09-25-2024, 08:05 AM
I can't sleep without using CPAP
Hello everyone. I was wondering if I could ask the expert users of the forum a question I have.
I’d like to know if any of you have experienced what I have been experiencing lately, in some way related to my Sleep apnea.
I was diagnosed in 2010 with severe obstructive apnoea, and I was prescribed a CPAP at 10 mm pressure. At that time, I did not notice any symptoms (I was not tired, I slept without problems, etc.), but the person who slept with me detected that I had episodes of not breathing. I quickly adapted to the CPAP, although I did not notice that I slept better or worse. My level of rest was good. I even had no problem using the CPAP for naps.
But, over time (years later), I began to realize that if I fell asleep without the CPAP, I would wake up after a few seconds, with a feeling of pressure in my chest and desperately looking for air. Is it possible that I have become so accustomed to using a CPAP that I cannot even close my eyes if I am not connected to the device?
On the other hand, since I was prescribed the CPAP, I have been losing weight, until I have lost almost 110 pounds. At first, my doctor told me that the pressure would have to be adjusted. And that's when the nightmare began. If I lowered the pressure, I couldn't sleep, waking up as soon as I closed my eyes with discomfort in my chest, like terrible fatigue. If I raised it, I also had chest discomfort (in addition to aerophagia) due to excess pressure. I decided to get an A-CPAP, and it seems to have given me some relief from those unpleasant sensations, although even with the A-CPAP, if I try to rest on my back, the "close my eyes-throat closes-chest gets tired-I wake up" pattern begins.
This morning, I had an MRI of my left shoulder. I didn't sleep much last night and I was tired. I fell asleep and woke up in the MRI tube about 15 or 20 times, praying for the torture of sleeping and waking up choked to end. After the test, I spent two or three hours with my chest almost painfully tight and tired, as if I had run a marathon. I think it was due to the effort of my lungs and the strain on my chest trying to get air through a closed throat.
I have a stent in my heart, but I don't have any heart problems now that could cause these symptoms. In fact, I had a thorough check-up of my heart (ekg, X-rays, blood tests and cardiac ultrasound) a week ago and everything is fine .
So, I repeat my questions: It is normal for this to happen after so many years of using CPAP? Have I become so acclimated to CPAP that I can't even close my eyes if I'm not using it? Having lost so much weight, shouldn't I be much better?
I appreciate in advance your answers, advice or experiences you have had in relation to this. And I apologize for my English: I don't know if I can be understood well using Google Translator.
Regards and thank you very much again.
I’d like to know if any of you have experienced what I have been experiencing lately, in some way related to my Sleep apnea.
I was diagnosed in 2010 with severe obstructive apnoea, and I was prescribed a CPAP at 10 mm pressure. At that time, I did not notice any symptoms (I was not tired, I slept without problems, etc.), but the person who slept with me detected that I had episodes of not breathing. I quickly adapted to the CPAP, although I did not notice that I slept better or worse. My level of rest was good. I even had no problem using the CPAP for naps.
But, over time (years later), I began to realize that if I fell asleep without the CPAP, I would wake up after a few seconds, with a feeling of pressure in my chest and desperately looking for air. Is it possible that I have become so accustomed to using a CPAP that I cannot even close my eyes if I am not connected to the device?
On the other hand, since I was prescribed the CPAP, I have been losing weight, until I have lost almost 110 pounds. At first, my doctor told me that the pressure would have to be adjusted. And that's when the nightmare began. If I lowered the pressure, I couldn't sleep, waking up as soon as I closed my eyes with discomfort in my chest, like terrible fatigue. If I raised it, I also had chest discomfort (in addition to aerophagia) due to excess pressure. I decided to get an A-CPAP, and it seems to have given me some relief from those unpleasant sensations, although even with the A-CPAP, if I try to rest on my back, the "close my eyes-throat closes-chest gets tired-I wake up" pattern begins.
This morning, I had an MRI of my left shoulder. I didn't sleep much last night and I was tired. I fell asleep and woke up in the MRI tube about 15 or 20 times, praying for the torture of sleeping and waking up choked to end. After the test, I spent two or three hours with my chest almost painfully tight and tired, as if I had run a marathon. I think it was due to the effort of my lungs and the strain on my chest trying to get air through a closed throat.
I have a stent in my heart, but I don't have any heart problems now that could cause these symptoms. In fact, I had a thorough check-up of my heart (ekg, X-rays, blood tests and cardiac ultrasound) a week ago and everything is fine .
So, I repeat my questions: It is normal for this to happen after so many years of using CPAP? Have I become so acclimated to CPAP that I can't even close my eyes if I'm not using it? Having lost so much weight, shouldn't I be much better?
I appreciate in advance your answers, advice or experiences you have had in relation to this. And I apologize for my English: I don't know if I can be understood well using Google Translator.
Regards and thank you very much again.
