Sleep Apnea

[Guest]

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea about 1 year ago and started cpap treatment immediately and have been 100% compliant. I feel just as fatigued and sleepy as I did before starting treatment. I was first titrated to a pressure of 10, then with a followup study about 4 mo. ago upped to 15. I still don't feel any better. I sleep completely through the night 8-9 hours a day and wakeup unrefreshed. Any suggestions? My current doctor says there's nothing else he can do.

[Guest]

It is difficult to know without seeing your sleep studies myself. It is possible that the cpap is not optimal for you or that you are having frequent arousals during the cpap and making you not feel refreshed. Some patients do need medications to help them stay awake despite using cpap. if you haven't done this already you could consider seeing a sleep specialist.
[quote] I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea about 1 year ago and started cpap treatment immediately and have been 100% compliant. I feel just as fatigued and sleepy as I did before starting treatment... [/quote]

[Guest]

The doctor I'm seeing is a sleep specialist. I"m seeing him this week to get more info on my last study. Would the study show if I'm having arousals that are not apnea related, and if so, wouldn't the doctor bring that to my attention already? I'm just frustrated and tired, I also suffer from depression not sure if it's caused by the sleep problems or causing them.
[quote] It is difficult to know without seeing your sleep studies myself. It is possible that the cpap is not optimal for you or that you are having frequent arousals during the cpap and making you not feel refreshed... [/quote]

[Guest]

the study should show arousals if they are present and your doctor should be able to tell you if they were there. Depression can be from the sleep apnea or may need its own treatment before you will feel better.
[quote] The doctor I'm seeing is a sleep specialist. I"m seeing him this week to get more info on my last study... [/quote]

[c_conaway]

I am having the same issue. I had a split sleep study done last May (07) and was diagnosed with severe OSA. I had 43 (rounded up) events within the first hour during the study, and continued for the next 3 hours until I was placed on a Cpap, with no other events for the rest of the study. I went back to the sleep doctor the following Monday to pick up my Cpap and was put on a pressure of 8. After the two week waiting period for the doctor to get the results and review them, I was bumped up to 10. That still had no effect. I have been changing the pressure to see if that would help to the point where during sleep my mouth would be forced open by the air pressure. I went back to my sleep doctor after reading an article about excessive sleepiness, and received 200mg of Provigil. I wear a nose only mask and the foam insert is falling apart from cleaning and use. I wear my Cpap everynight and although I now sleep thru the night without snoring, but still have problems waking up and getting out of bed. I can sleep 8 hours and go to work and by midday I would start to doze off. I also use my Cpap when taking a nap, but still do not want to get up after an hour and a half. The Provigil has worked to a point for that, but there are times when it doesn't and they are becoming more frequent. My doctor told me that I could take another 200mg after noon, but also warned that Provigil is habit forming and I don't need or want that. I have asked my sleep doctor numerous times what else could be causing this, and I simply get a I have no idea. The Cpap has helped to an extent and so has the Provigil, but I still have the tired feeling.