Question:
Anyone more tired after treatment for sleep apnea?

I asked this question on the messageboard and got only one response. I was put on oxygen at night due to low oxygen levels when I sleep, and I am sleeping much, much better!!! The problem is that I am still very tired despite sleeping like a log for 9 hours a night. Anyone experience this with sleep apnea or hypoventilation after treatment??? Am I just finally catching up on my sleep?    — peacefuldaizy (posted on March 17, 2006)

March 16, 2006
I have slept with a CPAP machine for 3 years now. It does help tremendously, but it will take as long as a few weeks for your body to catch up with all the changes. Also, you are breathing against forced air, so in the beginning, you may feel like you can't breathe right off and on..don't fear..it WILL get loads better! Take care and God Bless!!!
   — Ky_Kutie

March 16, 2006
I am on oxygen at night, not the cpap machine. My dr. recommended it, but we have to fight the insurance co. b/c they do not pay for cpap for mild apnea. Unfortunately, I have two problems: I have mild sleep apnea AND my oxygen levels are low even when I do breathe. So I guess the oxygen can only do so much good on its own. There are still times when I am not breathing. Despite all of this, I am sleeping soooo much better! Thanks for replying though. It makes sense that it takes a while to feel better.
   — peacefuldaizy

March 17, 2006
Annette: Please check with your doctor. There could be other reasons for your feeling tired: anemia, depression, lack of protein in your diet, needing more exercise, need of a vitamin, etc. I,too, have a CPAP and I could sleep 12 hours and still feel tired. I have depression and once my psychiatrist got me on the correct dose of an anti-depressant, I feel much better and my energy level is returning. I actually feel like doing things I'd given up in the past. Good luck, Judy
   — juju524

March 17, 2006
Annette, O2 for mild apnea does not sound like a proper treatment but hey I am not a Dr that's for sure. I have severe apnea....My pressure settings were as high as 29/15. One more notch for me and I would be bipap and O2. The reason I think just O2 alone is not treatment for this problem is that the cause of sleep apnea is the muscles in the throat area collapse and close off the airway which causes you not to breathe. Without a constant pressure to open up the airway you still stop breathing. O2 is good because when it does open it gives you a high quality of O2 than normal breathing which will bump up your O2 levels in the blood. But to truly treat the problem you do need to force the muscles to stay clear from your breathing opening. I take it you could not tolerate CPAP? If you are mild apnea then the problem will more than likely improve with time and the WLS. It does take our bodies a few weeks to adjust. But you should feel better almost immediately after treatment. If my titration (machine setting) is off just a little bit I am the most miserable person in the world. I usually go for a study about a month of being miserable.....I think its something else bothering me all the time. Monitor how you feel each day and how much sleep you are doing. If you don't improve in 2 weeks I would call the Dr back and give him this information and see if there is anything else that can be done. OSA is not fun.
   — dcox94

March 18, 2006
Annette, If you need a cpap and can't afford it, join freecycle and post that you need one. someone may have had wls and don't need it anymore. The site is www.freecycle.org You will have to look to find one that is close to you. You pick out a city that is listed for it and join. Great way to get rid of stuff to keep it out of landfills, and a great way to find things you need. I was on o2 before I got my cpap.
   — geneswife