Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

[KnightDreamer]

Hello CPAP friends,

The purpose of this post is to share the major changes in my life following CPAP therapy and hopefully motivate new users. Prior to CPAP therapy I experienced two nasal septoplasty surgeries over a ten year period because of severe blockage, the second was sucessfully performed by a world reknown surgeon. For the first time, I was breathing freely through my nose and with my mouth closed but unfortunately I was still irritable, sleeping in my car during lunch and slaping the back of my head on the freeway to stay awake. My doctor refered me to a sleep disorder specialists and I under went a sleep study which revealed I have severe OSA.
Two years later......
Positive changes in my quality of life were gradual and in some cases over a long period of time. The first year I had to learn how to make adjustments to my equipment for comfort. I was authorized by my physican because of my technical understanding (Test Engineer), so please don't try this without your doctors permission. My sleep pattern increased from 6 hours to 7.5 hours with one interruption a night because my nasal pillows were getting a very small leak and making me thirsty, problem solved. Since treatment, I no longer struggle to get out of bed to go to work and with increased brain activity I am enthuastic to learn new skills to improve job performance ( my boss gave me an outstanding job appraisal). As I became confortable with my CPAP I organized a family camping trip for 5 days so I learned how to make a portable battery system, the camping trip was great and I'm planning on another one this year. The last couple of months something happened to me that has not occured in probably 15 years, I started to dream, I'm not an expert on the stages of sleep but I would say this is probably good news. My family has noticed that I am less irritable and my communication has improved with my teenage boys. Sometimes I do feel a little bummed out that I have to be hooked up to a machine, but I remind myself what the doctor said, "it's no different than someone taking medication" Hang in there and keep reading the posts!

[abbey101]

I have only used my cpap for 6 days and felt a difference from day one. I did have sinus pain for a couple nights but have solved that problem.(room freezing..air too cold) Whereas formerly my muscles felt like they had shrunk overnight, they don't feel that way in the morning now. Also i often didn't used to be able to fully stretch them without feeling like they were going to cramp. That feeling is gone. I usually awoke feeling like i couldn't take a deep breath....like my lungs shrank when i was sleeping. Now i can breathe deeply. My hips don't hurt as much because i can lie on my back without feeling like I am suffocating. I have atrial fibrillation and it used to be aggravated by lying on my back. I haven't had any problems so far. My mind feels clearer. i went shopping after dinner tonight. Usually I am too tired. I have more ebergy to tidy up around the house.

I hate taking the c-pap off in the morning because I can't breathe as well without it but at least it is giving me a good rest. i am using the SwiftFX mask and the machine is a C=flex . my setting is 7 at the moment and i use the ramp up feature starting at 4 and the humidity setting at 5. The mask is amazingly comfortable, no air leaks. I had to keep taking it off at first to see if air was really coming through because I expected to feel like it was blowing into my nose but it didn't feel like that at all. The first two nights it was too tight as i had lines on my cheeks and the pillown were stuffed up my nose. However, i watched a youtube video which said to have it as loose as possible while still maintaining a seal (and not to press the pillows up into your nostrils) so I tried that and it was great. I don't have to have it tight for it to work

I LOVE my C-Pap!!!! Hang in there everyone. If you haven't tried this mask i would HIGHLY recommend it. This one is supposed to be designed for women. I have no idea if there is one for men but I can tell you that i have a huge head and it fits me. All my life i had had trouble getting hats to fit so I imagine it would fit most men as well. There is a pink strap across the back but mine came with a grey strap as well so it could be easily changed.

