Discussions

I am a 49 year old woman who is currently using a CPAP machine as I apparently have a poor sleep. It's been 2 weeks tomorrow and I really am not feeling any different. I still get sleepy during the day. As in I have to shut my eyes and nap, I literally can not keep them open some times.  
I went to the doctor for this issue and he checked anemia, thyroid, b12, diabetes, anything else you can think of everything is fine. other then I fall asleep.  
anyone else have this issue? did you get relief some way?  
I thought by now I would be getting some results with the machine. The person in charge of my machine says my sleep has really improved so why am I so tired? I was having 26 episodes per night now down to 10.  
Looking for ideas from real people suffering same things.

I can't speak for using a cpap machine because I don't have one but a friend of mine does. He was so used to running off of such little sleep that his body wasn't used to getting a better nights rest. It took a while for his body to adjust but in the beginning with using his cpap he was still tired all the time.

you for commenting

You are at the age that women sometimes see an increase in the incedents of chronic fatigue syndrome. It seems to affect a larger number of women than men and as for causes they really haven''t narrowed it down to one specific trigger.  
The mayo clinic website is a site that I like as far as checking out sometimes the unexplained. Sometimes the medical field doesn''t place importance on ailments that are hard to define or diagnose, and chronic fatigue syndrome falls in those parameters.  
 
Not sure if this link will work, but we'll try.  
 
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20022009  
 
Edited by don brown, 2017-08-10 17:34:43

I started using the cpap machine 2 yrs ago. I remember thinking the same thing. It was several months before I felt better as in rested again. I was having 40 events per hour. The machine brought me down to 7.  
 
Stay with it. You will notice a difference eventually.

Check your oxygen level when using your cpap machine. You may still be having a drop which will still be causing you to lose sleep. My husband also has severe OSA.

don brown said "You are at the age that women sometimes see an increase in the incedents of chronic fatigue syndrome. It seems to affect a larger number of women than men and as for causes they really haven''t narrowed it down to one specific trigger.   The mayo clinic website is a site that I like as far as checking out sometimes the unexplained. Sometimes the medical field doesn''t place importance on ailments that are hard to define or diagnose, and chronic fatigue syndrome falls in those parameters.     Not sure if this link will work, but we'll try.     http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20022009     Edited by don brown, 2017-08-10 17:34:43"

What an outrageous comment! What is the extent of your research on Myalgic Encepahlomyeltis? If you are simply going by the BS published and followed by the Mayo Clinic, give up now. The Mayo still subscribes to the principles of the British PACE study which has since been DISPROVEN!!! There are people of ALL GENDERS AND ALL AGES who run the gamut from being generally unwell to being completely bedridden and unable to even feed themselves. M.E. as it should always be called has been PROVEN by researchers at STANFORD UNIVERSITY to be a cerebro-spinal inflammatory condition caused by a virus. You used to be one of the more sensible posters on ebrandon, what the heck happened to you?

What the heck? Don brown would not intentionally post bad information. Maybe he's found these links helpful and thought somebody else might as well?

Viv said "What the heck? Don brown would not intentionally post bad information. Maybe he's found these links helpful and thought somebody else might as well? "

he is passing along incorrect info

Could you provide a link for me to read.  
Apparently the Mayo clinic is in good company when it comes to publishing information on certain things, the NHS UK. publishes nearly the exact information regarding CFS/ME as the mayo clinic and the information was reviewed May 16th 2017.  
 
Edited by don brown, 2017-08-10 22:01:07

www.omf.ngo  
www.methehiddnetruth.com  
www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/37822068  
millionsmissingcanada.ca  
themighty.comm/chronic-illness  
www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/28782878  
wwww.reddit.com/a_plea_from_a_fallen_doctor_on_ch  
www.miningjournal.net/.../chronic-fatigue

www.med.stanford.edu/chronic  
www.immed.org/infections  
www.virology.ws.2015/10/21/trialbyerror

Links broken in above post: Stanford, NCBI, Immed, BBC, methehiddentruth, themighty, miningjournal, reddit, virology.ws  
 
missingmillionscanada - funding research but doesn't have info about the condition that I can find.  
 
omf - If you are looking for info about ME/ CFS, read this link, as it does have information about "Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as “chronic fatigue syndrome,” or “ME/CFS,” or even a proposed new label, “systemic exertion intolerance disease”."  
It doesn't say that it should always be called ME, though. It also doesn't say that it is a cerebro-spinal inflammatory condition caused by a virus; it states:  
"The disease can be triggered by an infection or series of infections, surgery, another illness, an accident, or any other physical or emotional stressor. It may come on gradually or suddenly. Commonly, people with the disease say they feel they caught a flu, but it never went away. Some report the symptoms starting one day without any apparent trigger. ME/CFS seems to have a genetic component because it occurs more often among blood relatives."

