I am a new member of this board, looking for advice.  I use a CPAP mask, but continue to feel very tired.  I have felt better for a number of months, since starting treatment.  So I know that it is possible to be treated successfully.


In Nov.2003, I went to a conference, and shared a room w/a guy who works in the middle of the night.  In the morning, he told me that I was choking repeatedly in my sleep.  I went to a doctor and had a sleep test, and was diagnosed w/sleep apnea.  I was given a CPAP mask, and after about 3 wks, got used to it.  Things got much better for a while, and I felt much more alert.  

Then I started feeling sleepy again, and the doctor told me that caffeine might be contributing.  So I stopped drinking caffinated beverages after 12pm.  Things got somewhat better, but then got worse again.  My mask was now quite old, and the doctor told me that that might be the problem.  I got a new mask, which is a Resperonix Profile light, medium size.  I understand that there are 3 different mediums - med reg, med wideface, & med small.  But the technition at the med supplies co says that I'm definitely a med regular.  

I used Provigil for a while, and it does help.  But I'm concerned that the fact that I still feel very sleepy indicates a deeper problem.  I have gained a slight amount of weight.  When I was diagnosed, I weighed about 190, and went up to about 205, and am now about 198.  My optimal weight would be 180.  

I've had 3 sleep studies done.  The most recent was in Dec. 2004, which was a 24 hr test.  They used a CPAP of 11 cm H2O.  They said that I do require a chin strap.  In the previous study on March 8, 2004, they were testing w/out a mask to see what the sleep apnea looked like.  I had a total of 4 obstructive apneas, 31 obstructive hypopneas, and 1 central apnea, w/an overall apnea/hypopnea index (AHI)  of 25.5.  The longest obstructive apnea was 41 seconds.  The longest obstructive hypopnea was 29 sec.  The longest central apnea was 13.5 sec.  The lowest oxygen desaturation was 81%.  I displayed a moderate degree of snoring w/frequent snore arrousals.  

I'm going crazy.  I wear my mask at night, but I still feel terrible during the day.  They tested the machine that blows the air, and it's working just fine.  They looked at the mask, and they said that the mask looks ok.

if using a nose mask you may be now breathing thru your mouth, this stops the CPAP from being able to work
consider taping your lips or getting a fulll face mask with a chin strap also

Thanks. I tried taping my mouth closed last night. We will see how I feel in the next several days.

Any other advice from others?

A full face mask, specifcally a Flexifit 431 which is very comfortable and works well for pressures over 9.  You would not use a chin strap with it.

Vicki

Check with a Homeopathic doctor, Chiropractor or good nutritionist for indications of glandular problems.

Steve

A full face mask will not help, as I breathe thru my nose fine. No gladular problems. I am now taping my mouth shut. Just bought a new mask---Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System. GP doesn't think losing a few pounds will make any difference. I want to lose the weight--will be good in general. But agree it is unlikely to help, since I believe the Sleep Apnea predates the slight weight gain by many many years. Any other ideas?

Coffee Lover wrote:

I am now taping my mouth shut. Just bought a new mask---Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System.  â€¦â€¦â€¦ Any other ideas?

Coffee Lover …..

Any improvement since the Swift and taping?

Regards,
Curious

The tape may be helping a little, but not alot.

Tonite is the first nite with the new mask. I am optimistic because it is hard to talk with the mask on--there is pressure. The previous mask did not seem to have enough pressure--I could talk with it on without feeling pressure.

Glad to hear that you breath through your nose just fine.  But you missed the point which was that if you need a chin strap, then you are opening your mouth.  If you have a full face mask, then it doesn't matter.  I prefer a full face mask to a chin strap.  I also breath through my nose fine but I open my mouth.  It is all a personal preference and if tape works for you great!

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I would recommend a chin strap although I admit to using tape successfully on several occassions.  There is a wide variety of chin straps,but I really like the Topaz by Tiara Medical.

You can see/buy it at <<commercial link removed>>  and probably some other sites.  If you refuse a chinstrap or they just don't work, you are stuck with getting full face mask or tape, and so many people say tape is a bad thing although I am not in that camp.

Good luck
Phillip

"so many people say tape is a bad thing although I am not in that camp."

Why would it be bad?

My problem does not appear to have any thing to do with the tape or chin strap, though.  I must have another problem.

Still looking for any advise.