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Newbie, not yet educated, mild-moderate-severe? CPAP headaches normal?

Hi all, I had sleep study done Monday night for the second time: a do-over appointment so to speak.
First time I could only sleep about 2 - 3 hours which was apparently not long enough to do the CPAP part of the study. I was told that during that time (about 2 or 3 hours) I stopped breathing 198 times and was rescheduled for a second night. Mon. night I was able to sleep about 5 hours.
I have no lab results on paper (yet). I'll call and have detailed lab results mailed (curiosity has gotten to me after finding this web site - now I have to know every detail).

After the do-over sleep study was completed the doctor came in for a chat. He said I stopped breathing 50 times (I assume per hour). And that my O2 "only" went as low as 88 one time. We spent a lot of time talking about other medical problems which may be improved after treatment for apnea starts. Sleep results kinda got brushed over quickly because we spent so much time talking about the other medical problems.

Keep in mind I have not educated myself about OSA yet.
My quickie question is: the Doc said that 5 or less is normal. (I am assuming he was referring to how many times you stop breathing.) He said my number is 50 "which is the cut-off for moderate". And that 51 or above is severe. Since my number is 50 he says I am "moderate to severe". HOWEVER, from what I read on this web site anything over 30 is considered severe (I'm confused).
The pressure on my CPaP is 11. Isn't that very very LOW.
If my O2 only went to 88 it seems like I have a split personality of maybe really having sleep apnea on one hand and then on the other hand maybe I don't have apnea at all. Isn't 88 only one time not that bad?
Maybe I am just goofy REM deprived and should not be online at such a vulnerable wacky time :-D
Do different labs use different stop breathing guideline numbers?
Thanks to anyone who can explain the 30 vs. 50 "severe" guideline.
Oh, one other quick question. Is it typical to get bad headaches when first using the CPAP machine? After sleeping with it the night of the test I got a bad headache. Then last night here at home another BAD headache. This afternoon, exhausted, took a nap and headache got worse. Any input would be appreciated. I will have time to educate myself beginning this weekend. Until then I would really appreciate any input anyone could offer. Thank you, Barbara

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Hi White Beard!! Well, it's nearly 90 days later and, just as you said, I'm feeling MUCH better. Certainly not back to normal (whatever that may be) but way improved since you were so helpful to me back in July.

I just wanted to thank you again for being so kind to me. When I re-read my post from that day, I was kinda shocked to remember how terribly distressed I was. I know I was, but reading my own words brings it all back and makes me realize how much better I'm doing today.

You may be my hero 'cause you were the first one I remember reaching out to me so kindly. It made a HUGE difference. Still does. So thank you, so much. '

I hope you'll stay around SG and not be gone so long. We need your kind of encouragement on here with so many, many new people coming to SleepGuide every day....

Susan McCord :-)

susan mccord said:
Thank you so much. You're my first responder and I very much appreciate your taking the time to answer. I'm particularly comforted by your saying how long it may take to get past the fatigue. Everyone around me, not apnea patients!, seems to think I should be up and at 'em by now. I don't seem able to make them understand that I'm trying but just not there yet. You helped me great deal today, so thanks again.
-Susan :-)

White Beard said:
Hi Susan
I have not posted at this sight for a very long time, I got an E-mail telling me about your post. Anyway I have been on XPAP since January of 07, and I have went from CPAP to CPAP with Oxygen to BIPAP with Oxygen to finally the VPAP Adapt SV with Oxygen. I have Complex sleep apnea. First off if you treatment is right, it can ( according to my Doctor) up to 90 days or longer before you will even start to feel a difference in your fatigue and extreme tiredness. You didn't get Sleep apnea over night and the symptoms of it will not go away over night either. So you do need to give it some time, From my personal experience, this is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to master! It is no fun donning a mask every night and hooking it up to the machine that blows a seemingly thousand mile an hour wind up your nose and down your throat! But believe me the results when they finally come are well worth the trouble! Yes you can expect to still be tired, but with that said if you don't get any relief after a few months then you should definitely go back to your sleep doctor and talk to him about it, you may need another sleep study or have your settings changed. For further information and help may I suggest that you try going to: http://www.apneasupport.org/index.php this is also a good forum and they also have allot of good information. Good Luck to you White Beard
Susan McCord

I am so Happy that you are doing better! It will probably still take you some time before you get to feel anything close to your old self again! But you will still improve with more time! I must admit I haven't been around this forum much in the last few months, I have had some medical problems that I have had to have fixed, I just had a C5-C6 diskectomy and fusion done on my neck this past Monday, and I have had some personal issues I have been dealing with (divorce) but when I got the E-mail telling me you had responded to my last post I just had to come and read your response and of course reply!

Anyway I do feel using XPAP is extremely important! And anything I can do to help a person be successful with it, well I will help that person as much as I can! I know what a hard time I had,( just to get the proper treatment, and I don't want anyone to have to suffer through that!) Your Post has brightened my day Susan! I do wish you well and continued success!


Good Luck to You

White Beard
White Beard, I think I'm in love........... :-)

Great to hear from you again. Sounds like you HAVE been a little busy since we last heard from you. Hope you're feeling better.

Susan McCord

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