face mask. I move from side to side and automatically adjust the pillars. When i read , I fall asleep until the pig farm wakes me up. I am 70 & greatful for the sleep I can get. I do take a light sleeping pill to get me to sleep now. ggod luck to yoy.

My son was diagnosed at age 14 but probably had severe apnea well before that time. I'd like to see a national push to educate practitioners about different screening techniques to utilize. Because of our persistence he was evaluated by an ENT physician who in turn listened closely to our son's medical and family history. Having moved 5 times since our son was born I can say that there is still not a consistent approach to how practitioners screen for apnea. Instead of prescribing medications for sleep or ADHD I hope that more practitioners will order sleep studies. I think we will find there is more of a genetic component to sleep apnea then we realize.

Good Morning! I'm a new cpap user. I just picked up my machine 06.11.15. I started with a pillow top mask and went back to my original nasal mask that was used on me during my sleep study. In all fairness, I haven't been using it for a full week yet, but I have to say that I'm more tired than before. I felt like I was having to work to breathe out with the pillow top at least when I would first lay down for the night. As time went on, it wasn't too bad, but still didn't seem right. Going back to the original nasal mask seems to work a bit better. I don't know........... it's just challenging to get used to. LOL

What is a pillow top mask? Good luck and happy CPAPing.

A pillow top is one that is smaller and fits just inside the nostrils. I wish I could put a picture here to show you. Just go to www.google.com and click on 'images' and type in pillow top cpap mask. I'm still using my original nose mask that I used in the sleep study. It just works better for me, but others swear by the pillow top one. I think it's just personal preference. :)

Gotcha, I am familier with that design. When i was using a cpap that is what I used.

Good luck.

How do I post a comment that doesn't have some other name on it? I'm a new member. I don't know whose name is attached to this.

Hi @HelpfulRedVioletEland8296

The names that you start with are randomly generated! You can update your forum name (what other people see you as), and add a profile picture, by going to https://myapnea.org/account#change-picture

Let me know if you have any other questions. Welcome to the community!

Hello I have been using CPAP successfully since 2004. It has made the world of difference in my life. I am more alert, sharper, and more productive since my diagnosis. I am very grateful to my primary care physician for being on the ball when I told him "I'm not this stupid", something is wrong with my brain. I was concerned that it was the beginning of something that would progressively get worse as I aged. Thankfully he asked the right questions, and had the suggestion of having a pulse oximetry test done. After those results showed a desaturation to 88% he suggested a polysomnography. Once I was diagnosed, I received my equipment fairly quickly, however my brain was quite fuzzy still and the explanations I received and the understanding that this was permanent for the rest of my life was a bit much to accept. It took 6 months for me to love my machine and equipment, and the difference in my life is substantial. I am grateful there is such a non invasive treatment that makes such a huge difference in my health.

@Pada Congratulations & best wishes on your continued treatment success! Persistence pays off~! Thanks for sharing!

Help! I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea about 10 years now. I have had 5 sleep studies, my pressure is now up to 19 and I still can take naps everyday for at least 2 hours or more. My job is suffering because of my memory loss and I don't know what else to do. My doctor that I just loved, retired, and now I am seeing someone new. They tell me that in some people they don't know why they don't feel better using a CPAP and they don't know how to help me!

Sleep2much

I have been on cpap for 5 years and still do not feel any better than I did before I started. In fact I really didn't feel bad when I started, but I feel bad now. I too can nap everyday after a "wonderful night's rest". My doctor tells me the same you are being told - "Don't know why you still feel bad, there are some like this". I go for my 4th sleep test in September and should be getting a New machine. Maybe that will help. All I can say is "Wear the mask and live"

Ken

Sleep2much,

I feel way worse when I use my cpap. Without it I am tired achy bad memory and attention etc. with it I I am all that plus extremely tired with a face broken out and a sore runny nose. Plus the cpap keeps my wife up worse than my snoring.

Have you tried a dental devise? They made me gag.

I empathize with you.

Hello, i was diagnosed about 4 years ago, and have tried just about every non surgical treatment i could find, and have settled into an oral appliance, but am still actively looking for a better solution. I am seriously considering surgery.

Hello @Sleep2much, @CompassionateByzantiumGiantPanda3490, and @I8chillywilly,

There are many reasons a person might still be tired after starting treatment. The best thing to do is to talk to your physician about exploring the problem in greater detail. Reassessing whether you are getting the right pressure, whether the mask fits correctly so that you receive the proper pressure or whether there are complicating conditions that might be making you tired are just some of the things to consider. Fatigue can be related to many health conditions besides sleep apnea, and it can be related to medications. It is true that there are some people who do not feel that "wow" effect after starting treatment, but feeling worse or not being able to tolerate therapy is definitely something to explore in greater detail.

@I8chillywilly--Have you tried other mask options made from different materials? There are gel masks, silicone masks, and even cloth masks. There are also barriers, or mask liners, that can help reduce contact between the mask and your skin to potentially help ease the break outs. As for a sore and runny nose, you might mention this to your physician and consider whether you need to adjust the humidity of your machine or be assessed for allergies/sinus issues that cause your nose to run. I have experienced similar issues, and a combination of humidity adjustment and treatment for allergies has worked well for me.

Best wishes in your continued treatment, and I hope each of you can find solutions to these problems!

DanM

Thanks for the suggestions. I was diagnosed about 15 years ago. I used the CPAP for about 13 years then stopped and tried it again for about 6 months to just stop again about 2 or 3 weeks ago. The best sleep I get and fell the best when I don't use anything.

It really gets my goat to think back on all the money I have spent and time spent on sleep studies, Dr visits, CPAPs, masks, humidifiers, parts....

I had been a great snorer for years. When my daughter was a teen about 15 years ago we had to share a bedroom. One night when I went to bed she had commented that she had to hurry and get to sleep before I did or she wouldn't be able to cause I snored so loud. So I informed my dr. and he scheduled me for a sleep study. At that time my diagnosis came back that I did not have it. So time marched on. Then about a year ago I again mentioned to my dr that I feel tired all of the time. So he scheduled me for another sleep study, but this time at another hospital. This time I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I had stopped breathing about 250 times over an 8 hour period and almost stopped breathing over 200 times. Great now I had a diagnosis, now what can I do? Well, the sleep center informed me about c pap. I tried that and I couldn't get in the 4 hours a night that I needed for medicare to purchase the machine for me. See, I am a sleep talker so everytime I went to talk I would knock off the mouthpiece. So I ended up trying every kind of mask that there is and couldn't do it. Then I tried bipap with the same results. My next step was to contact an ent physician. I went to that appointment with great hopes only to be shot down. Why? My sleep apnea was too severe and the surgery would help me. Well, here I am with nothing else offered to me in my area where I live and still extremely tired. Also with a mother that's 86 and doesn't understand what sleep apnea is. She thinks just because I went to bed at a certain time and wake up say 8 hours later I shouldn't be tired. I have tried to explain to her and she still doesn't get it. I just heard about this retainer thing that is suppose to help. Has anybody else heard of this? I am really considering buying one next month. I really need to try something. Also, what doesn't help my situation is as a complication of cancer and a bad dr's choice I had to have my leg amputated. In addition to be a sleep talker, I use to be a sleep walker. One time when I fell asleep on the couch I went to sleep walk, which isn't too good when you have a leg missing. I ended up smacking my nose on the floor and breaking it. The emt I saw told me that my septum is deviated but not enough to do anything about it. Seems like I can't even do that right. lol