[josh73]

Hello all. I am very new to CPAP, tonight will be 2 weeks since i've started. I consider myself VERY lucky so far. I've only had one night since the very first night where i had real trouble sleeping. I usually sleep for 5-6 hours straight before waking up, usually from dry mouth but i'm getting used to taking care of that and getting back to sleep. I have 12 cm of pressure and the hardest thing to get used to and manage is how to get back to sleep when that pressure is coming at me. I use the ramp feature on my S9 and the gradual buildup of pressure REALLY helps me get to sleep when i go down for sleep. The most positive thing so far is that i'm no longer nodding off at my desk at work. This woud happen at least once if not a few times everyday. I'm also on a better sleep schedule than i was before CPAP. I would stay up late, get about 4 hours of sleep and then go to work all day. By the time the weekend came, i'd be beat and would want to nap during the days, not ideal when you have a four year old daughter! It's only been 2 weeks and i'm slowly but surely regaining some energy. I'm also adament about losing weight, have lost 18 lbs since November already and i'm hoping the weight loss in a year or so will help with my sleep apnea.

To anyone just coming on board right now, my advice is to really explore this site. I lurked for weeks while i waited for results from my sleep studies. There is a wealth of information and knowledge from the board members here and i am on this site daily to see if i can learn more. I still have so much more to learn about CPAP therapy and sleep apnea and look forward to doing it with everyone here.

[jekrueger]

I have been on my CPAP for about 5 days now and I LOVE IT!!!! I cannot believe that I went so long without it. I work full time and am a full time student and just thought I was tired because of that so I would drink energy drinks ALL day and that worked for a little while then they had no effect anymore no matter how much I drank. I started feeling anxious and depressed all the time and finally went to the doc to rework my meds and she said how much sleep do you get a night and I said about 4-5 hours maximum because I am waking up all the time, tossing/turning, heartburn, and headaches almost every morning and I am exhausted all day not to count out that I sometimes wake up gasping for air. She looked at me and said we are not going to adjust your meds, you are going in for a sleep study because you sound like a classic case of sleep apnea. And I was a little scared but after I found out what it was and had my sleep study I was more like "GET ME MY CPAP" I found out I stopped breathing about 65 times/hour and I never hit REM. So the sleep study director came and told me I was not getting the sleep I need even though my eyes were closed my brain was working overtime and not resting the way it should.

So I guess my success story would be that I am still alive, I feel more rested, no more headaches, no more falling asleep at the wheel, I am more focused and I could not live without my CPAP. I do feel very lucky after reading some other stories but not everyone is the same, everyone has different levels of apnea and for those who are having issues keep working on it and talk with your doc for any other suggestions, from reading there are so many different machines, masks etc something will work for you. Have a great day everyone.

[six months in]

Hi

I do not have new energy or feel any different whatsoever. I am not part of the CPAP cult that seems to proliferate websites like this, however I can say one thing that is an absolute fact. I do not have afternoon drowsiness ever at work. Previous to using this machine every single day I would do the afternoon nap/work fake. I mean every single day. On days I eat cheesy pasta, fhaghetaboutit. This machined cured that for sure. I can even eat heavy pasta for lunch and not get drowsy one bit. Everything else I really don't feel different one bit, but at least by boss will never catch me napping.

[CHOPS]

My story is much the same as far as CPAP success is concerned. it's clear to me that my OSA was making me sick. The loss of sleep had both psychological and physical effects that weren't good for me. I started with CPAP in Feb. 2008, and now sleep about 8-9 hours a night with a full face mask (Aeiomed Everest 3, humidifier and Comfortfull 2 mask). I started out with a ResMed unit paid for by insurance. The Everest pump is great because it has battery capabilities and I like to camp a lot. With two batteries, I can keep it charged enough.

My main concerns - I lost my health insurance and it looks impossible to get coverage now. At 58, I'm still in good shape and healthy, and I live an active life, with skiing and other things that could put me at risk. I hope that the laws going into effect in 2014 will change that situation, requiring insurance companies to cover me. It's really weird - because of CPAP, I'm healthier now than I would be without it, but the underwriters see me as MORE of a risk for them. And without health insurance, I'm less likely to get the normal check-ups that would be a good idea at my age. So what? Live happy and sleep well, my friends. We really only have today.

