When all is said and done...Success and happy stories

Hi:

I find this website amazingly helpful. SOOO much to read and learn.

I am going to be purchasing my unit soon.

I would really appreciate hearing success stories from anyone who has found using these CPap machines therapy has changed their life in a positive way...more energy, happier, wake feeling refreshed (like you vaguely remember feeling as a child) etc.
Please. Anything positive and hopeful that I can use to encourage myself. I am not expecting a miracle cure (at first trial!), and I know from what has been posted that it will likely be a journey of experimentation fraught with challenges etc.
That is why I need to hear that it will be all worth it. That someone has made it!!!

Thanks. This is really important to me.

Cautiously hopeful.

Success and treatment, is about attitude and options. You need a good attitude for all things, take your treatment seriously, and be positive about it, it a little different at the start but it becomes second nature soon, a positive attitude (Can D0) makes life easier.

You need good equiptment for the best results, that includes the Heated Huddifier, and the software and reader to monitor your treatment. Don't expect your doctor to give you the treatment you need, some are better at it than others, you know your body best.

You want a APAP, unless your treatment pressure is over 15 cm water Pressure. the higher pressures BPAP is the better, but more complicated choice (and costly)

I prefer the Remstar APAP with AFlex & CFlex, it has the most options, and I feel the software package that can be had for it is the best. Others have different ideas. For the HH, the F & P 150 stand alone unit works the best, but it takes up more space than a built in unit. If I were doing mine over it would be the one I would get.

Most patients are given nasal masks, (they are cheaper and the profit is higher), that's Ok except when the patient mouthbreaths, if mouthbreathing you can't hold your airway open, basically not getting treatment.(Failure) There are ways around this, FF masks, tapeing you lips closed, for the most part chin straps do more harm than good. This is all stuff that has to be sorted off down the road. Without the software it's hard to tell if you mouthbreath, as you only do it in deep sleep.

Welcome to our group, our forum provider runs a good business, and is always fair, we are in his debt for this place. Jim

I'm 28 years old and I have been on CPAP for a week now. I have moderate sleep apnea (AHI=25). So far treatment is going great. I have finally been able to exercise again and am consistently seeing a lower heartrate when exercising than I ever achieved in the past 5 years. I am not feeling great yet but I am feeling better. I was lucky enough to get a mask that works for me on the first try. The only issue I'm still dealing with is a bit of aerophagia. And that seems to be getting better. Even if it doesn't it is a small price for good sleep. It's definitely better than having to stick myself with a needle every day for the rest of my life.

I research heavily anything that is important to me. It didn't take long for me to find this website. I was a bit worried after reading all the stories of how people are having trouble. My experience with many other forums is that people mostly only post the negative stuff, asking for help. There are a few regulars, helpful souls that take their time to help others. The people who are not having troubles either never bother to look up the site or they are just lurkers, possibly giving advise on occasion.

I kept this in mind and tried to think rationally and logically about my situation. I HAVE to either make this treatment succeed or be miserable for the rest of my life. Being miserable is not an option for me. Accept this and imagine yourself 6 months from now happily putting on the mask at night because it has been good to you. You have had many nights of restful sleep. You know that the battle has been worth it. You are now used to the mask and dread going without it instead of the other way around. Now think again of the present. This could be you in 6 months but you are not there yet. What will it take to get there? Perseverance and dedication. You have the resources. You have this website. You have a prescription. You have a myriad of masks to choose from. You have the knowledge that the ONLY machine you should accept is one that is FULLY DATA CAPABLE! You could get lucky and take right to the therapy like I have. You might have more trouble than that. You don't know yet but don't think negatively. Trust that this is the right thing to do. Know that this treatment will work because YOU will MAKE it work. Your doctor isn't going to spoon feed this to you. You have to take it and embrace it.

Good Luck,
Nick

Being on cpap, if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea means you made it, as far as I am concerned. You are doing something to prevent some very serious health issues that can result from undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea, like strokes, heart attacks, etc.

For most people it is not an overnight cure. There is no real cure. You have to get used to a new way of sleeping - with something over your nose or nose and mouth and having air blown into your airway to keep it open all night so that you do not have any harmful events that could result in the conditions I mentioned above. It soon becomes just part of your routine, like brushing your teeth. That sounds simplified but that's how it is for me.

Most people take awhile to get adjusted to sleeping this way. Getting a good fitting mask that works for you is the hardest part for most people.

I hae been using cpap for 6 years now. I get much better restorative sleep. I don't have tons more energy but enough so that I can get things done. I have another medical condition which contribute to my fatigue (Rheumatoid Arthritis) but cpap sure does help.

It was just this past February that I got really involved in this forum (even though I joined in 2004). That's because I was beginning to feel more fatigued again and was waiting to see the Specialist and for another sleep study.

I got myself a data capable machine at that time (only knew about those from this forum) and the software and reader and began monitoring my sleep. The people on this forum have done way more for my sleep apnea than the Specialist or the Provider ever did. Thanks to these folks, I am successfully treating my sleep apnea and still learning!

Have you been diagnosed? Have you had your titration study? Have you had a followup with the doctor?

My advice is to come here before you get a machine for advice on what's out there and what would be good and how you might get that.

There aren't many "overnight" success stories but there is success! It can take time (days, weeks, months even) , patience and perseverence but it is all worth for your health's sake!

We will help you in any way we can. Bring all your questions. Odds are, there is someone here who can help you!

cautiously hopeful wrote: That is why I need to hear that it will be all worth it. That someone has made it!!!

Thanks. This is really important to me.

It will probably not be overnight.
Read! Read! Read! this forum and anything you can find on OSA.
Go to PurSleep.com and get some aroma therapy so you have it
from the beginning.....it helps.
If something is not working, don't wait for anyone, anything or
any circumstance to find something that does.
If something isn't working, ask about it here.....maybe it just
needs a tweak.
Be patient with yourself.
Become your own best therapist.

It's sort of like being in a strange clut.
Mouth breathers, mouth tapers, mouth gluers, pillow slashers,
people wearing panty hose on their heads, data junkies,
the Odyssey for THE mask, A-flexers, C-flexers, Bipapers and
straight cpapers, folks trying to get some rest.

You're going to make it happen, for you.
It's your life.

I could not dream, without it.
I have made it work for me.
I will never again go to sleep without it.
It's my life.


It's a journey, all the best.

I'm about one month into therapy - hubby says I am happier and I agree - little things don't seem to bother me as much Co-worker says I look like I've been at a spa retreat...best thing I have ever done for myself - now, is it fun to sleep that way? No, but as I've read from someone here - it's my life now. Best wishes to everyone.

carbonman wrote: It's sort of like being in a strange clut.
Mouth breathers, mouth tapers, mouth gluers, pillow slashers,
people wearing panty hose on their heads, data junkies,
the Odyssey for THE mask, A-flexers, C-flexers, Bipapers and
straight cpapers, folks trying to get some rest.

Not to take away from the serious part of your message, carbonman, but that was a hoot! Thanks.