I am an overnight success

[Snorebert]

I read the postings here and compare my results with the others - I'm sure you do too. Some get relief after a few nights of xPAP and others are still struggling after years of being on the hose. We all hope that we will find that magical combination of mask and machine, data and LabRat fixes that will allow us to get our lives back.

My saga began about 15 years ago when I was diagnosed with severe OSA while in my early forties. The CPAP that was offered to me back then was a noisy box without humidifier, exhale relief or data capability. Masks were only full-face, made out of wood and barbed wire (in my memory) that would leak like a screen door and tear into the flesh as the night wore on. I didn't like it, didn't want to be tethered to a machine and would have tossed the whole setup out the window if it hadn't been such an expensive protest. Even when my wife and young kids noticed some improvement in my energy level and mood, it wasn't enough for me to stay on it.

When the ENT doc told me that he did operations to trim the uvula and that could fix me "as good as new", I bought it. Went under the knife (no lasers back then) for the UPPP surgery. Days in the hospital on drugs, many weeks of recovery at home on a totally liquid diet and not being able to speak without severe pain. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. The outcome was a very minor improvement that allowed me to deny my OSA for many years with a lot of caffeine. A year and a half ago, it all caught up with me.

It started right after I finally quit smoking by using the patch. By the time I was on the lowest level of patch, I was experiencing tremendous fatigue and dizziness. I figured that it was the nicotine patch and vowed to tough it out for the entire program. I did and remain smoke-free since. But the fatigue and dizziness stayed with me. Causing me to come home from work early on bad days and to often just spend much of the weekend on the couch. Saw the doctor and he went chasing after blood pressure as a cause. Not until I suggested that OSA was back did he think of ordering a sleep study.

It took four sessions at the sleep lab before I would sleep long enough for a diagnosis and titration. Then I was handed off to a DME that gave me the same type of mask that had been used in my last sleep study, a low-end machine with cleaning instructions and I was sent on my way.

I worked hard at it and made it through most nights with mask on but just wasn't feeling any better. I started to feel really down because I had hoped that CPAP would do the trick and I would be back to normal. And then I stumbled on CPAPTALK. I read and read and began to realize that there was a lot more to treating OSA than to slap on a mask. I started playing with my pressure a bit (the DME had set the pressure in front of me so I knew how to do it). I bought myself a data-capable APAP machine and really started to take charge. I saw that my leak line looked like Bill Clintons' lie detector readout and my AHI was running in the high teens to low twenties. Bought a new mask and got AHI down below 6! Sometimes as low as 2. Still had some pretty bad days.

Jeff (jnk) noted that Auto setting might not be best for someone who had UPPP so following his advice, I went to CPAP mode. Watching data every day, still seeing very little improvement.

Then, about two weeks ago, I started feeling much better. Started doing work around the house, no weekend naps, dizziness mostly gone. Concentration back again. I still have an occasional down day but nowhere near as down as I had been having.

Score:
15 (known) years of OSA
1 failed CPAP attempt
1 UPPP
1 second attempt at CPAP
1 bunch of phenomenal people on the CPAPTALK forum
7 months of working with CPAP, APAP masks
==================================================
Overnight success (priceless)

Hang in there newbies! It will happen for you.

-Clark

[2flamingos]

Amazing story! Glad that you are finally getting some positive results! Congrats!

[Cassandra]

Thank you for post that, Clark. It's a very good argument for sticking with it.

Cassandra

[carbonman]

.

Then, about two weeks ago, I started feeling much better. Started doing work around the house, no weekend naps, dizziness mostly gone. Concentration back again. I still have an occasional down day but nowhere near as down as I had been having.

Score:
15 (known) years of OSA
1 failed CPAP attempt
1 UPPP
1 second attempt at CPAP
1 bunch of phenomenal people on the CPAPTALK forum
7 months of working with CPAP, APAP masks
==================================================
Overnight success (priceless)

Hang in there newbies! It will happen for you.

-Clark

WOW... great post.

Compared to you, my road to cpap success was a walk in the park.

Yea, let's hope the newbies are listening.

Congrats! .....hav'n a life, is nice.

[JeffH]

At least it wasn't has bad as George Bush's lie line! That would kill a person.

Glad you are doing better.

JeffH

[alnhwrd]

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your good news!!

[rested gal]

Way to go, Clark.

Thanks so much for posting your story.

Just goes to show.... well, a lot of things.

Not the least of which is what a person's determination and finding cpaptalk can accomplish!

[time2sleep]

I am a newbie, and I am listening. Thanks so very much for your post!!
I do get discouraged because I don't feel like superwoman. But because of the forums I have a data capable machine and software to take charge of my own health. Thanks again for sharing your journey.

[spookydoo]

By the time I was on the lowest level of patch, I was experiencing tremendous fatigue and dizziness. I figured that it was the nicotine patch and vowed to tough it out for the entire program. I did and remain smoke-free since. But the fatigue and dizziness stayed with me. -Clark

Congrats on getting it under control. Glad I'm not the only one who has experienced dizziness. It also has gotten better as my therapy has gotten better. I was told by my ENT that I had Meniere's Disease. I think he spent all of 10 seconds analyzing me before he proclaimed his brilliant diagnosis. Dizziness seems pretty rare for most folks with sleep Apnea. However, the better my numbers, the better my dizziness.

[kteague]

Your overnight success story reminds me of the music stars who seem to have had overnight success, but then they tell a story of many sleepless nights in dimly lit rooms spent honing their craft and working to get them to their current level of success. Hey, better late than never. Congrats on your achievement.
Kathy

[Babette]

GOOD JOB, CLARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad all your hard work and dedication is now paying off!!!!!!

Always glad to hear these stories.

Huggers,
Barbara

[araminta]

What a wonderful testimonial.
Kudos to you for your triumph!

[fuzzy96]

Clark,

your last name isn't kent by any chance?????

good going