Time to offically check in.

Hello all.

I recently ran across your helpful forum while researching sleep apnea. So far I find the exchange of ideas very helpful.

I've lived with undiagnosed/untreated OSA for 25 years or more. I have had all of the classic symptoms like low energy, fatigue, frequent daytime naps, tendency towards drowsiness on long drives, falling asleep in classes, loss of concentration, depression, loss of jobs, low self esteem.

What's this?! You guys have spouses to complain about your snoring? I have had very few sleep partners over the years due to my symptoms listed above, but I bless my good friend who finally said something to me about my "troubled sleep" last summer.

I recorded myself two nights in a row to confirm what he said he heard me do - intermittant stopping my breathing and gasping for breath repeatedly at night. I self-referred myself to a local sleep specialist MD. She asked me a few questions and agreed I needed to go through a sleep study.

To keep the story short, I experienced OSA during my sleep study, but responded well to the CPAP machine. I received my REMSTAR PLUS with humidifier in July 2004.

I initially found myself feeling better soon after starting my treatment. Many people told me I looked "more relaxed" and acted differently (nicer) during the first month or two.

Six months later I am concerned that I have not received the full benefits of my treatment, partly because I haven't kept up my "sleep hygiene".

During the holidays I tried to get more done (stayed up later) and worked a second job to earn more $$ for gifts.

Bottom line: I fatigued myself to the point that I caught a nasty flu bug and lost two weeks of work.

Obvious to me now I have to lose the second job and work on getting to sleep at the same time each night. And, allow myself enough consecutive hours to eat away at my sleep debt.

I am eagerly reading the posts here to help me decide if I should be contacting my SLEEP DOCTOR for another follow up appt. for evaluating my improvement.

Extra distractions to my sleep are my two cats. They are indoor/outdoor cats and have no qualms waking me up at 4am to let them outside to hunt. My current apt. bedroom came with the door removed from the hinges - I suppose I could put the door back on and try sleeping without cats in the room for a few nights.

Since starting CPAP treatment, I don't remember sleeping through the night (perhaps ever?). I usually wake up several times a night to use the bathroom, get a drink of water, let a cat out or in, etc.

I'm also dealing with some pretty strong emotions over lost years, lost opportunities, and clueless MD's and PhD's who wanted to belittle some of my symptoms and/or prescribe anti-depressants to help me deal with my "personal issues".

At the moment I believe that other factors in my life would have been less traumatic if my sleep apnea had been diagnosed sooner.

I want to feel even better than I do now. I will post specific questions/issues in the other forum.

Hi,

Sure like your cool cat graphic.

Welcome to the forum. Don't think I can help much, but keep posting (especially to the regular apnea section), and you'll get lots of help, I'm sure. People here are real helpful, or at least encouraging. This thing can sure be frightening.

I for one don't think it would be dumb to go back to the doctor for a followup visit. He/she may not say what you want to hear, but it would be a good opportunity to spew every question you've got to the doctor, even if you've asked them before and need clarification. I say that if he says you just have to adjust, then ask why he thinks so, ask him to be specific, make him earn his high salary!

Don't know what you might have said in other messages, but feel free to describe more about your treatment, your equipment, the results of your sleep study, etc. All these things are helpful for forum members who have had some experience in all of this. So don't be shy.

I've only been on my treatment since Thanksgiving. And I do struggle with it too. And I too went back to my doctor to complain/vent. The visit was useful, even though he did say I needed to adjust. Things do seem to be improving some since. But that doesn't mean my experience is like yours, and who knows, there may be a need to change your treatment somehow. It would be good to at least find out.

And worry over lost time, as you said, yes I can relate to that one. I too lament the lost wasted time. But you've got to stay focused (easier said than done, I know, and I slip up lots myself) and don't give up. Giving up or not using the machine when you should is the worst thing you can do. God knows I've had that notion pummelled into me by some pushy (but caring) forum members.

So, hang in there, and always feel free to keep in touch.

Linda