Daytime anxiety after starting CPAP?

Has anyone else experienced daytime anxiety after first starting out on the CPAP Therapy?  I am starting on my second week of therapy, I know everyone says it takes time to get used to the machine and sleeping with it on. I don't struggle with claustrophobia sleeping with it on, the actual process of me sleeping with the mask I've had no issues with. I was excited to first start treatment with the hopes that eventually I will eventually get good results from it.

At least 3 days out of the week I have struggled with feeling ill (nothing I can specifically put my finger on, no fever, its not a gassy feeling, just that overall feeling when your ill and you know it). I had a three day long massive sinus pressure headache ( I have already requested a full face mask in comparison to the nose mask I was given at the start due to the headache from the sinus pressure). Along with feeling ill I've been struggling with really bad daytime anxiety - and I say daytime just to outline the fact that it isn't revolved around fear or stress about putting the mask on at night. before starting therapy roughly about every two months or so, something will set me off and I have a crying fit ( I call it a crying fit because its between a anxiety and panic attack, I just cant control myself no matter how little the issue was I completely lose it and cry for hours, its extremely embarrassing when it happens at work and the second someone asks whats wrong of course it gets worse because most times I don't have a answer). Since starting therapy last week I have had two, almost three break downs, I can still feel it looming over me as I type this out trying to get some answers. the reason its not making much sense to me is that ever since I was a kid I cry when I hit a point of being so overly tired, I always have its just me. But if I am starting now to get good restful sleep why is it seeming like I'm losing my ability to control my emotions. Its to say the least, really freaking annoying. Besides starting therapy, there has not been any huge changes that would cause me to stress this hard. I assumed maybe because I had been so stressed and running on nothing that now that I am trying to get actual sleep my body is just freaking out and doesn't know what to do?

One more probably random issue I have been having is eating and drinking during the day, Due to getting used to closing off my sinus in my mouth ( advice I was given to get used to the only nasal mask) so that I can yawn or cough without letting the pressure leak out of my mouth, I have been accidentally doing that while eating without even thinking about it and start almost choking on soda and some food which is really fun stuff. to explain it, so like when you open a soda and there is that small amount of excess gas at the top that takes a second to come out of the the bottle, when I went to sip it normally i would have let the gas release out of my sinuses (similar to letting hot air out when eating a hot piece of food) but instead it went down my throat making me choke and start spitting it up everywhere. I have managed this about 2/3 times since I started therapy super cool stuff.

Some background information I am 25,  I have been taking wellbutrin 150mg for the past year but have been on it for 3/5 years at other doses ( I feel it has helped control my emotions, stress and irritability ). I also take Vyvanse 40mg for my ADD I have been taking that for coming up on a year this time but I had taken it for some time in my past as well so its not my first experience with it. The findings from my sleep test mentioned an event index of 7 and lowest respiratory saturation at 88% so it was mild but seriously effected my ability to do simple tasks throughout the day. I honestly thought I was just a severely lazy person before the diagnosis. 
I am using the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her, I started out with the AirFit N20 nose mask but have a full mouth and nose one being delivered to me to try to get rid of the likelihood of that massive 3 day pressure headache I had. The pressure setting is on an auto ramp from 5-15. 

I have not had any real issues with leaks, or taking the mask off while I am sleeping, I have gotten at least 6 hours each night use of it if not more. I have not had a problem with marks on my face in the morning ( mask is not too tight), no problems with dry nose or dry throat.

Any advice that you can offer would be great! at this point if these side effects keep it up, they're not worth the treatment to me. I would rather be tired than crying all of the time. Also if this was too much information or not enough I apologize this is my first time posting here.

Do you see a psychiatrist? I think I would see one, not being able to control your emotions can be a sign of bipolar disorder. Anti depressants can bring out or worsen bipolar. Also I am no psychiatrist but I have a mental illness that I have dealt with most of my life. Maybe you need to adjust your meds because of you now using a CPAP machine, I would see a doctor or psychiatrist.

Joel

Totally agree! The effects of meds you've had for a long time can change, apart from anything else.

Talkingdinos - If it were me, I'd call the doctor who prescribed your meds. The additional stress you feel right now could easily be due to what the entire world is dealing with. I'm very aware that my anxiety is through the roof, and I know I'm in good company. Take it easy on yourself... maybe do some deep breathing and calming exercises. Your machine isn't causing anything you mention. As you already know, it's just air.

It might be that a change of medication is in order. Definitely share what you are feeling with your doctor. Be well.. you aren't alone!

TalkingDinos wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 3:36 pm

I don't struggle with claustrophobia sleeping with it on, the actual process of me sleeping with the mask I've had no issues with.

Well, to say something positive, that's a good start. It's often a stumbling place for newbies.

Do you know how to get into the sleep report on the machine's display to see AHI and leak level?

Sadly I no longer see the doctor that adoringly prescribed me my meds. My primary has continued to fill them for me since my insurances changed a few years back and I could no longer see the mental health doctor/s I was seeing.

joeljjk11 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:53 pm

not being able to control your emotions can be a sign of bipolar disorder.

