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Permalink Reply by SleepyEm on June 21, 2009 at 12:28pm

Hi Madeline..I'm a new Cpap user (since about December) and have struggled with exactly the same symptoms for years. Also relied on acupuncture to make things bearable. And I was also on Lexapro but have now been off it for a while. Stick with the Cpap...it really does take a while to get used to the routine but gradually you'll start waking up and having more mornings when you think, "wow, this is what people are supposed to feel like when they wake up!." I still have off days for sure and I (and my doctors) think the anxiety I've had for years is in no small part due to the stress the apnea has caused to my heart. I'm only 34 but sometimes feel like I'm 74. The cpap has at least made that feeling diminish to the point where I at least don't feel like that EVERY day. I hope things are better for you soon!

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:20pm

Ercilia said:

Hi Madeline..I'm a new Cpap user (since about December) and have struggled with exactly the same symptoms for years. Also relied on acupuncture to make things bearable. And I was also on Lexapro but have now been off it for a while. Stick with the Cpap...it really does take a while to get used to the routine but gradually you'll start waking up and having more mornings when you think, "wow, this is what people are supposed to feel like when they wake up!." I still have off days for sure and I (and my doctors) think the anxiety I've had for years is in no small part due to the stress the apnea has caused to my heart. I'm only 34 but sometimes feel like I'm 74. The cpap has at least made that feeling diminish to the point where I at least don't feel like that EVERY day. I hope things are better for you soon!

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:22pm

Ercilia,
How long had you been on lexapro? Do you feel ok off of it? I just don't want to go on other meds.
Did the acupuncture help?

Thanks,
Jazzmynn

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:33pm

madeline shirley said:

Ercilia said:

Hi Madeline..I'm a new Cpap user (since about December) and have struggled with exactly the same symptoms for years. Also relied on acupuncture to make things bearable. And I was also on Lexapro but have now been off it for a while. Stick with the Cpap...it really does take a while to get used to the routine but gradually you'll start waking up and having more mornings when you think, "wow, this is what people are supposed to feel like when they wake up!." I still have off days for sure and I (and my doctors) think the anxiety I've had for years is in no small part due to the stress the apnea has caused to my heart. I'm only 34 but sometimes feel like I'm 74. The cpap has at least made that feeling diminish to the point where I at least don't feel like that EVERY day. I hope things are better for you soon!

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Permalink Reply by SleepyEm on June 21, 2009 at 1:35pm

I was on Lexapro for about a year or more. I wouldn't recommend stopping medication without consulting with your doctor, although I went off "cold turkey" without significant problems. For me, the anxiety/depression was compounded by my constant exhaustion (as well as my jumpy heart). I really feel that despite the struggles getting used to the Cpap, it made a life-altering difference in my ability to function through the day...and that, in turn, helped my mood tremendously, allowing me to go off the meds. Depending on your life situation, your anxiety could be stemming/compounded by other issues as well. C-pap was just one of several very big changes I made in my life over the last year. Also, I'm not a believer in just taking depression meds without therapy to help you understand the big picture. Acupuncture helped me with symptoms and mood, but it depended upon my consistency. I was one of those people who never believed in acupuncture until I gave in and was willing to try anything out of desperation. It helped but was, by no means, a magic cure for me.

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:35pm

Ercilia,
One more thing..do you have a data capable cpap machine?
I don't and wonder if it makes a difference.

Also, which dr told you it could take some time to get better?

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:37pm

Ercilia said:

I was on Lexapro for about a year or more. I wouldn't recommend stopping medication without consulting with your doctor, although I went off "cold turkey" without significant problems. For me, the anxiety/depression was compounded by my constant exhaustion (as well as my jumpy heart). I really feel that despite the struggles getting used to the Cpap, it made a life-altering difference in my ability to function through the day...and that, in turn, helped my mood tremendously, allowing me to go off the meds. Depending on your life situation, your anxiety could be stemming/compounded by other issues as well. C-pap was just one of several very big changes I made in my life over the last year. Also, I'm not a believer in just taking depression meds without therapy to help you understand the big picture. Acupuncture helped me with symptoms and mood, but it depended upon my consistency. I was one of those people who never believed in acupuncture until I gave in and was willing to try anything out of desperation. It helped but was, by no means, a magic cure for me.

