no apnea, no UARS - still having classic symptoms

[DankShroud]

18 year old male, untreated AHI of 7.5. I've been on CPAP the last seven months to treat my mild sleep apnea. Treatment has had no effect whatsoever. Can't speak, write, paint, drum, or care for myself. Lethargic as shit, anxious as hell. Falling asleep everywhere, unable to think or plan or affect change. I'm a former A+ honors student who used to be a competitive speaker and artist. I failed every one of my classes senior year and only graduated after some administrative finagling. I can't exercise, or otherwise occupy myself. I'm not in college. I don't have a job. I can't think well enough to talk to someone and be understood. I literally can do none of the things I want to do. Anyway, I agonized over sleepyhead for months, poring through hours of data for evidence of UARS. Found nothing. I pestered my sleep clinic until they ordered a second sleep study, which "ruled out UARS" (they didn't monitor esophageal pressure) and showed an AHI of only 1 with CPAP. An MSLT ruled out narcolepsy. My machine and sleepyhead report an AHI of .2-1.0 every night. My nightly leak rate is never over 2 L/min. My pressures are comfortable and effective; I'm convinced my therapy is as perfect as it gets. So what could be happening? I don't have psychiatric problems, I'm just showing signs of extreme chronic sleep deprivation. My eyes are bloodshot and heavy-lidded with huge black rings. I move and speak slowly, I have wild mood swings, I'm clumsy and uncoordinated, I'm disorganized, I'm unkempt and moody. I live to just eat and hide in my bed all day. I can't concentrate enough to read or translate text into narratives or anything coherent. And I used to devour books my whole life. I'm just this rambling, housebound degenerate. Exhaustive blood work has ruled out literally everything. In my heart I'm so sure that sleep disordered breathing is at the root of my problems. Nothing else fits. I feel sleep deprived, like I've been awake for 72 hours. My sleep is unrefreshing, I have vivid dreams every night, and the moment I wake up I'm in unspeakable pain from how tired I am. Sleepiness/tiredness is this oppressive, omnipresent force just crushing the life out of me. My eyes hurt, I stumble around, I don't step outside for days at a time. I've had to let go all my ambitions and obligations. Does this sound like CPAP resistant UARS? What else could this even be?!

[D.H.]

Could it be Narcolepsy, Fibromyalgia, or some other sleep disorder? I guess you ruled out diabetes, cardiac insufficiency, kidney disease, or another disease that is not a primary sleep disorder?

[TASmart]

Sounds a lot like major depressive disorder to me.

[kteague]

I remember asking about your narcolepsy test in a previous thread. My thoughts were around just because they didn't pick it up during this study doesn't mean you do not have it. Hopefully you read those points. Hate to hear you are not achieving any success yet. Do you have a family member who can advocate for you to relieve you of the added stress? You need a doctor who enjoys a challenge, or a teaching hospital where lots of fresh eyes feel challenged to find answers for you. Hope you find some answers soon.

[HoseCrusher]

What else could this even be...?

Sometimes when traditional approaches don't seem to be working it helps to look a little "outside the box..."

Perhaps you have damaged mitochondria...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d97oNRuA4uA