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Still Tired After CPAP: Why Do I Feel Worse After Using My CPAP Equipment?

Table of Contents

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Initial Fatigue is Common: It’s not unusual to feel more tired after starting CPAP therapy. Consistency and patience are key to seeing improvements.
  • Adjustment Period: Getting used to the mask and the machine takes time. Initially, you might experience issues like mask leaks, claustrophobia, or dry mouth, which sabotage your therapy.
  • Compliance Matters: Many people quit CPAP therapy due to initial discomfort. To get the most out of your treatment, practice wearing your mask and keep your equipment clean.
  • Try CPAP Accessories: Sometimes, the secret to getting the most out of therapy is a mask liner, heated hose, fabric frame wraps, or a good CPAP pillow.
  • Focus on Long-Term Benefits: Despite the initial challenges, many users report renewed energy and focus once they’ve adjusted to their CPAP machine.

If you’re not used to sleeping with CPAP equipment, adding new devices to your sleep routine can be a big adjustment—and you may be surprised that you feel more tired after starting CPAP treatment. Even if you’re no longer experiencing classic sleep apnea symptoms after starting sleep therapy, you may be, much to your disappointment, still tired after CPAP.

It might be encouraging to know, though, that it’s common for people with sleep apnea to feel the same (or even worse) right after starting CPAP therapy. You may be wondering, “How long does CPAP take to work?” The short answer is that you are more likely to see results (such as feeling less fatigued) when you prioritize consistency and patience, but it’s different for everyone.

Some of the most important things you can do to ensure successful CPAP treatment is being consistent, building a good support system, and ensuring you like and trust your physician or sleep specialist. It may take a few months, but the good news is that when your CPAP treatment does start working for you, you will feel less tired and better than you have in awhile.

Reasons You Are Still Tired After CPAP Treatment 

One study showed it can take three weeks for daytime sleepiness to improve, but some may still feel tired after CPAP for months. When we say CPAP therapy takes time, we don’t just mean a few days or weeks, so make your best effort to adjust to sleep therapy.

When beginning CPAP treatment, you may need to become accustomed to:

  • The feeling of pressure on your face and throat
  • Changing your sleep position to accommodate the mask
  • The new noise in the room, stemming from the CPAP equipment
  • Refraining from taking the CPAP mask off overnight

Of all of these, many agree the most difficult to overcome is removing the mask while sleeping. Obviously, if the mask isn’t on, it can’t make a difference in how you feel—and you may even feel worse.

Other people may feel worse after using their CPAP equipment due to:

You may be asking yourself, “Is it normal to be tired after starting CPAP?” Yes, and many new users find that it takes months to start feeling the benefits of uninterrupted sleep. If your sleep schedule has been off for a long time, sleeping well isn’t something you can change overnight (no pun intended). 

On the other hand, if your sleep quality wasn’t poor before beginning CPAP treatment, you may not notice a big difference once you start sleep therapy. Keep in mind that some people with sleep apnea may wake up 15 to 20 times per hour while others may only wake up a few times per hour. If you have a very mild form of sleep apnea and have been largely asymptomatic, you may not notice any improvement throughout treatment. However, leaving your sleep apnea untreated can lead to severe cardiovascular and metabolic conditions as well as other symptoms like daytime sleepiness, frequent overnight urination, teeth grinding, short-term memory issues, and poor focus or concentration.

There’s no denying that sleep apnea treatment can cause a person to experience certain side effects, and chances are, it’s not going to be comfortable in the beginning—your body may simply need time to adjust to CPAP treatment. 

How to Get the Most Out of Your CPAP Therapy

Compliance Is Key

One study shows between one-third to over 50 percent of CPAP wearers either quit sleep therapy or never even fill their prescription (partially because they’re still tired after CPAP), but there are several things you can do to make your CPAP experience more comfortable, including:

  • Practice wearing your mask during the day
  • Limit your evening naps, which may interfere with nighttime sleep
  • Lower your caffeine intake
  • Use a decongestant for nasal relief
  • Routinely clean your CPAP equipment 

As with most health conditions, sleep apnea doesn’t resolve itself without treatment, and also like most health conditions, sleep apnea conditions can get worse without treatment.

One way to get the most out of your therapy is to set goals for yourself. To start, aim to wear your mask for a certain amount of hours, incrementally increasing the length of time it’s worn each night. Though it may help to slowly acclimate to wearing your CPAP mask, it’s critical to work your way up to wearing it all night long, since you won’t reap the benefits of the last stage of sleep, rapid eye movement (or REM), if you’ve prematurely removed your mask.