There is a virus present in those affected and it looks like it is a member of the herpes family, and like curlysister posted it is a trigger or a combination of triggers that causes the disease to develope, but at the present time it is not known what triggers the condition. In just the bit I read on treatment there's mention of treating patients with antiviral drugs but the results of those treatments were inconclusive, and in a blind study two out of fifteen on the placebo recoverd.  
While reading through some of the information on recent breakthroughs on CFS/ME I could help think about people who get shingles. Every person should be carring the antibodies for chick pox and yet not everyone gets shingles, the triggers are what are the unknown, but age, stress and other changing factors in our life likely play a part.

try melatonin before bed

don brown said "There is a virus present in those affected and it looks like it is a member of the herpes family, and like curlysister posted it is a trigger or a combination of triggers that causes the disease to develope, but at the present time it is not known what triggers the condition. In just the bit I read on treatment there's mention of treating patients with antiviral drugs but the results of those treatments were inconclusive, and in a blind study two out of fifteen on the placebo recoverd.   While reading through some of the information on recent breakthroughs on CFS/ME I could help think about people who get shingles. Every person should be carring the antibodies for chick pox and yet not everyone gets shingles, the triggers are what are the unknown, but age, stress and other changing factors in our life likely play a part. "

www.facebook.com/janepaulinephilpott/posts/805704592933357  
 
This info has been posted to the federal Minister of Health, informing her of the upcoming world conference on ME at Stanford.

Donna, maybe you should have your doctor or sleep therapist look into a "bi-pap" machine rather than a c-pap. I had terrible sleep issues and after a life threatening episode ended up with a breathing machine that actually pushes air 16 times a minute as well as constant pressure. Saved my life I am sure

I feel for you and know what you are going through. I have the CPAP machine and thought this is BS I feel no better after a couple weeks or so. Others said instant results I didn't see that? I could not stay awake in the evenings at all was my problem and told I stop breathing? To be honesty I am guessing but I finally did feel a difference after a month or so. As time progressed so did my ability to not be tired in the evenings. I am saying now 3 years plus on it and very tough in the beginning now its a habit but a pain to wear and you will out of place/embarrassed I still do. I feel better for it and am surprised how many family and friends are also on the machine. Hang in there it will take time and feel positive that you are living healthier and allot safer for it. Just make sure a good seal as that is important and takes time to adjust the seal and tightness of straps. If it has a poor seal keep consulting your supplier I did. All the best

I go to bed every night at 10 pm. I fall asleep between 3 or 4 am if I'm lucky. A few times it has been as late as 5:30. This happens every night! I have RLS and there is no cure. There is a drug that is used to combat Parkinson's Disease that has been prescribed for RLS. The side effects are horrendous so I continue to toss and turn every night. Melatonin does nothing for me. I took 4 pills one night and watched tv for 6 hours. I sleep in a very dark room and do all the so-called right things to do so I can sleep but to no avail. The only silver lining in this is that I am now retired so I don't have to go to work anymore in a sleep deprived haze. RLS is a cursed disease that sucks the life out of you. So when you talk of sleep issues I can definitely relate. If anyone has these sleep issues and has some success with battling it I'm listening.

I agree with all those saying keep with it. I struggled with my machine for over 5 years. I'd try it, feel no difference after a few weeks to a month, and go back off of it out of frustration. I didn't like the mask and I wasn't feeling any better. About a year ago I decided to get serious about my machine and my health. I found an over the counter sleep aid to help me fall asleep so the mask didn't bug me so much and gave myself time. I also spoke to my doctor about how my treatment was going. He gave me ideas on the headaches I still had in the morning and obtaining a better sleep. I can say that I now don't like sleeping without my machine, while the improvement has been slow... the difference between a sleep with no machine and machine now is amazing. I am finally at a place where I can watch tv or read a book in the evening and not fall asleep, I have energy to walk after supper, and best of all is that the headaches are so minimal. Talk to your sleep clinician and your doctor. They both want to help you be healthier and a good sleep is key!

I agree with much of the above. I have had my CPAP for 2 1/2 months now. I didn't find it too hard to get used to falling asleep with the mask, but found that it would wake me up when the pressure went up too high sometimes - then I would just take it off. I didn't notice an immediate difference like some people have. I have also realized that some of my behaviour is habit now - I have been a 'non-morning-person' for so long, that I just hit the snooze bar and doze in bed in the morning out of habit. Go to your follow up appointment at one month, they will have all the data from your machine and will be able to help you trouble shoot.

I was diagnosed with Rls several years ago , after much trial and error , and testing , I had low iron . After a few weeks of taking my iron supplement it has pretty much disappeared . Occasionally I can start to feel the twinge in my legs begin and I start my iron pills again . Not sure if that is any help to you , just my experience .  
 
Edited by Shopgirl, 2017-08-12 22:58:28

Hi I use the CPAP machine and I was lucky if I got 1-3 hours of sleep each night. I read online that post-menopausal/menopausal women need extra vitamin c to help with sleep, relaxation etc. I was using melatonin for about a year then thought, I will give the vitamin C a chance. I have been taking the vitamin C for about 3 months now and it's seriously helped me not only get tired, but I now sleep like a baby. I take 500 mg's per day. Wishing you all the best and most of all, sweet dreams.