Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Harold-Animal · Post by **Harold-Animal** » Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:27 am

I was diagnosed with severe obstructive apnoea and started CPAP therapy in 2005. I have no problems using the machine. Very experienced with several mask types and machined. In 2023 I started waking up tired with chronic head fog, fatigue and short term memory loss. I have tested and replaced masks, hoses and the actual air-sense-11 machine. I've tried other CPAP machines. I've been back to the sleep clinic for overnight test on different machine and result is that my apnoea is now moderate. I've reset my my machine to factory defaults & reset pressure. The Res-med app shows good numbers in the morning but I'm still foggy & fatigued.

I stopped using CPAP to try mouth guards and finally the tongue sucker device. Surprisingly the fog lifted when I stopped CPAP therapy but was still moderately tired through the day.

I've been to doctors to investigate blood pressure, blood glucose and several other possible sources with no success.

Has any other long-term compliant user experienced similar negative symptoms?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Aug 19, 2024 10:49 am

Go back to the MDs and tell them you need more testing - if necessary find better docs.

robysue1 · Post by **robysue1** » Mon Aug 19, 2024 10:57 am

Harold-Animal wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:27 am
I've been back to the sleep clinic for overnight test on different machine and result is that my apnoea is now moderate. I've reset my my machine to factory defaults & reset pressure. The Res-med app shows good numbers in the morning but I'm still foggy & fatigued.

What is your treated AHI these days?

I stopped using CPAP to try mouth guards and finally the tongue sucker device. Surprisingly the fog lifted when I stopped CPAP therapy but was still moderately tired through the day.

Have you tried using the mouth guard or tongue sucker device with the CPAP?

I've been to doctors to investigate blood pressure, blood glucose and several other possible sources with no success.

Fatigue is a very common symptom of a whole host of potential medical problems. Two of the most common are low levels of Vitamin D and thyroid problems. I take it they've both been checked out?

Miss Emerita · Post by **Miss Emerita** » Mon Aug 19, 2024 11:44 am

Ask your doctor for tests in these areas: thyroid, testosterone, iron, vitamin D, B vitamins, Lyme disease, autoimmune diseases in the connective-tissue-disease family. Any chance you have long Covid?

Harold-Animal · Post by **Harold-Animal** » Mon Aug 26, 2024 3:25 pm

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 19, 2024 11:44 am
Ask your doctor for tests in these areas: thyroid, testosterone, iron, vitamin D, B vitamins, Lyme disease, autoimmune diseases in the connective-tissue-disease family. Any chance you have long Covid?

Thank you Miss Emertita. I did revisit my GP doc on Aug 19. We are doing two more blood tests. One for liver function because I had Hep-C many years ago (from tainted blood transfusion) and another more accurate one for glucose. He is also considering long-covid but had no support for that diagnosis. I've added vitamin B-12 and D along with my usual multi-vitamin.
The strange thing is that the fog goes away when I go a few nights without MY CPAP. I'm experimenting with the tongue sucker & anti-snore mouthguards. I usually use a chinstrap with the CPAP & mouthguards to help keep my mouth shut. Tongue sucker falls out occasionally at night but seems to get best results for my situation. Still practicing with it. November blood test results seemed normal range for testosterone, iron, vitamins and glucose. I'll ask about thyroid & Lyme disease on next visit.

Harold-Animal · Post by **Harold-Animal** » Mon Aug 26, 2024 3:29 pm

Julie wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 19, 2024 10:49 am
Go back to the MDs and tell them you need more testing - if necessary find better docs.

Thanks, I did ask the sleep doctor if there were any long-term CPAP user studies. He was unaware but be vaguely referred to another daytime sleep test to measure oxygen levels.

Harold-Animal · Post by **Harold-Animal** » Mon Aug 26, 2024 3:46 pm

robysue1 wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 19, 2024 10:57 am

Harold-Animal wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:27 am
I've been back to the sleep clinic for overnight test on different machine and result is that my apnoea is now moderate. I've reset my my machine to factory defaults & reset pressure. The Res-med app shows good numbers in the morning but I'm still foggy & fatigued.
I stopped using CPAP to try mouth guards and finally the tongue sucker device. Surprisingly the fog lifted when I stopped CPAP therapy but was still moderately tired through the day.
I've been to doctors to investigate blood pressure, blood glucose and several other possible sources with no success.

What is your treated AHI these days? I didn't ask for the actual AHI number, but he did say "moderate". Initially I was at about 60 back in 2005. My machine pressure started at 9. Now 13.
BTW: I stopped using the heated water tank and heated hose a few years ago. I don't have dry-air related issues.

Have you tried using the mouth guard or tongue sucker device with the CPAP?
Yes, I tried the tongue sucker with CPAP. And I usually use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed.

Fatigue is a very common symptom of a whole host of potential medical problems. Two of the most common are low levels of Vitamin D and thyroid problems. I take it they've both been checked out?
I'm pretty sure my GP has considered thyroid issues, but I will ask specifically at next visit.
I added vitamin D liquid & B-12 to my multi-vitamin supplement. I'm usually outside on sunny days.

Thank you for your input!

Miss Emerita · Post by **Miss Emerita** » Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:59 pm

Some vitamin deficiencies can't be treated by taking supplements, and treatment of some may require finding out what is causing the deficiency. So I would recommend blood tests to be on the safe side.

Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues

Re: Long-term CPAP compliant user - suddenly having issues