As time goes on, you will discover which sleeping positions feel most comfortable, and though getting used to your CPAP therapy may seem like a challenge at first, don’t give up: CPAP is proven to work.

Share Your Experience

Consider joining an in-person or online support group, or even engaging in comments on blog posts on CPAP.com. (We have a free sleep apnea forum, too, where you can ask questions, get insight, and meet other people with sleep apnea.) It can also help to talk to your partner about sleep apnea, as they can be a helpful source of encouragement and support. 

Reminding yourself of the big picture and your “why” for continuing CPAP therapy is a great way to stay encouraged; surrounding yourself with a strong support system matters: studies suggest that some who started CPAP therapy eventually reported symptoms of depression, causing them to give up on CPAP.

If you feel depressed after starting CPAP, share your symptoms with your physician to determine if you could benefit from working with a therapist, as well. A therapist may not only help stave off the symptoms of depression but also help you maintain a more positive outlook on life, increasing the likelihood of sleep therapy compliance.

Practice Makes Perfect

To achieve continuous CPAP compliance, here are a few ways you can practice getting used to your CPAP machine and mask:

  • If you’re having a hard time getting used to the mask, try wearing it while you’re awake
  • If you’re just watching TV or reading, put on your mask and turn the machine on. The more you experience the air pressure in the CPAP mask, the faster you’ll get used to it
  • Always make sure your machine is switched on while wearing your mask
  • Try the ramp feature (available on many devices), which gradually increases pressurized air instead of starting your night at full pressure

Use CPAP Accessories

Getting used to sleeping with CPAP therapy can be difficult, but it does get easier with time. If you’re still tired after CPAP therapy, it’s worth investigating solutions that may help. There are plenty of products designed specifically for providing comfort for CPAP users, which can help you limit or eliminate CPAP fatigue. If you don’t know which comfort items could serve you best, we can help you identify nearly-personalized products depending on the type of CPAP issue you’re experiencing.

Top CPAP comfort items—specifically for those who feel worse after starting CPAP treatment—that can enhance your CPAP experience include:

Each of these items are designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, giving your body the rest it needs so you can wake up feeling refreshed. Be aware that you may experience some minor CPAP side effects when starting therapy, which is normal and may require adjustments to your mask size or pressure settings, the use of nasal congestion products, or the addition of comfort items like a heated humidifier. Never adjust your CPAP settings or cease sleep therapy without consulting your sleep care physician first.

Talk to Your Physician

Open communication with your doctor about your CPAP therapy experience is so important, especially when you first start out. Each individual is different, so be sure to let your doctor know how your experience is going and don’t hesitate to communicate any issues or concerns you have. 

Some issues—including mask leaks, incorrect air pressure, and mask discomfort—can have relatively simple solutions. Open communication with your physician could be the difference between feeling better sooner rather than later.

Final Thoughts

Research indicates that the more you actively participate in your treatment, the better your outcomes will be. CPAP therapy is unique in that it requires you, the CPAP wearer, to actively participate in your own treatment which can indirectly control your health outcome and help prevent you from being still tired after CPAP.

Some surgical interventions mean you’re symptom-free after the initial postoperative recovery, but CPAP treatment requires you to utilize your CPAP equipment right after diagnosis and to keep at it every night. Many say that after becoming adjusted to their CPAP machine, the renewed energy and invigorating focus they have far outweighs any minor discomfort they experienced. 

If you’re still tired after CPAP, implementing these solutions and products into your sleep care routine can make all the difference.

References:

1. Weaver, Terri E. et al. Relationship Between Hours of CPAP Use and Achieving Normal Levels of Sleepiness and Daily Functioning Published in the medical journal Sleep in 2007: 711–719. Accessed on October 18, 2018..

  • The CPAP Team

    CPAP.com is a family-owned and operated business dedicated to providing affordable sleep apnea equipment to those who need sleep therapy. The CPAP team strives to provide insightful and meaningful information to its audience, keeping you in the know on the latest happenings in the sleep health and respiratory world.

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44 Responses

  1. I have been using my dream cpap machine doe 10 months anddo not feel better I sleep twice as long but am actually more tired than I was before. I don’t have air leaks, i rarely wake up in the middle of the night I have major memory, attention problems and am being for depression wjich I no longer have. I have changes in most I.my medication at different time, so I don’t think that is the problem. My mental health issues have been changed over the last few years. Have tried many different sleep medications including natural and herbal supplements all with negative side effect, still being tired and concentration problems. Please help!

