Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel

[drago7579]

So I'm about five months into this now, after being diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.  While my AHI numbers have been good (hovering around 1), I have not noticed much if any difference in the sleeping issues that I had before I started CPAP.

I'm mainly referring to early morning awakenings (sometimes more than one) after 3 or 4 hours of sleep.  I'm usually able to fall back asleep but sometimes I do not (and this can last for several nights in a row).  With the mask on, I can't seem to sleep more than four hours without waking up.

My positioning is fine, for the most part.  When I do wake up too early, it's not when there is obstruction.

CPAP does not seem to be the miracle cure for any insomnia that I have.  Is it safe to say that these are two separate issues?  I say that knowing that I tried pretty much every possible common recommendation to deal with insomnia, other than CPAP, prior to starting CPAP (i.e. stay away from screens at night, use blueblocker glasses, keep room dark/cool, etc).  I just want to make sure I'm maximizing the benefits of CPAP before I look into any other possible solutions.

I do battle chronic sinus congestion, but have managed to treat that with various nose sprays, but I will still wake up occasionally.

BTW I went on vacation recently where I had several nights in a row where I did not use CPAP and noticed no difference in my sleeping habits or how I feel.  Is it possible that CPAP is not really worth it for me?  My doctor has been pretty much useless when it comes to advice and he tells me to go online and do research.  It feels like I'm dealing with this extra hassle (sleeping with a mask, cleaning, etc, not to mention paying a monthly bill) for little or no benefit.

[Sleepster]

It looks to me like the CPAP machine is raising the pressure to keep your airway open, so I would say that it's something you need.

Are there any mornings at all when you wake up feeling like you got at least some good sleep?

I had the very same problems with insomnia that you're having, and it took more than five months to resolve them. I figure that I had sleep apnea for at least a couple of decades before I started CPAP therapy. During that time my body had to adapt to sleeping with apneas. It took me more than five months for my body to learn that now that I have a CPAP machine it doesn't need to keep waking me up to breathe.

It's good that you have those good sleep hygiene habits. Keep that up. My sleep doctor prescribed trazodone for me to help with this problem. I rarely have to take them now.

Just hang in there and be patient. Things like this can take time to resolve for some of us.

You mentioned that you were diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. That means your AHI was somewhere between 5 and 15, if I'm not mistaken. Do you know what your AHI was on your sleep study? Let's say it was 10, as an example. That basically means you stopped breathing 10 times per hour, or once every 6 minutes, on average. It's considered mild, but that's just a clinical term used by researchers to distinguish it from more severe cases of sleep apnea. It doesn't mean that the effect it's having on you is mild. Can you imagine having someone disturbing your sleep every six minutes by shaking you or something like that? It wouldn't make for a good night's sleep!

[drago7579]

It looks to me like the CPAP machine is raising the pressure to keep your airway open, so I would say that it's something you need.

Are there any mornings at all when you wake up feeling like you got at least some good sleep?

I had the very same problems with insomnia that you're having, and it took more than five months to resolve them. I figure that I had sleep apnea for at least a couple of decades before I started CPAP therapy. During that time my body had to adapt to sleeping with apneas. It took me more than five months for my body to learn that now that I have a CPAP machine it doesn't need to keep waking me up to breathe.

It's good that you have those good sleep hygiene habits. Keep that up. My sleep doctor prescribed trazodone for me to help with this problem. I rarely have to take them now.

Just hang in there and be patient. Things like this can take time to resolve for some of us.

You mentioned that you were diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. That means your AHI was somewhere between 5 and 15, if I'm not mistaken. Do you know what your AHI was on your sleep study? Let's say it was 10, as an example. That basically means you stopped breathing 10 times per hour, or once every 6 minutes, on average. It's considered mild, but that's just a clinical term used by researchers to distinguish it from more severe cases of sleep apnea. It doesn't mean that the effect it's having on you is mild. Can you imagine having someone disturbing your sleep every six minutes by shaking you or something like that? It wouldn't make for a good night's sleep!

I feel okay most mornings but rarely ever feel great when first waking up....about the same as before CPAP.  I think my AHI was 8 or 9.  That was from just one hour of sleep in the sleep study as I could barely sleep with everything hooked up. 

I'll stick it out for awhile longer and see how it goes.  Thanks for responding.  Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.  It's a bit frustrating to spend time and money on something that doesn't seem to be all that effective.

[Sleepster]

Using the CPAP machine will reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease and stroke.