another newbie

I have been using a RISPIRONIC bipap auto trak sensitivity for a year now!! what a difference it has made, heck i wont sleep without it. I had very little troube getting used to it even with a high pressure setting(20-16) never used the ramp, i think i was so happy to sleep for more then a hour it didn't matter.
I new for a long time something was wrong but couldn't figure it out, when they started talking about pulling ephedra of the shelf i new it was time to go to the DR. i had a huge habit due to trying to stay awake so when i told her she was shocked because on the outside i looked very healthy!!My blood pressure was high i was taking ephedra and caffeine and not sleeping well, she said i would probably have killed myself before long!!
enough rambling!!!!

Welcome!

And no, you were not rambling. You were sharing your experience, and I for one am glad you did!

I am in awe of you. I have a bipap, been on it only 5 months now, and I struggle to get used to the pressure. My pressures are 18/14, less than yours. I can't imagine a 20. I use the ramp all the time. So I am most envious of you. But I am also very glad it is working for you. It's always great to hear this, for it gives me encouragement. I'm told everyone handles the adjustment differently. I just hope I can get to be like you, and not need the ramp.

Thanks so much for sharing this! And feel free to join in at any time!

Linda

I think my only complaint is my mask leaking, but with the pressure i think that's to be expected!!
There was a short period of time before my sleep studies when i went off all stimulants very scary!!! I was scared to drive home from work i would nod off at lights heck i would start to nod off talking to someone.
Now i feel great!!!!bad thing is i feel better on less hours sleep so now i stay up later instead of going to bed!!!!

notbigenuf1 wrote:I think my only complaint is my mask leaking, but with the pressure i think that's to be expected!!
There was a short period of time before my sleep studies when i went off all stimulants very scary!!! I was scared to drive home from work i would nod off at lights heck i would start to nod off talking to someone.
Now i feel great!!!!bad thing is i feel better on less hours sleep so now i stay up later instead of going to bed!!!!

Exactly how it's been for me!!! I too feel great all day and then stay up late instead of going to bed. And since I get up so gosh darn early for work, I've been operating on precious little sleep! Strange. I've been trying to do better.

Before diagnosis, I was nodding off at work at the drop of a hat. My job was in jeopardy. In fact, that was the big reason I finally decided to take the test. One more nodding off, and I was to be fired. Driving had gotten to be so bad. Even driving home from work, I would start to swurve, a little. I feared nodding off. I used to spend my Saturdays getting up before dawn and drive the two hours to my hometown to do some projects I loved, would make a whole day of it and drive back. The drive is easy. But I began to need to stop halfway and rest. Eventually it got so bad I had to stop several times. Finally it got so bad I stopped altogether, wanting only to stay home and sleep all day. I stopped doing everything I loved to do.

Just a few days after starting my bipap, I took that same drive, starting before dawn. I was apprehensive. But I drove straight through without even stopping for coffee or something. No rest stop. I had so much energy that I was bebopping in my car humming to the radio. When I drove the two hours, I could have gone on and on. I even spent the whole day not napping, drove back nonstop and STILL stayed up super late. It was amazing! I felt young again!

So, yes, I feel incredibly blessed. I still struggle with the bipap, but I NEVER want to go back to being like I was before starting it.


Linda

notbigenuf and Linda, those are great accounts of your respective journeys toward getting better. You're both an inspiration to others just starting and those still struggling.