[handyguy]

As a new user, I have only had the ResMed S-9 auto for 42 days and have been using for 7 to 8 hours each night. Since starting, I have not been snoring and my data shows that I have gone from as many as 73 events/hour to .83/hour. I feel well rested and am not sleepy in the afternoon or early evening. All I can say is "it works for me" The first few nights were troublesome in that I felt claustrophobic and wanted to resist relaxing, breathing gently and getting used to the mask. I now have a FX Mirage. It is so small and light. I have no problem using it all night. Good Luck to anyone that is just starting therapy & just hang in there - you will be glad you did!

[BoomersRock]

Last Fall we had a hurricane in Massachusetts, "Irene". Our house in Eastern Massachusetts rarely ever loses power much less for any length of time. We lost power from 1-6 am. Both my husband and I use BiPap/CPap machines. We were both miserable all night long and the next day. Unable to sleep, really poor sleep. I don't take a nap without my machine. I have had my ups and downs with therapy but have been proactive in reading all I can about the subject, questioning the doctor and the DME. After six years, I am at a new level with my therapy (went to an automatic CPap and a full-face mask) that seems to working for me. If I cannot get my rest, the rest of my life does not work. I have no other options. I am blessed that there is so much help out there for this condition!

[Cranky Bit]

I'm glad to have found this website, very glad. I have just been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. After three years of running back and forth to the doctor trying to find out why I felt so miserable all the time and having bloodwork done and every test known to man we happened to have a conversation about sleep apnea one day. I reluctantly decided to go and get tested and thought it may explain my lack of energy and constant crankiness. I absolutely could not believe the results of that test!!!

I don't expect overnight success and am having some trouble getting used to the cpap machine. My therapist has been working to find the right pressure and I started on it with a terrible cold which didn't help, but for that matter I was sick ALL the time!!

I'm really hopeful that all the suffering with my sore legs, my TMZ, my sore throat, aching bones, depression and lack of excitement for life, and weight gain will in some way be allievated by finally getting a good nights sleep. It's amazing when you think that any of us could still function normally on a daily basis. My two small boys will be pleasantly surprised, I hope, when their mother is no longer yelling at them all the time.

The one thing im noticing the last few days though is that I am aching all over and my stomach is very sore. Does this sound familiar to anyone. I'd love your feedback on this. Thanks! I've only been on the machine two weeks.

[VSANT]

I was diagnosed with severe sleep in November...was falling asleep at my desk, pounding headaches every morning, tossing and turning all night and having to get up to go to the bathroom. The first night with the 'loaner' RESMED s8, I slept a solid 8 with no headache, no waking and felt 'satiated'. Not uncommon to be a bit more groggy when you first get up - you are having an undisturbed and deeper sleep. Also, you may feel rib/chest pain (a whole night of much deeper breathing though if it continues, your CPAP may be sending a bit too much pressure your way - that's adjustable). Definitely was the right move. One night about a month in, I fell asleep reading without the mask on. Woke up about 2 hours later with same pounding headache....fumbled for the mask, slipped it on and woke up great. Can't think of a more telling endorsement. Good luck and hang in there.

[CleverSleepName]

I was in a slow downhill slide over the last few years, my sleep becoming worse and worse, and my daytime consumed by periods of sleepiness that left me a zombie sitting at my desk. I tried everything, bought a Zeo, a new mattress, a mouthguard - but the steady slide continued.

A sinus infection led me to the ENT doctor, and when I mentioned my sleep problems he set me up with a sleep study. My AHI's were 73.

Now, 10 days with my CPAP machine, and my life has changed. My Zeo lets me quantify the quality of my sleep and before CPAP it averaged 47. The first night with the mask I got a 68, last night it was 78, and my AHI's in the last 10 days haven't been over 4.

The mask and I wrestled quite a bit the first couple of nights, but by the third night we had made our peace. I did have a sudden burst of energy the first few nights, that went away, but I do feel NORMAL for the first time in many years. I had high blood pressure but that seems to be dropping and I find I'm now getting off the couch and getting things done.

