What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
ada
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What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by ada » Sun Jul 26, 2015 11:02 pm

After recently trying out a new machine/pressure for the last 2 weeks,
I recently made a list to try to objectively look at this situation.
I am trying to be clear (with myself and doctor) and keep track of the good and bad...
AND to figure out how to know when things should be changed or let them be?

All of these symptoms are on days with 6-7 hours sleep (having used machine most or all of night)

Before Treatment vs. After Treatment

All day migraines
-almost gone (although still have dull headache at some point most days)
Foggy head
-still feel really out of it, hard to think clearly (but not the same extreme drugged up/foggy feeling as before)
Fatigue
-similar
Bags under eyes
-a little bit better
Cognitive Functioning
-better but still very challenging to think clearly and communicate in person
Pain in shoulders and back
-much better most mornings
Ability to sleep through the night w/
machine and mask

-much better (from almost never...to happens most nights)
Ability to fall asleep
-consistently much better and easier
*Tightness in chest/out of breath sensation (during day)
-feels uncomfortable... started a few days ago
-had some before (but not consistent) diagnosed as mild asthma in April when mentioned to Dr.

Significantly Improved: All day migraines, Ability to fall asleep, Ability to sleep through the night (with machine & mask),
Pain in shoulders and back

Not Significantly Improved: Fatigue, Bags under eyes, Cognitive Functioning, *Tightness in chest/out of breath sensation

Summary:
There are some good improvements. However, I still feel fatigued when waking up in morning. I am still not able to function normally.

Some Questions:
How do I know if the settings are right?
How do I know if this is right machine?
Is this is as good as it gets?
What should I be feeling at this point?

(this is something I will show to my doctor so if you have any more suggestions for questions or edits I would appreciate)

PoolQ
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Location: Silicon Valley

Re: What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by PoolQ » Sun Jul 26, 2015 11:57 pm

So much we don't know. 2 weeks on a new machine, how long on the old one? Did you switch types of machines? or just models or manufacturers? What machine are you on now? I hope it's data capable.
Have you looked at your data in sleepyhead free software. If not you should and post the graphs here.
Is this as good as it gets? I doubt it. If you are new to CPAP, then 95% chance it gets a lot better.
There are members on here that have used CPAP machines for 10-20 YEARS and they are willing to help you tweak your settings, they will be very specific for you personally. They will be trial and error, because well you are asleep when everything happens and you can't do anything but look at the data in sleepyhead and evaluate how you feel in the morning to see how things went over night.
Sleeping MUCH better now

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Julie
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Re: What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by Julie » Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:10 am

It would be much better if you continue this on your first thread/posting so we can follow things rather than having to ask (or find orig) all over again.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:04 am

I just now asked you this in another thread before I saw this one:
I wonder if you are getting to the point of thinking your current machine is fine for your therapy and just continuing to work with it and postponing a decision on a more advanced machine?

It's common to have some difficulties when starting the use of CPAP, and it often takes some time to solve these problems and adjust to sleeping with CPAP.
I think you should continue to work with this machine and postpone making a decision about a new machine.

As far as forum protocol goes, you really should stick to one thread and STOP making new threads. It is much better if members can see your entire story in one thread. A human is a whole and problems have to address the whole. Piecemeal solutions often yield bad results.

Please, in this thread, tell us the exact model of the machine you are using. Then someone will tell you how to see reports on the machine display and you can give us information from the display, such as AHI, pressure and leak.

HoseCrusher
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Re: What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by HoseCrusher » Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:48 am

The two basic indicators of how things are going are

How you feel each day, and
What the data tells you.

If your airflow data shows good results, your machine is most likely adequate. If your oximeter data shows reasonable heart rhythm and oxygen saturation, it would appear that from a technical perspective it is about as good as it gets.

The other side is the emotional side. Diet, stress, exercise, expectations and perspective can work for you or against you. You can wake up more refreshed simply by expecting to wake up refreshed as you fall asleep. Expectations won't correct physical problems, but may help you focus to ask the right questions to get to the bottom of the problem.

_________________
Mask: Brevida™ Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine is an AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her with Heated Humidifier.
SpO2 96+% and holding...

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Wulfman...
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Re: What y'all think?...my good/bad change in symptoms

Post by Wulfman... » Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:02 pm

If you're using software to monitor your therapy, your list of "Some questions" would make those questions meaningless......
You'd know the answers without having to ask your doctor.

Also, at two weeks, you've just "scratching the surface" with this therapy and where you're at in your "recovery".
It can (and usually does) take MONTHS to feel something meaningful in that category.

This is "baby steps".


Den

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
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