    1. Hi Doris,

      I am very sorry to hear that you are struggling with your sleep. Unfortunately, this sounds like something you may need to speak with your doctor about since it does not seem like you are struggling with your CPAP therapy. Your doctor may choose to adjust your pressure, or try to help you pinpoint exactly your struggle is.

  2. I love my CPAP. Embrace it as your best friend. I have used that mentality from the beginning. Positive thoughts while ignoring the inconvenience. I adopted this approach after hearing a few of my friends (before my diagnosis) who said that they were put on CPAP and couldn’t get used to it and discontinued it’s use. Please everybody consider the CPAP as a friend who is going to save your life. My sleep study showed that I experienced about 100 interruptions an hour and that my oxygen level was at 64. I was about 48 at the time of the study and had been a very heavy snorer for about twenty years. I assume that I had not been getting much REM sleep for twenty years. Since day one I have 100% compliant for the past 7 years. But during the first couple of months on CPAP I was twice as exhausted but that eventually went away. I am not a doctor but I presumed that it was because my body was not used to REM sleep. Does that explanation make any sense.

    1. Appreciate the comments! I’ve been using my CPAP since 2017, and I love it. When it works, the way I’m able to take on the day far outweighs any discomfort I may experience at night. Like you, I also struggled at the beginning of my therapy, but I pushed through it, and I’m very happy with the results.

    2. I appreciate the comment on viewing the CPAP machine as your friend. I knew going in I was going to use my machine every day. I don’t feel better right now but I’ve only been using it less than two weeks. I look forward to the time when I will feel rested from using it.

  3. I really wish they would require people to be licensed to write this garbage, there is much more to it than what you wrote here and it steers people in the WRONG direction. Have you ever heard of respiratory alkalosis? Their settings could be too high. Please refrain from writing medical articles until you have the schooling to back what you’ve written.

    1. Hi Dr. Matt, you’re absolutely correct! We mentioned just a few common struggles that newly diagnosed patients have. You’ll also notice that in this particular post we also mentioned that it is very important for patients to have open communication with their doctors regarding their struggles. We also mentioned this: https://www.cpap.com/editorial-ethics.
      Would you be interested in providing content for the blog?

      If so, please send an e-mail to cpap@cpap.com. Please mark the e-mail attention Carol M. and include your contact information and we will have reach out to you directly.

      Thank you for your feedback and I hope you have a wonderful day!

    2. I read these articles because I have a CPAP machine and feel worse good mornings after I manage to keep my machine on the recommended time. I felt compelled to reply to you because you come off extremely arrogant because you are an MD. My wife has had medical issues for over 14 years and I have dealt with specialists from neurosurgeons to anesthesiologist that specialize in pain management and every other specialists in between you can think of. There are so many of these so-called experts that I end up correcting and have saved my wife’s life on more than one occasion keeping a doctor from making a huge mistake because he didn’t take the time to read through her file or even just her chart. I have met so many doctors that are book smart but have not one ounce of Common Sense and I are either too arrogant or too lazy to actually look up something they don’t know or understand. All of her problems started with a misdiagnosis when the answer was right on the bottom of the MRI report. We went to no less than 10 different specialists with ten different misdiagnosis until we looked at the bottom of the MRI report which mentioned Chiari malformation as an afterthought. It wasn’t until we looked up the symptoms and match them up to what was going on with my wife before we figured out what can separate specialists either couldn’t or couldn’t be bothered to find. So get off your high horse. Your medical degree makes you less human in my eyes

