Odd sleep apnea question

@CaliforniaJellyroll You're right, Rem is needed. And I'm not talking the musical group!

I can say the machine is doing some good. I won't lie. While there are some nights I would rather not, I do dream. When I wasn't wearing the mask I don't ever recall dreaming.

(Doesn't mean I wasn't getting rem sleep, but it's just an odd quirk I've noted.)

I don't smoke, or chew. That stuff is nasty and to each their own if you do.

My actual test came back as 5.71. So yes, that's mild but still a positive test; severe gets 15+ ahi. That being said, as you use the therapy you actually do need less pressure. Why? Because your body learns the placement of the flap in the back of your throat and holds it there better. Everyone gets an initial setting of 5 as well. I promise bud, I'm not joking. My mother has severe sleep apnea, over the years her pressure has decreased as well. It's the same story with patients I helped while I worked in the medical field.

The issue I'm facing isn't newbie stuff. The issue in facing is more that I really don't get a restful night's sleep. If I go without the machine, then I'm easily able to make it through the day and still have energy at the end of my day. When I use the mask, I have to pull over to take naps and I really don't feel rested.

I'm not saying I don't have sleep apnea, not even saying I want off. But I am saying that while using this machine I do not feel safe to drive.

@Oldman49 I had thought about asking to change masks, but a mask change is usually only done if you've got leaks or it isn't comfortable. I actually kinda like how this mask fits. It doesn't mean I wouldn't consider a change if I felt it was needed, but this mask works okay.

I'm aware of the blood panels you're talking about and have thought of getting one that's more comprehensive done because of family history.

It's interesting you mentioned chest pains. I don't think I said that in my initial posts, but it does happen (in the form of muscle cramps) once in a blue moon when using the cpap machine. It's usually a sign that the pressure is too high, but it wasn't happening often enough for me to mention it.

Basically...this is the major dilemma I'm facing.

If I put up with the therapy and things don't improve on their own, then I'm afraid I'm going to be seen on the accident page for falling asleep at the wheel. It's that bad.

The alternative is I put myself out of service and quit. I don't mind this option except I kinda need the income and like the job.

The last alternative is I go see a battery of doctors and hope that one finds something going on. If it gets the mask off my face, okay that's cool. If not, at least I'm actually sleeping through the night.

At the moment I'm "sucking it up" and using the machine. But after a full month of use, I'm dragging myself everywhere I go. I'm not looking to be told to suck it up, but I need a starting point to figure out what's next. Eventually just sucking it up may not work anymore...

For those of you who cpap or bipap has worked for, I applaud you and I'm happy for you. Sleep apnea is a real thing and cpap does work. I've seen the effects of it firsthand and I'm glad that therapy works for you all. I was hoping someone else had something similar going on and might provide some direction. Even the sleep apnea people admitted to being clueless about it.

Honestly thinking of taking the second route... There's no atlas, no gps, just a bunch of debt and college books paired with the hope and elbow grease of getting into the field I want most.

 

Your breathing patterns are different when you wake. I happen to know that when I'm awake I take breaths more often, but at the same depth as when I sleep. When I sleep though I breathe more slowly and slightly more heavily.

Apnea events are recorded by the cpap machine when it detects a "push" of air back from your throat closing up. If the machine pushes back lightly with increased pressure and the resistance is removed then that is recorded as an apnea event.

 

One is neurological correct? And the other is a mix of the two types.

Essentially the brain "forgets" to send a signal to breathe.

I've done research on both, but haven't considered the possibility, much, that I have them.

I always get the two confused...a quick Google shows that:

Complex sleep apnea is both neurological and obstructive. Sometimes cpap works, but some have to switch to bipap.

Central sleep apnea is primarily neurological and the brain doesn't send proper signals to breathe. Again this has a similar treatment method as complex apnea.

 

I have considered the possibility that its complex sleep apnea, but my hang up is that even if a switch to bipap is needed patients often experience relief even with just cpap. Their major complaint is that they can't breathe out against cpap. This, that I'm aware of, isn't the case for me.

Bipap simply times the way you breathe and removes pressure so you can exhale easier.

Cpap simply keeps the same pressure level barring any apnea events.

 

They confirmed it via the data card. However I've got a passenger with me this week, he's a younger fellow and didn't understand why I was wearing the mask. (I told him in summary that it's meant to help me sleep better)

His reply: But you keep waking up and moving around...

So while not by a physician, it has been observed. Lol