Day 8 and I feel much worse

[MAD Scotsman]

Hi everyone.
I was diagnosed with having severe sleep apnea around 5 months ago and during tests had 47 apneas per hour.

I'm on day 8 of using a CPAP machine and I feel WAY worse than I've ever felt.

Before I got the machine, I'd wake up feeling like I could do with an extra hour's sleep but it wasn't anything bad. Later in the day I'd feel kinda sleepy and would often have a 20 minute nap. After having the nap I'd waken feeling refreshed and ready to go.

Now, after using the machine for 8 days... I waken in the morning with a really dry mouth, a really bad headache, a feeling like being hungover and feel like I hadn't slept at all. I'm tired the entire day and my 20 minute naps have turned into 2 hour naps - which I waken up from feeling terrible.

Despite all this, the readings from my machine show a HUGE improvement in my sleep with often only 2 or 3 minor apneas per night - compared to 47 per hour previously.
If this is so, then why do I feel so bad?
Honestly, the way I feel right now I was better off untreated. I can't function like this, I don't want to drive, I don't want to go to work, I don't want to interact with people. I just feel like sleeping the entire day.

What's happening to me?

[Tigers Fan]

Talk to those who may know

Hi MAD Scotsman

It sounds to me - not a Doctor - like you are making up for the sleep deprivation accumulated over many years. Your body says, "Ah! This is good sleep - give me more!" Eventually, after a while, you catch up and the symptoms you describe gradually disappear.

A lot of people think this is rubbish, a lot of people think it is how we work.

Whatever, I believe you need to get back to the sleep clinic and discuss your problems with them. If nothing else, they have more resources available to them than this forum.

Tigers Fan

[leswaller]

Tigers Fan is right, it sounds as if you need to go back to the sleep clinic and have your settings tweaked
Dry mouths and head aches can be part of the normal settling in problems and can be sorted but I think you need to talk to them first

[MAD Scotsman]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I'd actually been to the sleep clinic on day 7 to let them get the readings from my machine. Wasn't a doctor that saw me and I'm not even sure if she was a nurse, lol. Just a young girl in normal everyday clothes who said the same as yourself Tigers Fan, that it was just the effects of my body not being used to so much quality sleep.
She was so confident she was right that she set my next appointment for 5 months time.

I must admit, this is day 10 now and the headaches have gone. I am still incredibly tired though but, I'm gonna give it another week or so before getting back in touch with the sleep clinic.

I'll keep a blog of how things improve (or not) via this thread

[Tigers Fan]

Hmmmmmm!

Hi MAD Scotsman

If you got a young girl instead of me, I'd say you did well! However, to send you away with headaches, etc for five months sounds to me like you might need another approach.

Personally, I'd call the hospital and find your Consultant's number (or his Secretary's) and ask for an appointment with him/her (Consultant). Whilst CPAP is a voyage of discovery, the NHS should provide guides along the way.

Tigers Fan

[leswaller]

Hi Madscotsman
Ok so the headaches have gone but you are still exhausted. Are you managing to keep the mask on all night? How long at a time are you sleeping without wakening or being disturbed, or having to turn over, or go for a pee?

[MAD Scotsman]

I had lots of problems with keeping the mask on for the first 3 nights.
Night 1 I felt suffocated by the mask and kept ripping it off in blind panic. Hardly slept a wink.
Night 2 I was so exhausted I slept right through with no problems.
Night 3 I woke in the morning to find the mask sitting neatly on my bedside cabinet, lol. No recollection of taking it off.

Now I can safely say the mask and me are best of friends. I wouldn't say it was comfortable but it's no longer an issue.
I sleep a solid 8 hours now. No visits to the loo compared to before when I'd often go 2 or 3 times an night.

[leswaller]

It sounds as if you have cracked it, keep us informed of your progress and if you have any problems tell us