      1. I fully agree with you that certain medical practitioners try to treat the hole in the person and not the whole person purely on the” WALKING ON WATER LIKE JESUS SYNDROME” , and money chasing. If the device is set AS APAP AND ALSO THEN AS A LAST RESORT SET TO CPAP 4 START AND 20 MIN RAMP TO 9 CM H20 , your arrogant practitioner’s infinite knowledge is useless as the device reads and gives printouts or reports daily and on a regular basis. Have you ever thought the patient may be suffer from HYPOXIA, OR EVEN CENTRAL APNEA PRESENTING DUE TO CPAP TREATMENT, ??? there are a lot of variables to look at besides hypercapnic issues as being one. KIDNEY BUFFERING PH ABILITY IS ALSO AT QUESTION, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSION DUE TO IDIOPATHIC OR MEDICINE.Your attitude is not forthcoming and inviting and as a medical practitioner myself whom is passionate about my patients wellbeing 99% percent of diagnosis is made listening to the patient and not watching your degrees on the wall and smugly commenting in such a manner and cannot wait to “BILL”.
        that being said I hear your concerns but your caring approach rates a nil on the merits of your snobby retort …. Practitioners like you on your high horse rev my motor . I too suffer from FIBRILLARY GLOMERULONEPHRITIS and LUPUS PNEUMONITIS and am on my third pacemaker and on ltot(long term oxygen therapy) and have both central sleep apnea and and severe hypoxemia (awake 75 %spo2 and 52% slow at sleep off treatment ) and feel worse on CPAP treatment as either APAP OR CPAP . so ….. Food for thought while you are being lashed at now dr Whatever you can maybe reflect on said above and approach someone in a forthcoming inviting manner. I feel you are a good person under that retort , use it now to the best of your ability to help people and I apologize if I am harsh but straight..yours in humble good faith .

      2. I have been using Cpap for 18 months, generally have it on for 6-8 hours per night. My sleep Doctor advises that my number of apneas is well reduced and controlled. However, I suffer badly with poor sleep and fatigue every morning. We have tried numerous sleep meds to no value. I must believe that something related to the cpap is causing my continuing fatigue. I have no idea where to go next. Please help.

  4. I have only been using it for a month and have gone through 4 masks. I was told that I’m lucky since I don’t need a full face. This latest mask has a very soft nose pillow and an external filter on the hose and is very quiet! Fisher&Paykel Pilairo Q. I will take my mask off about 2 times a week during sleep and my face broke out really bad, but talking with the respiratory therapist helps to find things that may help. I want to get healthy and improve my life.

    1. Hi Vj, I applause you for sticking with your CPAP Therapy even though you have had to switch masks multiple times. I would encourage you to stay on the path to healthiness by continuing your therapy. If you find yourself needing assistance with selecting a mask, or just have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail: cpap@cpap.com.

      We wish you the best!

  5. Found this site while searching for information. Been on CPAP for 4 weeks. Total VOODOO medicine from the witchdoctor healthcare community. No affect or improvement in my daytime sleepiness. Doc says I need to use it longer. Won’t say when I’ll see improvement.

    No wonder the US has the highest health care costs in the world. Too many folks practicing quack medicine. Turned the machine back in today. Don’t fall for the bill of goods they are selling. Its nuts!

    1. Hi James, I am sorry that you were not able to receive any relief using your CPAP Therapy. I totally understand that how frustrating it is when being told that using CPAP Therapy will help you get a good night’s sleep only to find that you are having the same sleepiness. Keep in mind that for many CPAP users, it takes longer than one month of using the machine in order to see results. Unfortunately, much like your doctor, how long it will take for you to realize improvement is not known since each individual person is different.

      Also, when you first start using the machine, you may find that you are not seeing improvements because you may need to try a different mask, or your settings may need to be adjusted to your comfort level. CPAP Therapy, has indeed changed many lives and I hope that at some point you will reconsider and try giving CPAP Therapy another try.

      If ever you have any questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.

      We wish you the best!

  6. Hello,
    I’ve been using CPAP nightly for about six hours for fourteen months. My fatigue is so severe that I’m barely able to function. I am an otherwise healthy person, no heart/lung issues, diabetes or any other serious disease. I went to see a cardiologist to make sure it wasn’t my heart, it isn’t, That cardiologist said that CPAP therapy doesn’t help everyone. My sleep doctor/pulmonologist said the same and gave me a prescription for Modafanil, which I won’t take. Please help!

    1. Hi K, I am very sorry to hear that your CPAP Therapy does not seem to be benefiting you. Have you spoken with your doctor about possible setting changes to your CPAP machine? It could be that you are not receiving enough pressure. Also if you are not currently receiving your therapy from an Auto-Titrating machne, you may want to consider this option. This is a machine that is set to a high pressure and a low pressure and your pressure changes to what you need on a breath-by-breath basis.

      Keep in mind that using your CPAP machine in conjunction with a mask that works well for you, is key. If you are finding your current mask uncomfortable, you may need to change your mask. Otherwise, I would encourage you to continue working with your doctor about the way you are feeling and any symptoms that arise. Be sure to express to your doctor that you have no interest in taking the Modafanil, this way your doctor will continue working with you to help resolve your concerns with feeling severely fatigue.

