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Anyone else have trouble with daytime sleepiness after starting cpap? None before. I fall asleep studying Spanish, reading, playing games.

A myPHteam Member asked a question 💭
Shawnee, KS

I am losing my night o2 coz of the cpap. Not sure how I feel about that. I guess it is good. I liked to use it for my back exercises, and on a rare occasion, I would get so exhausted that I would go use it for 1/2 hr or so. Then noise helped me sleep also. And now, this sleepiness.

October 18 (edited)
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Answer Summary

Members responded to a question about unexpected daytime sleepiness after starting CPAP, offering a mix of practical suggestions and personal... Read more

Members responded to a question about unexpected daytime sleepiness after starting CPAP, offering a mix of practical suggestions and personal experiences. Several members suggested checking blood levels since sleepiness can have many causes, and some shared that they use oxygen alongside their CPAP through a built-in input port, encouraging checking with the equipment provider. A recurring theme was that fatigue and napping are common in the community, with members offering empathy and reassurance while navigating their own sleep and oxygen challenges.

A myPHteam Member

Hi, Angie! Like has been suggested, check your machine. You should be able to add your oxygen line to an input port built just for that purpose. If you can’t find one, call the company that bought you the machine, they should be able to help.

October 20
A myPHteam Member

Angie I take 2 naps almost every day. I receive oxygen along with my cpap. Praying for you dear friend.

October 18
A myPHteam Member

Angie...also it might be a good idea to check your blood. Sleepiness can be caused by a lot of things.

October 18
A myPHteam Member

Hi Angie. I'm not sure what you mean about losing oxygen with cpap. Are you using oxygen when on cpap? Oxygen can be bled into cpap tubing. My oxygen falls at rest so I use it with cpap and even sitting for a while. Not sure this is helpful, but...

October 18
myPHteam

It's actually pretty common to feel more sleepy during the day when first starting CPAP — and it makes sense! Your body is finally getting deeper, more restorative sleep at night, possibly for the first time in a while. That shift can temporarily make you feel drowsier during the day as your body adjusts.

One myPHteam member Show Full Answer

It's actually pretty common to feel more sleepy during the day when first starting CPAP — and it makes sense! Your body is finally getting deeper, more restorative sleep at night, possibly for the first time in a while. That shift can temporarily make you feel drowsier during the day as your body adjusts.

One myPHteam member shared something similar, noting it took nearly a full year to fully adjust to CPAP before feeling the real benefits — and that during that time they actually felt more tired, not less. The good news is that this adjustment period does tend to pass. A few things worth keeping in mind:

- Give it time — your body is recalibrating to genuinely restful sleep
- Talk to your doctor — if the daytime sleepiness feels excessive or isn't improving, your CPAP pressure settings may need adjusting
- Mention the oxygen change — since you're noticing a shift in your nighttime oxygen use, your care team should know so they can monitor your PH management accordingly

It's a real adjustment, but many people come out the other side feeling significantly better. Hang in there! 😊

October 18

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