Joel

Joel- I got a psych test done when I was younger, as far as that could tell it wasn't bipolar which is what my mother also had thought, but it came back with 'traits of borderline personality disorder' -very black and white thinking, all good or all bad- which kind of explains the high emotional disruptions to me'

So it's looking like i'm going to have to end up trying to find a mental health professional

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:38 am

TalkingDinos wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 3:36 pm

I don't struggle with claustrophobia sleeping with it on, the actual process of me sleeping with the mask I've had no issues with.

Well, to say something positive, that's a good start. It's often a stumbling place for newbies.

Do you know how to get into the sleep report on the machine's display to see AHI and leak level?

ChicagoGranny- I do, and for the most part I think I understand it. I have had very low AHI the whole time using it but the one thing I don't understand is that Ive been showing results for centrals each night.

I just wanted to see if there were any suggestions I could get before going down that road since these medical bills are no joke as it is without adding another 'specialist' in the mix. I had tried to reach out to my sleep doctor and he would not call me back but only wants to set an appointment for me to come in, but he has no open appointments until June.

TalkingDinos wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:03 am

the one thing I don't understand is that Ive been showing results for centrals each night.

How many over what period of time? Are you using the free OSCAR software? Highly recommended.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:47 am

How many over what period of time? Are you using the free OSCAR software? Highly recommended.

I am not sure what the period of time is for what it shows on the screen of the machine but I believe it was .6 and now it is a .5 I had taken a nap. But again i'm not sure if that is an average total or just for that nights data. The nurse that set up me up just kind blew off the explanation of the explanation of the total AI , AHI and central AI numbers and some of the report saying that "its just information for the doctor that would not be useful to me". Also I had not used that software, but I went to download it on my computer but it looks like there is no SD card in my machine it uses an internal modem, and i'm not sure if putting an SD card in it myself will void any warranties or anything since right now I am I guess paying monthly, or my insurance is and then as long as i keep using it once its paid off i get to keep it or something along those lines.

Call and find out about the warranties.

Download Oscar, prior to which buy any old SD card and put it in the machine - it will record what goes on when asleep. Then use it in your computer according to Oscar info - you'll post results here for help with interpretation. No one ever went to jail over taking care of their own therapy.

TalkingDinos wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 16, 2020 10:43 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:47 am

How many over what period of time? Are you using the free OSCAR software? Highly recommended.

I am not sure what the period of time is for what it shows on the screen of the machine but I believe it was .6 and now it is a .5 I had taken a nap. But again i'm not sure if that is an average total or just for that nights data. The nurse that set up me up just kind blew off the explanation of the explanation of the total AI , AHI and central AI numbers and some of the report saying that "its just information for the doctor that would not be useful to me". Also I had not used that software, but I went to download it on my computer but it looks like there is no SD card in my machine it uses an internal modem, and i'm not sure if putting an SD card in it myself will void any warranties or anything since right now I am I guess paying monthly, or my insurance is and then as long as i keep using it once its paid off i get to keep it or something along those lines.

I think a better representation of your sleep would be several nights of 6+ hour reports. Sometimes I take naps and experience zero AHIs, so naps aren't really a good indicator of what may be going on, they're too short and many times you don't even move through a full sleep cycle during one.

Also, putting an SDcard in your machine won't void the warranty, they're made to accept SDcards so the data can be written to them. That's quite literally how they're designed, and why they're designed that way. Using OSCAR may be able to provide you with invaluable information on how you're sleeping. Definitely get a cheap SDcard and begin recording your data.

Lastly, a nurse telling someone "its just information for the doctor that would not be useful to me", is that nurse's way of basically saying "I'm too lazy to explain it to you", or "I have no idea what I'm doing, so I can't explain it to you." Never ask that nurse a question again, as they've already shown that they don't care enough. Here is a short explanation of what AHI represents: http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/sle ... ng-results

There is some nuance though, so it would benefit you to stick around, ask questions, and above all, read about sleep apnea.

Midwest_non_sleeper wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:00 am

Lastly, a nurse telling someone "its just information for the doctor that would not be useful to me", is that nurse's way of basically saying "I'm too lazy to explain it to you", or "I have no idea what I'm doing, so I can't explain it to you." Never ask that nurse a question again, as they've already shown that they don't care enough.

+1

Thanks guys, Looks like I'm headed to the store to pick up an SD card and reader to try and find out more information. Hopefully that can give me a better look at whats going on.~more to come soon~

TalkingDinos wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:52 am

reader

Hang on to the receipt and don't open the package. Many desktop and laptop computers have an SD slot. It's small, so you may not know it's there.

That slot may be on the side of the computer, about the size of a dime coin slot.
(Keep toddlers away from it!

It's not uncommon to experience some initial discomfort or side effects when starting CPAP therapy, including nasal congestion, dryness, and changes in pressure sensations. Sinus pressure headache can also be a side effect of using a nasal mask, and trying a full-face mask as you have requested may help alleviate that symptom. Additionally, swallowing air while eating or drinking can be a common issue with CPAP therapy, and it may take some time to get used to the pressure changes and find strategies to prevent it, such as taking smaller sips or bites and being mindful of keeping your mouth closed during meals. It's important to note that while continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy can be very effective in treating sleep apnea, it may not be the right solution for everyone, and some individuals may experience side effects or difficulty adjusting to the therapy. You should consider consulting with a healthcare provider from https://www.riviamind.com/ for personalized medical advice and treatment.