      If you would like to speak with us regarding setting adjustments, options for machines/masks, or anything else please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.

      We wish you the best!

  7. Hi,
    I’ve only been using CPAP therapy for a couple of weeks. I use a nose pillow with chinstrap to keep my mouth closed. I was able to go 7-10 hours right from the start. However, I am suffering terribly for a dry stuffed nose constantly. The cpap is the only thing that unclogs my nose. I tried full face masks but I’m way too claustrophobic. Does the dry stuffy nose eventually go away??

    1. Hey Cathy, i’m sorry about the dry, stuffed nose that you are experiencing. Dry nose is a common side effect when using CPAP Therapy. Are you currently using a humidifier? If not, you may try adding one and if you are currently using a humidifier, please try turning it to a higher setting. Also, a Nose Lubricant may provide some relief as well.

      The link below will provide additional information. Please feel free to contact us directly with further questions, or concerns at: 1-800-356-5221.

      https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Common-Side-Effects

      Have a great day!

  8. I have been using my CPAP for 2 1/2 years. It doesn’t help me. I’ve had at least four inpatient sleep studies and two or three at home. I have tried many masks and I just really think it doesn’t work for me. My doctor has been diligent in helping me with pressure etc. I just don’t think it’s going to work for me. I’m still tired during the day sometimes I think more. Are there some patients that it really doesn’t work for? Is there some rare alternative treatment? Thank you. Marilyn

    1. Hi Marilyn, CPAP Therapy, does not necessarily improve sleep quality for all patients. Have you tracked your sleep therapy data to confirm if your AHI is less than 5? After, using the CPAP for 2 1/2 years, you should actually see a noticeable difference. I would encourage you to continue working with your doctor directly for setting adjustments. Also, if you are not currently using an Auto CPAP machine (a machine that is set to a high pressure and a low pressure and the pressure changes on a breath by breath basis to what you need), you may consider upgrading your machine to see if this helps.

      There are some surgical procedures for Sleep Apnea, that you may benefit from. Please speak with your doctor to confirm what option would best fit your need.

      Please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221 with any further questions, or concerns.

      Have a great day!

  9. I have been on a c-pap / bi-pap since early December 2018, I’ve been a faithful user every night since I’ve started it. My issue and I’m not sure about this is memory problems! That started happening in mid February. My numbers fluctuate between low 3’s to mid 7’s I’m not as tired in the afternoons like I was before it’s these nagging memory issues. Like not being able to pull out the right word or remember something simple as the word blister? Also it may be due to my anxiety disorder of late. Nothing in this world is easy to figure out. The doctors adjusted my levels and I use the ramp option. I wish this would work itself out. Right away my mind runs to something horrible. But I guess I’m just a human searching for betterment? Thanks for the post.

    1. Hi Dmzabo, my apologies for the delayed response. Thank you for reading our article. I would encourage you to speak with your doctor about your memory loss, even though your settings have been adjusted, they may need further adjustments.

      I have not located any information that supports memory loss due to the use of a CPAP Machine. Actually, to the contrary, CPAP Therapy, is known to improve memory for those who reported incognitivity prior to using the Therapy.

      Please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221 with further questions, or concerns.

      We wish you the best!

  10. I have used C Pap For 20 years or in about They give me this machine [Air Sense 10 C PAP] My other C Pap Was old and they couldn’t send a print out to the doctor. I put the mask on about 9:30 PM usually with in 2 to 3 hours I wake up with my chest tight after a while I’ll go back to sleep after a few hours I’m awake with the same feeling. But when I get up after the second time when I look at the usage meter It says I only used it for 2 to 3 hours. I get my old one out I’m good for 4 to 5 hours with usually not waking up I’m not good and rested but I’m not no where as tired as with this new C PAP .

    1. Hey Kenneth, i’m very sorry to hear that you are not getting the rest that you need with your new machine. It has been our experience that when switching from an older machine to the AirSense 10, the quality of sleep improves. I’m sad to hear that your experience has been the opposite.

      If you haven’t already, please confirm if the settings on your old CPAP machine are the same as on the new one. If you need assistance with adjusting, or even confirming your settings, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.

      We wish you the best!

