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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on December 13, 2009 at 9:51am

I would give the CPAP time to work- a reasonable amount of time, say six months- it varies for all of us. Everyday forgetfullness, while very scary, is different from getting lost, forgetting where you're going and having days that you make no sense and don't even remember (fortunately I have a partner who notices these things). Maybe you need to deal with the other issues, too, or maybe as my Doc likes to do, deal with one issue at a time. Now that doesn't mean I'm not being treated for bipolar disorder and some neurological issues at the same time as OSA. They are all necessary to treat . Maybe some of your issues require immediate attention, or perhaps you can concentrate on one thing at a time.
We forget how devastating the diagnosis of OSA can be. There is a good article on WIKI, available on our sister site, that talks about the stress brought on with an OSA diagnosis- it's more stressfull than you may realize at first.
SO give yourself a break. The worry is a viscious cycle. Concentrate on doing the best with your OSA therapy as you can. Your concentration should improve, too. Follow up with your doc (sleep, GP, psychiatrist, whoever, if you don't improve). Look for small changes, not overnight improvement. Most of all you are not alone. Again I highly recommend the article on Wiki to give you some idea of what stressors are out there.
Keep venting here and keep us posted. Best of luck, Melissa.
http://www.cpaptalk.com/wiki/index.php/Social_and_Psychological_Fac...
Mary Zimlic

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Permalink Reply by Claire A. Murray on December 18, 2009 at 7:40am

Since you say you are still tired all the time, how long have you been on apnea therapy? I have been using a CPAP for 6 years now. I've had apnea for more than 40 years, so am not surprised that it is taking time for my body to adjust and normalize. I am always delighted when I notice these changes for the better that have come upon me gradually.

The first improvement I noticed, after a few months, was that I wasn't falling asleep while working or afraid to drive because of fear I'd fall asleep at the wheel. Then, about two years ago, my body temperature & circulation began to normalize. I used to have to wear socks to bed even in the summer because my feet would be cold. Now I only occasionally wear socks to bed in the winter! My O2 level while sleeping was so low -- in the 50s -- before treatment, that I wonder why I didn't stroke out. Now I find myself waking up earlier in the mornings than I used to.

We won't undo years of damage quickly. Certainly, memory, concentration, & short-term retention have also improved. As others have noted, improved sleep patterns help in many areas. CPAP therapy won't fix other physiological issues, true, but it will help "level the playing field" within the body so its own natural systems can work better and that can help medications do their job better. So, keep up with it and let your body heal from however many years of sleep and/or O2 deprivation you've suffered. Good luck.

Melinda Hertel said:

I struggle with short-term memory loss too. My ability to concentrate and read has improved with CPAP. However, there are times that I struggle to remember things throughout the day, and I also have times where I struggle to get words out--the thoughts are there, but I can't find the words. I lose my train of thought too.

For me, since I am female, I believe it has a lot to do with monthly hormonal fluctuations. The reason I mention that is because there are other medical reasons why memory/concentration can be affected. If lack of O2 from sleep apnea is the cause, CPAP should help. However, if it doesn't help, there may be other causes for you. I am also still tired all the time, although my stamina and ability to focus have improved. I was beginning to fear falling asleep driving--that doesn't happen anymore.

I guess my point is....sleep apnea causes a lot of these problems. But, CPAP doesn't always fix them 100% if there are other physiological issues present.

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