If anything, CPAP has given me my hope back.

[RipVW]

Well, since we're telling stories here, I'll toss my story out as well. First, if I hadn't found this forum, learned about data from my machine (I started with an S8 Elite, fully data capable, but didn't know how to retrieve it—my RT told me that ONLY DME's and clinics could purchase the software!!). After more than a year (July 2006 – October 2007), even though I'd used my machine every night, I still felt tired, still felt that I wasn't getting recuperative sleep. My doc never scheduled a follow-up appointment . . . Then, I found cpaptalk.com. First thing I did was purchase the card reader and software. The machine showed my AHI for the previous 6 months, averaging 9. My pressure was prescribed at 6, and I had no idea how to change it (RT held that information as TOP SECRET). I decided that I wanted an auto machine that would enable me self-titrate, got the M Series Auto A-FLEX in October, 2007. Well, turns out that my required pressure "sweet spot" is 12. After experimenting with masks, humidifiers, getting my leaks under control, my AHI now averages 0.4 Most importantly, I just feel GREAT!! Consistently sleeping well, 8 hours of restful sleep. I feel rejuvenated, energized. So, I humbly submit that ALL CPAP users should take control of their therapy, should change their own settings. Had I not done this, I'd be continuing the useless therapy I began with. Well, that's my story! Three cheers for cpaptalk.com and all of you wise old-timers who saved my life (or at least lengthened it!).

[ekubaskie]

Hi all. I found this forum today while doing a search for software to read my BiPAP's data. Going in last week for my 2-week follow-up after getting my machine, the sleep center downloaded the data from the SD card and printed a little stack of charts. Shortly afterward, I was signing THREE insurance-code charge forms, one for a fresh nasal pillow, one for the data review, and another to download data from the card and print the charts.

OK, as a computer guy, a high-end CAD software user, and a very independent type, I've got mental alarms going off all over the place. HOW MUCH to download & print? They don't tell you, but I'll see it when I view the insurance claim on-line. Then, during my search, I see that, while there IS a "Pro" version, I can get software to do that for around a hundred bucks. And here I am this afternoon, reading RipVW's post just above, about how all this stuff is SECRET, and not for us lowly patients to know...

They liked the numbers they saw, at least that's what they said - and they didn't change a thing. The difference so far for me is that I don't consciously wake up every 10-15 minutes, but maybe twice a night. I don't feel more rested, but my co-workers tell me that I look & act more energetic. So I guess I've made progress, but there must be a ways yet to go. Especially things like the couple nights the past week I've been congested, stuffy nosed.

I'm also claustrophobic as all get-out - my first study night was to be a split-study, with titration the same night. That mask started jumping up & down on my face, I couldn't breathe, and just freaked out! At least the rest of the night they got good data, enough to tell me I was a pretty significant OSA case. So after talking to some friends with the "never get a second sleep-over date again machine" I used the nasal pillow for my titration test - and came out OK.

So I find that this is the place where I can find it all. Advice & anecdotes from the claustrophobic, about different masks, the congestion problems (the sleep center just said "treatment doesn't work if you are stuffed up" and no more), the software, what the data means, how to take control and make my own decisions... So I guess this is "Hi gang, I'm the noob Earl. Hope we can help each other out."

[lacespace]

I am so glad there are so many of you willing to post your stories. I am new also and wanted to find some support but don't think I will have a problem on this forum with people willing to share. Glade you posted this question it was a great place for me to start.

[ekubaskie]

I think I'm getting there. No magic burst of energy or anything, but I've gradually gone from having 2-hour sleep periods (3-4 wakeups a night) to last night's ONE wakeup - one two-hour session in the morning, following a 7.5-hour (!!!!) initial zonk. And when I first woke up, I sorta freaked for a couple seconds. Holy carp, where's my mask? ON MY FACE, doing just what it's supposed to do.