embryopathy wrote:

.... I wonder if your fatigue could have a cause other than the low AHI?  
for example:  you said the 1st study was done 6 yrs ago but your meds started (or changed) 2 1/2 yr ago---could they be influencing your fatigue?

That's a smart concern, embryopathy.  And this can be why it's important to keep the doctor in the loop of treatment.  That's why the ASAA does not advocate patients making pressure changes without the knowledge and agreement of their physician.   I know the auto is a little different because it works within a range, and I know Hawthorne's at the mercy of some delayed healthcare.  

But it can be important to address overall health issues in addition to the effectiveness of cpap.  The source of the fatigue can be complicated.  It may or may not be related to the sleep apnea, or it can be influenced by something else, as you've suggested.  Medication may have an effect on fatigue.  It's important to be looking at your overall health.  Untreated sleep apnea can cause or worsen existing health problems, and use of cpap may or may not alleviate them right away.  

But it's great to be able to compare notes, to be aware of how we are doing as we begin cpap therapy, to make sure the cpap setup is working as it should.  It's good to be looking at how we improve.


Linda

Linda & embryopathy- Thank you for your comments.  My doctors are in the loop ( at least 2 of them are).   I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea almost 6 years ago.
When the fatigue began to worsen, in October of last year, I first spoke to my Rheumatologist who suggested I should pursue any changes that might have taken place in terms of my sleep apnea first.  I started the process but, unfortunately, the wait time is long.  I initiated this in October, saw the sleep specialist in March (first opening), had my sleep study in April (only because there was a cancellation - it had been set for June).  The followup appointment with the specialist is not until late August!  Meanwhile, I just live with the fatigue or try to do something.  It's the patients who have to suffer because of long wait times. I was fortunate that I had already been diagnosed with sleep apnea and was receiving some therapy anyway.  I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 19 years and been on drugs for it all that time.  I changed one drug 2 1/2 years ago.  That is the only change but it was more than a year and half before this fatigue issue developed. I have enough experience with arthritis drugs to be aware of the side effects and I have made it a point to be an active and informed participant in my own health care.  I asked the Rheumatologist about the possible connection even though it was quite a time after I began taking that new drug.  She felt it was not related.  I am aware that one of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the drugs one must take for it, is fatigue.  This is how I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in the first place (6 years ago).  I spoke to my Rheumatologist back then too, assuming it was RA related.  She asked if anyone in the house snored.  I did.  She asked if I stopped breathing.  I asked my husband and I did.  I had a long wait back then as well to get a sleep study and get treatment.  Only by going to my GP did I get the prescription and get into treatment quicker than if I had waited for the system.  
This time I wanted the sleep study (even though they are not fun especially for someone with RA) because I wanted to check out everything that might be going on with my sleep.
So, after a lot of research, I decided to go with a narrow pressure range on an auto around my already prescribed pressure and use the software and reader to monitor my sleep to be sure I wasn't getting it way out of whack.
I came to these forums, etc on the net to get help from people with experience in autos to stay on track until the medical profession can get to me.  My GP and my Rheumatologist  know that I am doing this and, while they are not  sleep specialists they certainly has been  aware of what I have been doing while I wait.
My sleep study was a disaster for reasons I guess are evident from my comments and the report I posted here.
I do not believe people should just randomly change their cpap pressures but one does want to feel better as soon as they can and, in my case anyway, I believe I have been very careful and conservative about it.
SInce I was diagnosed with RA , I have learned that the patients who do the best are the ones who, yes, follow their doctors advice but also, take a lot of responsibility for their own health.  I am the person who cares most about my health.  I am thankful for an excellent GP and Rheumatologist (I have had no contact with my sleep specialist since I was prescribed my machine 6 years ago and he was satified that I was compliant) until I initiated this followup.  There is a private clinic where I live and I could have gone there in October!  It is also provincially funded (I am a Canadian) but my GP advised me not to go there, even though a sleep specialist runs it.  He said if I needed the sleep specialist at the hospital anytime and had gone there, they would not see me. I think there is some professional jealousy involved there but the patient suffers for it.  In hindsight, maybe I should have gone to that clinic.
Just thought I would post this to let you know I am trying to cover all the bases, so to speak, and still not have to feel terrible for a long time.  I was finally able to get at least the 2 page report of my sleep study in June.  That gave me a little more to go on as well.
Sorry this is so long but wanted to clarify my situation. I know you both posted to help me and I do appreciate it.

Ram_Sleep - I will take your suggestions with much more than a grain of salt!  I do appreciate you commenting here and will consider the narrower range.  I know that too wide a range can "yoyo" people around all night and is not conducive to good sleep so thanks again for your valued  input.  I will keep track of how I feel, mainly, and let you know how things go!
Thank you for the time you have taken with this thread and the valuable suggestions you  give not only to me but to others on this forum.

Hawthorne wrote:

Ram_Sleep - I will take your suggestions with much more than a grain of salt!  I do appreciate you commenting here and will consider the narrower range.  I know that too wide a range can "yoyo" people around all night and is not conducive to good sleep so thanks again for your valued  input.  I will keep track of how I feel, mainly, and let you know how things go!
Thank you for the time you have taken with this thread and the valuable suggestions you  give not only to me but to others on this forum.

Check the thread about Central Sleep Apnea. Ha. Im not sure how valuable my input is. It seems apparent that I have no clue what I am doing, but I havent had any complaints from the numerous physicians that I work for.

In any event, I do hope that you get to the level that you need and that you begin to feel less sleepy. I will do anything that I can.