3 month user asking for help in getting restful sleep

I have been using my CPAP since the end of November, 2014. I had suspected for years that I had sleep apnea. I finally got a doctor to listen. My first sleep study showed that I had apnea (ahi was 70) but since I did not get into REM sleep soon enough they did not put a mask on me. So, more money and time later, I had the second study with a mask on from the beginning. THEN my doctor sent me to a sleep specialist. She ordered the machine and about a week later I was up and running. My setting is 7. First I had a nasal mask and that did not work at all, it kept coming loose and my mouth kept falling open So, less than a month later when I asked my DME what to do, he gave me a full fask mask, for free, so that was great. I tried that for a month and found that my mouth still kept falling open. My DME said he did not think that chin straps work that well so I didn't do that at the time. I still had the mouth falling open issue. When I went back to my sleep specialist so she could check my memory card she said I was having too much leak and gave me a Wisp nasal mask, another freebie, yay! After I used that for a month she said that the leak was better and my ahi was 1. I was still having the mouth dropping open problem, so I went back to my DME and got a chin strip. It has eliminated the chin drop and my ahi has dropped most nights to less than 1.
So, my boyfriend says I don't snore anymore while using the cpap, and that I fall asleep much faster.
He says I don't complain as much about being tired. So why don't I feel great? I do admit that at work in the afternoons I don't feel like I could use a nap, but I don't feel any more energetic. After work I am tired, I just veg out and watch tv. I work in an office, it is not physically taxing. I was hoping for that wonderful energetic feeling other people have told me they got. I have never been a morning person so I still don't want to get out of bed in the mornings. I have had a few days here and there that I noticed I felt better, but not very many.
There is so much information on this site, it is wonderful and overwhelming at the same time. Do I need to download a software? I am not sure what to do next. My sleep specialist acted like well, you readings are great, you should be feeling better.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi, welcome! The next step would be to DL SleepyHead from the first note on the pg (Pugsy's Pointers), and once you have that done, you can use Imgur.com to post screen shots and then in this thread again, post a link to them. But you sound like you're doing alright for a beginner, and maybe even better, so good luck with everything!

Doberwoman wrote: . . . I don't complain as much about being tired. So why don't I feel great? . . . I don't feel any more energetic. . . . I work in an office, it is not physically taxing. I was hoping for that wonderful energetic feeling other people have told me they got. I have never been a morning person so I still don't want to get out of bed in the mornings. I have had a few days here and there that I noticed I felt better, but not very many. . . . My sleep specialist acted like well, you readings are great, you should be feeling better. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Stopping the airway closures is only the first step toward good sleep. Then comes strict sleep hygiene. You had years (decades?) for your body/brain to learn the wrong way to sleep. Once the breathing events stop, the body/brain needs to learn the right way to sleep. Google for some trusted sites that discuss "sleep hygiene."

Once sleep is fixed, then you are in position to fix everything else that you didn't have the ability to fix before. Diet, exercise, lifestyle, routines need to be reexamined and adjusted as necessary.

Recent scientific investigations have begun to realize that the body contains many clocks, not just one. So adjusting the hours that you eat and exercise can help to sync up your sleep clock so that you become a morning person. You can't change your DNA, but you CAN adjust what is within your power to adjust. Sleep apnea denies us the ability to adjust those things. Once we breathe well at night, we aren't finished helping our health--we are finally able to begin!

-jeff

Welcome,
There are a few things you can do to make sure you are getting optimal therapy.
1. Look on the bottom of your blower(after removing the water) for REF###. Iim wondering if you have the wrong machine in your equipment list. The latest Respironics are 60 series and yours maybe a 560, if that is the case, scroll down on the machine choices until you get the ones that have 60 series in the name. Also chose the humidifier 60 series that says heated tube even if you don't have the heated tube yet. If your machine REF## is 550 you have already chosen the right machine.
2. This site is by a member of our forum and has a lot of information for CPAP users and helpful info on Sleepyhead. https://sleep.tnet.com/main
3. If you don't already have your clinical manuel that explains more about your machine, such how to change settings, than your user manuel, here is a link for the manuel. http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual You have to scroll down to section 3 and it will tell you how to get it by email.

Thanks for all of the info. The machine is a 560P, so hopefully I have the right one selected now. I don't have the heated tube on it, but it does say that the humidifier is heated. I have those thin books that came with the machine. I need to make to make some time to download that software. I greatly appreciate all of the input and links, this should be helpful.

You are doing great. Looks like you have the correct machine but the humidifier choice should look like mine. It is a learning experience. We all want to feel great and sometimes there are things that can help that. One thing you do know is that your CPAP use is getting the Oxygen to your vital organs that were suffering before. Try to focus on the debilitating illnesses that you may be preventing.
Work on getting Sleepyhead going and look at what is actually taking place to see if adjustments could help.
The manual that came with the machine doesn't include how to change pressure settings and other information. So if you want to get that info use the link above.