Newbie...1 week...still exausted.

tonimari98 · Post by **tonimari98** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:16 am

Hi I have just been diagosed with Severe obstructive sleep apnea 66 episodes an hour with oxygen level @ 82. I have had my CPAP (Fisher Paykel)for a week, and have the Puritan Breeze sleep gear (nasal Pillows) Just got those 2 days ago, the nose mask was making my face tender. I do not have a problem with the pressure set at 10 I can fall asleep with out a problem...But I am still soooo tired. I do not feel any better since on the "hose" (as y'all call it.) My Husband says that I seem to be sleeping really well and I am not snoring at all. and as far as I can tell I am sleeping through the night. The frst night on the machine I did take ambien...OMG that made me so sick!! the next day I wished for the grim reaper to pay me a visit. So any way I guess my question is How long should it take to actually feel rested and alive again? At what point do I call my doctor and whine? Is it possible that I need supplemental Oxygen?
Thanks![/img][/u]

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:23 am

Just so you know, you're doing pretty well for a week in. There are a lot of us who, three weeks in, are just starting to be able to sleep with the mask on.

The impressions you get from reading this board are that it varies wildly. Some people take to the mask like a fish to water, and feel worlds better (not perfect, but MUCH better) the next day.

Others take to the mask like a fish to a bicycle, taking time to get used to it, playing around with equipment a lot to get something that works passably well enough.

And once you DO start sleeping, again, some people feel better ASAP, some take weeks, or even months to get up to operating at 100% of capacity.

All I can say is stick with it. As one who just managed to fall asleep with the mask on for the FIRST time last night, after more then 3 weeks of trying, you're ahead of the game.

Good luck!

Liam, who's taking to his mask like a fish to a Bass-O-Matic.

snoozin' · Post by **snoozin'** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:27 am

By the time we get diagnosed and get the machine, we've built up a considerable sleep debt. Some people are lucky, and start feeling better almost immediately, but most take a few weeks to get caught up on all the sleep they've missed. And sometimes the first sign of improvement is small - you missed your afternoon nap and still made it through the day kind of thing.
I'd suggest giving it another couple of weeks, but if you're not showing some improvement by then, call your doctor. Some people who've had unrefreshing sleep for a long time may not be completely recovered for months, but I feel that you should be showing improvement within 2-4 weeks.
Debbie

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:30 am

I think the first wk should be called: If you can get thru it and sleep at all, somewhat, some amount, SOMETHING, you will get thru wk 2 and so on. I am in wk 3, and just starting to not have that panicky feeling around 10 PM, knowing I've got to struggle with the hose, the swift, nasal pillows, whole bit.

Hang in there, this board is great...Just vent, it will make you feel better, encouragement. we can all smile at this, we're all in the same boat, called the SS NO SLEEPY, NO BREATHY.

Sign me: an english major out of fun quips. Liam, do you have any pithy stuff for our newbie to hang on to?

Liam1965 wrote:Just so you know, you're doing pretty well for a week in. There are a lot of us who, three weeks in, are just starting to be able to sleep with the mask on.

The impressions you get from reading this board are that it varies wildly. Some people take to the mask like a fish to water, and feel worlds better (not perfect, but MUCH better) the next day.

Others take to the mask like a fish to a bicycle, taking time to get used to it, playing around with equipment a lot to get something that works passably well enough.

And once you DO start sleeping, again, some people feel better ASAP, some take weeks, or even months to get up to operating at 100% of capacity.

All I can say is stick with it. As one who just managed to fall asleep with the mask on for the FIRST time last night, after more then 3 weeks of trying, you're ahead of the game.

Good luck!

Liam, who's taking to his mask like a fish to a Bass-O-Matic.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:45 am

gailzee wrote:Sign me: an english major out of fun quips. Liam, do you have any pithy stuff for our newbie to hang on to?

Interesting in that I was going to add on to your message "...and don't mind too much if certain individuals crack occasional gentle jokes...".

Let's see. How about a limerick?

Apnea Patient Tonimari
Wakes in the mornings so sorry
But CPAP talk folks
Cracked a couple jokes
She'll be sure to sleep well tomorry.

Liam, who should probably stick with one-liners.

cpaper · Post by **cpaper** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:04 am

Liam1965 wrote:Apnea Patient Tonimari
Wakes in the mornings so sorry
But CPAP talk folks
Cracked a couple jokes
She'll be sure to sleep well tomorry.

G00fy217 · Post by **G00fy217** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:02 pm

Tonimari -

Just stick to it kiddo!! I am so dead determined to beat this thing, that I am getting 7 hours of sleep each night now that I am on the mask!! I had to change my mask twice in the past 2 weeks, but I think I finally got the one that works!! It looks like a an Umpire's mask... no more marks on my face!! Yeah!! I was getting marks on my face that would last all day just to start over again at night... yuk!! But now, my new mask is so much better!! I actually wake-up without marks on my face and refreshed!!

Maybe you need to get a different mask? Ask the your sales rep.... I did, twice - he doesn't seem to mind.

Good luck!!

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:56 pm

I guess I was one of the lucky ones, but I think that had a lot to do to the equipment. (Remstar Auto w/cflex) When I had my sleep study I didn't like the constant pressure and personally I don't think I would be as complient as I am with the Remstar. (100% since last Friday night!) I was also titrated at 10, my with my auto it is telling me that I really should be around 13. with the software that a number of the units have, it really makes it a lot easier to tweak em to your situation...

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:01 pm

Stay with it. It took me awhile to get use to it. I could only wear my full face mask a few hrs at first, but it got easier with time. I also found that wearing it for a little while and reading or watching tv in bed helped me get use to the feeling before I actually went to sleep. I also could make little adjustments with straps while I was awake.

tonimari98 · Post by **tonimari98** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:50 pm

Thank you to everyone...I am pretty sure that I will beat this Sleep monster. I was worried that maybe this isn't the fix for my feeling so Ickky...I understand now that it can take time, and it will take time. But knowing that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is a relief to me. I plan on changing a few of my daily habbits...like no more caffine after 6pm and no sugar after 6pm. Maybe that will help me remain asleep once I doze off. I have read a lot of post from people and I realize that I am LUCKY to be able to fall to sleep with my mask and the air flowing. So now I am working on sleeping through the night with out waking up. And my new sleep mask(Puritan Breeze SleepGear) Is great. I'll let y'all know how my caffine and sugar strike works for me...tonight is the first time I'll try it.

Newbie...1 week...still exausted.

Newbie...1 week...still exausted.

I'm like Liam, a fish and a bike

Re: I'm like Liam, a fish and a bike

I know I will beat this

Machine	Mask

Machine	Mask