Exhausted still ???

[Topgal]

I was diagnosed in July with sleep apnea and given a cpap machine. I am on it 9 weeks. I also have an underactive thyroid, iron deficiency and asthma. Initially i did feel some benefits from the cpap whereby i didnt have to nap during the day and felt i had a bit more energy to do things. My moods also improved as i wasn't as tired. I am averaging approx 5-7 hours per night with the cpap however now i am waking up absolutely shattered. Some nights it takes me hours to go to sleep. My energy levels are totally zapped and it is an effort for me to do anything. On Saturday morning i woke at 9.40, got out of bed at 11am and did very little. By 2pm I was ready to go back to bed i felt so tired. However I held out until 6pm and then went for a nap for an hour (recharge my battery). I feel so tired that every morning i wake, sit on the bed and ask what the hell is wrong with me. I am 40 years old, surely my life can't be like this forever. My partners description of me at 9pm Friday night was " It was like speaking to a 90 year old woman in hospital with slurred speech and who was ready to kick the bucket" Is anyone else feeling the same way or is it just me ???

[Berneta]

Just Plain Sick

Hi Topgal.
I am so sorry that you are not doing well--but if you have Sleep Apnea, thyroid, iron, and asthma problems all at the same time, I am not surprised that you feel bad. Maybe you need to see your Dr for the problems other than the Sleep Apnea. A CPAP won't make you feel great-- if you have other illnesses that need attention. I suggest that you stay on the CPAP-- and go to the DR and tell him what you have been going through. I am sure you are not the only one who has health problems that complicate the Sleep Apnea. Try to deal with one thing at a time. IF I were you--I would stay on the CPAP and make sure that it is not where it might be intaking air that involves fumes such as perfumes, soap, powder, cleaners, ashtrays, etc--all of which could make your asthma worse. You might want to try cleaning your CPAP and mask with plain purified water for awhile. It sounds like you need some tests to see how the iron and thyroid are doing now too. You have my sympathy and best wishes that you find out what is wrong, and feel much better soon. Berneta

[Topgal]

Exhausted

Hi Berneta, i have had my iron and thyroid checked a couple of months ago and am on tablets for both. I am also on an inhaler for the asthma and currently have it under control. I also clean my cpap equipment in purified water regularly. Although shocked at the beginning that i had sleep apnea I have got used to the idea and every night without fail use the cpap machine. I really expected to feel so much better than i do now after using the cpap but i don't. I have contacted my doctor today and she is going to do repeat bloods in two weeks time (but reckons my levels etc are fine). I am physically and mentally so so tired all the time.

[Tigers Fan]

Just a thought

Hi Topgal

As there is not so much sunshine about these days, could be you are getting SAD symptoms even though it is a bit early.

Have you tried some gentle exercise? I'm always amazed at how a walk lifts my spirits and energy levels - especially on days I really do not feel like going outside the house.

TF

[Berneta]

Good Thought TF

Hi Topgal, I had not even given a thought to the way SAD can make people feel. Its still sunny but chilly here in the midwest US. I am waking up more at night and feel a little more tired in the day now--because the Hickory Nuts fall on my bedroom roof at night and roll off making a racket. If you decide to go for a walk--make it a short one to begin with so you don't overdo it. It would be nice to have a friend to walk with. If you don't feel able to walk---then try sitting outside for 30 minutes a day. Failing that--try turning more lights on inside the house to increase the brightness. A dark dreary house can make you feel bad too. I will be glad to hear how your new blood tests turn out. If your find out that its not one of your underlying conditions--then you can tackle the problem with the CPAP. Maybe try a new kind, or different pressure. Just remember that most people don't get that surge of energy and feel great right off the bat. So keep trying with the CPAP. It takes time for the body to recover from years of poor sleep. While you are going for blood tests--you might ask your Dr to do an A1c Blood Sugar test on you. The A1c test will show what your Blood Sugar Levels have been for the last 3 months. IF it is out of the normal range--too high or too low--that too can make you feel just awful. And no amount of CPAP will make that feel better. You have to address each problem you have separately--then hope the CPAP does its job. Sleep Apnea is no fun and there are many things that can affect how it works for you. Good Luck, Berneta

[Topgal]

New Machine

Hi all, thanks for your replies. Problem solved......... Last Wednesday and Thursday night i didn't get much sleep and discovered the cpap was going on and off and then rebooting and starting again. I contacted the rep from RESMED on Friday morning and had a chat about how tired i still was and explained about the machine. She said she would call to my home that evening and have a chat with me and see exactly what was happening with the machine. It turns out my cpap machine was faulty and therefore not working correctly and she reckons i was still have apneas and reckons this is why i have been feeling so tired. She replaced my machine and gave me a brand new one and guess what I was able to go out and about at the weekend, i didn't nap or feel totally exhausted. So i have been using a dodgy machine for 9 weeks, hopefully i will feel the benefits of the new one in the future........ positive thinking

[shuckie]

Hi Topgal!

One the one hand I imagine it was frustrating to discover that your machine was faulty, but at the same time I'm glad you stuck with the treatment long enough to discover what the problem was so it could be resolved.

Here's hoping you have many more nights of good sleep with your new machine!


Kind regards

shuckie