  11. I am struggling with my machine daily! I feel like I am getting too much air-gas , bloating , burping,etc.
    My machine is set on 6 -the lowest setting! I have had several surgeries to help w sleep apnea. Should I change the ramp time? Right now it is at 20 minutes. I have the ResMed Airsense 10. I am going to try a new machine -mine has been dropped too many times & I travel alot! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! I have tried everything and things went from good to worse? I CAN NOT FUNCTION W terrible sleep. My numbers went from 5 events per hour to 19 ???????????? For now I will try the new machine and then if that doesn’t work I will go off of it.

    1. Hi Lynn, it sounds like you are having a difficult time with your CPAP therapy, I am so sorry. You are most likely suffering from what is called Aerophagia, which means swallowing too much air.

      Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact answer as to what can be done to relieve you of the symptoms that you are experiencing. There are however, some trial and error options.

      For starters, you can speak with your doctor about the symptoms that you are having. The doctor may make a decision to lower your pressure even further as the minimum is 4, or if you aren’t currently using an APAP, (auto-adjusting CPAP)the doctor, may have you consider switching to one.

      Some patients are able to receive a little relief by changing their sleep positions. It is suggested that when possible, lay in a position that allows your chin to remain above your torso.

      Also, you may try changing your normal sleep pattern. You can try laying on your left side, rotating to the right side, incline with pillows, or even lay flat.

      If you would like to speak with us further, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.

      We wish you the best!

    1. Hi Debra, we have a few different resources that you may find helpful. This site our Blog holds a wealth of information in the articles, you can visit cpaptalk.com, to interact and ask questions with other CPAP users and https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/cpap-faq you will find answers to common questions.

      If you have questions, or concerns about anything else and your not able to locate answers with the mentioned resources, please feel free to contact us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail your questions to: cpap@cpap.com.

      Have a wonderful weekend!

  12. The CPAP machine for me is worthless I am more tired than I every been I don’t sleep well at all. I have been using it for 3 months. I

    1. Hey Guy, i’m sorry to hear that you are having some problems becoming acclimated with your CPAP therapy. Keep in mind that every person is different so it may take a little longer before you begin to feel better.

      Also, your mask plays a very important role in your therapy success. Please make certain that you are wearing a mask which is comfortable for you, correct size, and has no air leaks.

      I would recommend you speaking with your doctor so that he/she may review your therapy data, to determine if you may benefit from a setting adjustment.

      If you would like to speak with us further, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.

      We wish you the best, don’t give up on your therapy!

  13. I have used a cpap for 25 years with mostly good results. However lately it seems to be less effective. I am tired in the day and often take naps. I have lost almost 50 lbs in the last year. I don’t take sleeping pills and don’t have high blood pressure. What do you suggest?

    1. Hi Richard, congratulations on your weight loss! I would recommend you speaking with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to view your sleep therapy data to see where you are having problems with your therapy. Also, since you have lost a significant amount of weight, your doctor may suggest a new sleep study test so that your settings can be adjusted properly.

      For further questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.

      We wish you the best!

  14. Been using my cpap for about two weeks and true I’m more tired now then I was before wearing it! I’ll continue to try but my question is why am I feeling dizzy, lightheaded? I just recovered from vertigo and I’m praying this isn’t going to tricker it again!

    1. Hi Peggy, i’m sorry to hear that you’re having problems becoming acclimated with your CPAP therapy. It isn’t uncommon to initially feel worse than you did prior to starting your therapy.

      I would recommend you speaking with your doctor to make sure that the dizzy, lightheaded feeling isn’t related to a condition other than CPAP therapy. Your doctor will also be able to review your sleep therapy data to determine if you could possibly benefit from setting adjustments.

      For further questions, or concerns, you may reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you can e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.

      We wish you the best!

  15. Been using cpap for 1 month and not feeling any better. Dr. says pulse ox has improved and AHI is below 3. Sleeping longer but waking up tired and fatigued all day. Worst part is that my weight has increased terribly in this short time and not eating more. I did some research and found studies show a significant increase in BMI and weight when using cpap. Too bad I was never told of that side effect and that it would not help improve anything but the #’s Dr is interested in. Has not helped anything that I care about. Glad it seems to have helped others but for me it is a waste of money.

    1. Hi Dorothy, my apologies for the delayed response. I’ve spoken with CPAP users that have the very complaint you have. What I have found is that initially you may gain weight, but over time you may not eat as much as you were before starting CPAP therapy. For the most part, after becoming acclimated with CPAP therapy, users tend to lose weight, this may not be the case for you, but a lot of users do experience weight loss.