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Permalink Reply by SleepyEm on June 21, 2009 at 1:42pm

I do have a data capable machine but I'm honestly not sure how it impacts anything/works. My sleep doctor is really not helpful explaining any of that, just more concerned with "selling" me equipment. Thank goodness I have a great general practitioner who's been a tremendous help to me. If your doctors are not working for you, trust your gut and try somebody else.

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Permalink Reply by madeline shirley on June 21, 2009 at 1:44pm

Ercilia,
Please don't mind me asking so much, but you are the first person I have found with similar symptoms.
You know, I've had the jumpy heart or missed beats for years. I hope that gets better. Did a doctor ever tell you what that was from?

I am seeing a therapist and have been for awhile.

I also am on hormone medication from hysterectomy and the dr just changed it to see if it makes a difference.

I wondered if you have hadbody aches and pains, They say fibromyalgia is common in sleep apnea people.

My goal is to get better like you are.

My sleep apnea probably has been there for years, so it could take time I guess.

Thank you for sharing your info with me!!

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Permalink Reply by SleepyEm on June 21, 2009 at 2:10pm

No problem! I am so happy to have found this forum, too! It has often felt like I'm going through this alone and it helps to talk to folks who are going through the same thing. My doctor did tell me the anxiety and missed beats are related to each other...and that it is very likely related to the apnea. However, it's all so new (the diagnosis, not the anxiety/heart stuff) that I am also looking for a lot of answers. In fact, I thought for a long time my jumpy heart was just "in my head" and that I was making a mountain out of a mole hill...UNTIL I was at my second sleep study and they actually woke me up in the middle of the night to make sure all my heart leads were connected properly because they kept seeing irregular heartbeats. As frightening as that was, it was a RELIEF to know that there was something actually going on and that it wasn't just my paranoia/overreaction. My doctor had me start to take fish oil and magnesium to help with my heart and I do really think it's helped a bit, although I do still have episodes, unfortunately. As for body aches and pains...hahaha! YES. I am so used to feeling crappy that I just kind of grin and bear them.

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Permalink Reply by amott1973 on June 21, 2009 at 8:40pm

Interesting that you guys mention the jumpy heart thing. I actually had that start a bit over a year ago and I was already doing cpap then. But I was definitely worried. I thought maybe it was like a panic attack or some kind of pre-heart attack thing. So I went to the doc and kept pushing it till they ordered me a 24 hour heart monitor. I wore it for one day, charted the times I felt the weird jumps and they looked at the data. For me it didn't happen all the time, but mostly when I was under stress (like driving on the interstate for example). Turned out they were "Premature Atrial Contractions" and according to the docs, nothing I needed to worry about. I could take beta blockers to reduce them, but those have such side effects I decided to skip them. But it was such a relief to KNOW what it was! I definitely recommend asking your doc about those 24 hour monitors if you haven't already had the doc hear exactly what's happening.

As for the aches and pains, I too get them, have for years. I guess they have gotten better after the cpap, I didn't realize it could be related to that. I suppose it was about 2 years though before it was a noticeable improvement, if the cpap was what did it. I thought for sure I had fibromyalgia, arthritis or lupus it was so bad sometimes. For about the last year or so though it's been really gone for most of the time. Occasional twinges, but nothing that naproxen or ibuprofen (anti-inflammatories) can't handle.

Here's another thing to consider though, there was a time when the pain was crippling and unbearable, and it was during the 3 months we lived in Memphis, TN. I have no idea why, but something about that area had me from a very active person who'd lived in FL to someone who could barely walk, and couldn't drive from the pain in my legs and arms. It went away when we moved back to FL. I've never had it happen anywhere else. Coincidence? Not sure.

But regardless of whether it turns out that your pains and depression are related to the apnea, keep up with the cpap. Everything is worse when you're not getting good sleep!

Good luck!

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