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New milestone, but blood work is likely in order for the near future

162 posts
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singingkeys +0 points · over 4 years ago Original Poster Sleep Commentator

I've been on CPAP for about 3-4 months now. It took over 2 months for me to actually find the right mask, discover the "sweet spot" settings that I need to keep AHI down and yet also keep centrals from showing up (I don't have it, but it shows up when pressure goes too high). My leak rate was high when I first got the machine and I know that I puff air out of my mouth, so I started taping my mouth closed at night with two pieces of overlapped paper tape. Leak rate dropped a lot. However, as of this morning, my leak rate hit an impressive 0L/Min with a 0.5 AHI. Original AHI was 5.2 with an 18 RDI. Everything looks good in Oscar. I had 4 hypopneas for the whole night and even obstructive apneas didn't show up like they used to. Unless I find a mask with over-the-head hose that is a little more comfortable with gel nasal pillows in the future, my final mask choice is the Dreamwear with gel nasal pillows. I like the way it seals because the gel pillows have the center portion that sticks into the edge of the nose and yet they also have a larger rim around the outside portion and it gets a good seal.

I still wake up pretty tired in the mornings, then after 20-30 minutes, I'm awake and feel more energetic than before I was on the machine. However, I go to work and do my job (physical job in a warehouse) and I'm fine until I get off from work and take the bus home. On a 30-minute ride on a loud, noisy bus...I'll get a bunch of hypnogogic jerks when my head falls forward and I pop awake every minute or so. I do the same thing if I am leaning back. My body has "jumped" awake ever since I was a young kid single digits in age (37 now). Pretty embarrassing. I get incredibly sleepy right after work. Then the thing is...once I get home, I'm up until bedtime.

Starting to wonder if it is my thyroid or something I'm low on. Machine numbers are good, but energy levels are not good. My "sleep attacks" only come when I'm at home in my computer chair or on the bus. I don't just randomly fall down sleeping when standing up, for instance. None of the symptoms of Narcolepsy seem to fit me other than tiredness during the day. I just don't know why I don't feel better.

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Hannah179 +0 points · over 4 years ago

My brain fog has gone, however, I do still feel tired all the time and doze off a few times at my desk at work, and as soon as I watch TV

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