      Overall with your AHI being below 3, it sounds like the therapy is working well for you. Also, keep in mind that it does take time for you to get use to the changes that you are faced with from starting your CPAP therapy.

      Continue to discuss with your doctor your concerns with weight gain and any other concerns you may have. Your doctor will be able to review your therapy data to determine if changes should be made to your settings so that you are receiving full benefits from your therapy.

      Please see the link below from our cpaptalk.com blog to see what other users are saying about weight gain during CPAP therapy.

      http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t156150/Weight-Gain-directly-after-starting-using-CPAP.html

      For further questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.

      We wish you the best, don’t give up on your therapy!

  16. I recently started working a new cpap machine. A Dream station. I’m using a full face mask F20 medium. The unit is set at 8 and a 20 minute ramp up time starting at 4. It also has a heated tubing. I’m only using it for a week now and I’m still getting use to it. It was set at 9.0 and I was leaking air through the mask. So I lowered it to 8.0. I am
    Feeling a couple different problems, one is I’m very tired so fall asleep fast but after two hours I’m awake and need to remove the mask. I wait a while the start over again and in two hours I’m up again. This is the pattern I’m experiencing. I contacted the respiratory therapist today to ask about it. The other issue is I am exhausted when I wake up. It’s almost impossible to make it through the day and I’m even having a tough time writing this email as I am constantly dozing off. I read your articles and I’m going to keep trying but if it doesn’t get better I will have to stop. Driving is dangerous now. I was never this this tired ever. I researched the machine and watched many YouTube videos so I understand how the unit works, and all the settings. I’m hoping something can be done because I can’t be this tired during the day. Any ideas? I don’t think i
    Will last a month.

    1. Hi Anthony, it sounds like you’re having a pretty tough time with your CPAP therapy. You mentioned decreasing your pressure setting because of a mask leak. Usually, lowering your pressure doesn’t stop a leak. Have you confirmed in your therapy data, what your leak rate is? If you have a high leak rate, I would recommend you confirming that you have the correct size cushion.

      Also, please remember that not all masks will be a good fit for every person. Having a good comfortable mask fit, with no leak is key to having successful therapy. I would encourage you to try a different mask. Please see the link below for a few different options for full face masks.

      https://www.cpap.com/compare-chart/full-face-cpap-mask/2n8q

      If you choose to purchase a mask from CPAP.com (prescription required), its sold with free 30 day returns.

      For further questions, or concerns, we can be reached at: 800-356-5221.

      Have a great day!

    1. Hello, i’m sorry to hear about your feelings of tiredness. This is a common issue with new CPAP users. Please keep in mind that it takes time to become acclimated with your CPAP therapy. One of the most important aspects of having successful therapy, is making sure you have a mask that is comfortable for you.

      Please see the link below for our cpaptalk.com forum, to hear what other CPAP users are saying about feeling tired after using their CPAP therapy. Also, please be sure to keep your doctor in the loop of how your feeling since he/she can review your therapy data to determine if a setting adjustment is warranted.

      http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t64592/More-fatigue-after-using-CPAP.html

      For further questions, or concerns, please reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.

      Have a great day!

  17. Every article is the same: blames the user, mask pressure, mask, fit, etc. Everything is working according to my doctor and respiratory therapist, and I am miserable. I have never woken up this much or slept worse. I dread going to bed. It’s like when doctors tell you to keep taking antidepressants that aren’t working because you need to “stick with it.” Like everything, this industry is money-driven, and keeping people on these machines (and under surveillance) fills pockets.

    1. Hi Aaron,
      Thank you for your feedback! Our intention isn’t to pass blame to any user and we apologize if our article comes across that way.

      Our goal, is to bring attention to common issues with CPAP therapy in general and problems that we’ve experienced, or our customers have experienced and provide valuable suggestions that have been proven to improve a lot of CPAP users experience.

      We want to help you! Are you new to CPAP therapy? If so, please keep in mind that it does take time to become acclimated with your therapy. What is making you miserable? Is it because the mask is uncomfortable, are you awakened by noise from possibly a mask leak?

      If we can get clear details on your particular concerns, we may be able to assist you in improving your sleep therapy.

      Please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221 and ask for Carol, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.

      Best Wishes!

  18. I have been using a CPAP for two years. I have none of the usual problems but when morning comes I have a hard time dragging myself out of bed. My sleep seems to have suffered from using it.

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