still very tired

[spittree]

hi all i have been on cpap since last september.the first 2 weeks on manuel machine was great with a nose mask.(apart from pressing on my gums and hurting)i got moved 2 an auto machine wen i started the pressure was 13 it is now on 9 i guess this is a gd thing right?i machine is a remstar auto a flex m series and i also use a fisher and pykel full face mask which i enjoy 90%off the time.my main problem is my dry mouth in the morning.plus wen i wake i still feel like shi.......i felt better wen i sed manuel machine.i was told by sleep technician the doctor could prescribe a drug that makes u feel more awake in daytime.any1 no wat it is???and does it work?also is there another type of machine i could try as i honestly do not belive it is working 4 me.as i say i have been on treatment since september.wat i have noticed latley is i get out of breath very easy.i dont drink or smoke.also can any 1 explain wat the following figures on my machine mean

7=4.42hours
30=4.42hours
90%7=9.5cmh2
90%30=9.5cmh2

i have sleep doctor on wensday any 1 no of any questions i can ask him based on those figures?also i tryed 2 post an article b4.knowing my luck it will go through twice mmmmm.....ive come this far im not going 2 let osa beat me

[James @ Intus]

For the dry mouth, get a humidifier. It's preferable with a full face mask anyway. May sort you out right away.

The numbers you quote mean you average 4.42 hours a night and 9.5cm pressure.

Drugs to make you feel awake sound to me like tricking your body to feel more awake. I'd prefer looking into why. Could by thyroid problem, poor diet, lack of exercise etc.

If you felt better on the fixed pressure machine, as a small number of people do, ask to be put back on it. Your APAP pressure hardly seems to fluctuate so you may as well sit at 9.5 cm fixed.

[ashvaj]

I suggest you to read this interesting news story about how banana can help treating obstructive sleep apnea as it keeps your mouth enriched with phospholipids for at least six hours ..

[James @ Intus]

Makes me wonder though, given sites like this:

http://www.karinya.com/bananas.htm

On one hand banana's contain lots of sugar so may impede a restful state but on the other hand, the tryptophan gets converted into serotonin which makes you relax.

Would there be any way to get the benefits without the sugar rush? Dried banana perhaps?

[Fruit Bat]

Hi,

I'm new to the Forum, hence the 'late' reply to the original query. The drug that you were asking about is Modafinil. It is licensed for use in sleep apnoea and can be taken as and when needed.

I have been on CPAP for just under a year and with limited benefit to wakefulness (but great results re hypotension and a reduction of apnoeas from 60 events per hour to virtually nil).

My consultant reckons that the limited improvement in daytime sleepiness is because I have (we think) had undiagnosed OSA for (possibly) 20 years.

The Modafinil helps but seems to take quite a few hours to kick in (in my case). So I am sleepy earlier in the day and come awake later on.

If you do have Modafinil prescribed, your GP will need to monitor your blood pressure, certainly at the beginning as the drug can impact BP positively or negatively.

[DebbieT]

I have also started taking modafinal, after nearly a year on cpap alone trying different masks pressures etc my readings were better but i was still feeling tired during the day. SInce starting the drug along with cpap i am finally feeling so much better and am more awake than i have ever been,. BUT I do need to use the two together one without the other doesnt work. Interestingly I have also had the tiredness for about 20 years too.

Debbie