More than just Sleep Apnea?

[WannaWakeUp]

I've had severe obstructive apnea for almost two years.  My first sleep lab test noted 187 apneas in the first four hours of the test. The second half of the test, I was on a cpap which allowed be to enter REM sleep for the first time in a long time.  Since being prescribed a cpap machine I was feeling great, and almost back to normal.....then about 5 months ago I started falling asleep in the mid afternoon for 1/2 hour to an hour.  Absolutely unable to fight off the need to sleep. I went back to the doctors, and they sent home a monitoring cpap, and determined I needed to raise the pressure setting from 8 to 13 (pretty high jump).  I still felt tired, so I was also prescribed Provigil.  Now 2 months later, I still find myself falling asleep at least 1 or 2 days a week.  When it happens, I'm sitting in my office chair (home office) I can't fight it so I lean back, with arms on the chairs armrests...and I'm out.  1/2 hour to 1 hour later I awaken, and my arms and hands are always completely numb, and it takes time to be able to move my fingers....I'm not laying on them they are simply on the arm rests, relaxed.  My concern is this....Is this more than just apnea?  Is another sleep disorder involved?  Or possibly a cardiac or pulmonary issue?  I feel handicapped and hate it!!! I am a mother of 3 teens, a wife, a part time care giver to my mother suffering mid stage alzheimers, I entertain my in laws every Sunday dinner as they are aging/failing and appreciate the visit/meal, and I am a professional computer programmer working 40 + hours a week with responsibilities that require  focus and concentration -   Not to mention that fact that I am always seeking out time to do oil painting, computer animation/graphics or home decorating......I simply don't have time to let this slow me down.......PLEASE HELP ME determine if I should consider additional medical testing or if there are natural suppliments or diet changes that can get me back to my 'normal self'...(whatever that means...)  THANKS

[KatEyes]

Do you still have that monitoring cpap or at least one that reports how effective your treatment is? Sounds like you could use one on an ongoing basis. A data capable machine will let you know if you are still having events or if you have a leak somewhere. Mine kept showing a slightly increased leak rate or I wouldn't have known to check my hose for that pinhole (probably related to my cat). Unless you are using a full face mask, you could be mouth leaking/breathing and losing the treatment out of your mouth, rendering it useless in treating your apnea. It could be that your first pressure of 8 was not enough. One night in a sleep lab is not always the final answer. If they didn't catch you sleeping on your back during REM (supposedly the worst case scenario), they wouldn't know your maximum possible pressure need.

Does your husband report you moving about or kicking much at night? Limb movement disorders can disrupt sleep also.

Sounds like you have a full life. Are you making time for an adequate number of sleep hours nightly? And have you had a medical checkup for some common energy drainers (thyroid, diabetes, heart function, anemia)? If all that is negative and you are certain your apnea is therapeutically treated (and you are using your machine every time you sleep) you may need evaluated for other sleep disorders.