When should I feel results? Read those posts, Not any better

[scooter133]

I read the posts about when people start to fee better after CPAP, and they range from a few days to a month, to two max. I've been on since Januart 1st this year. I honestly cannot say that my daily quality of live has seen a significant, or insignificant improvement. My AHI was 49, on CPAP it's down to 2. I sleep marginally better at night, though the days still drag and I want to take a nap most days.

I've tried 4 masks and 2 machines. I'm 40y/o and 5 '10" at 205lbs. So a bit over weight, though not by more than 20 lbs.

I've changed my diet to be 90+% plant based, I'm trying to walk 1-2 miles at lunch (today was a 13388 step/7 mile day...)

Just seems like everyone says how they seem to make it through the day and not feel as tired once they have been on CPAP for a few weeks.

The only issues so far that I have are the Quattro FX mask I cannot stop leaking, the nose pillows and nasal mask make me feel like I cannot get enough air in, or out in the right amount.

My nose seems to always be stuffed up and gets worse when I lay down. No allergies or blockages

[SleepyToo2]

No allergies, but your nose is stuffed up? Sounds like there might be something going on ... The mask leaking is not going to be helping your AHI at all. You really need to work hard on finding out why it is leaking, and maybe try another mask until you find one that works for you. What pressure are you at and how severe was your pretreatment apnea? Have you had your thyroid and stress hormones checked? Losing weight may help, but is no guarantee of success. There are lots of things that can influence your AHI, so you will need to answer a lot more questions to help pin down your particular reason. It may also need to be something you explore with a good sleep medicine specialist, rather than on a public forum.

[Mary Z]

If the mask is leaking, the AHI may not be accurate. I wouldn't put a two month max on feeling better- it takes some people longer- you're an example of that. There are the obvious questions- are you using the CPAP 100% of sleep time, including naps? This may not be the best time to change your diet. You may not be getting enough protein. The exercise is good -could you do that before CPAP? Have you had a good physical to rule out other causes of fatigue?
Good luck, hang in there, don't give up or start using the machine less. I just changed to an ASV machine and figure it may take me three months to fully benefit from the change, perhaps six. We are all unique- I take medicines that cause my AHI to be high so I believe my adjustment is longer.

[robysue]

scooter133,

You write:

I read the posts about when people start to fee better after CPAP, and they range from a few days to a month, to two max.

Well, you obviously haven't stumbled on my posts from Oct 2010 through April 2011. Or even July 2011.

I started therapy on September 23, 2010. And during the first three months of therapy, I had a major crash and burn in terms of how I was feeling during the day and how I was functioning during the day. And I had 100% compliance---in the sense of sleeping with the hose all night, every night. And great AHI numbers (usually less than 1.5).

Some of us simply take a very, very long time to start to feel better. In my case, it was a good six months before I started to notice any real improvement over how I felt during those first dark three months of therapy. And it wasn't until eight months in that I could say I was beginning to feel as well as I had before starting therapy on a daily basis.

But things have slowly kept improving. And now (18 months into therapy) I can say that I am usually waking up feeling rested most mornings and even (dare I say it?) refreshed on my best mornings.

So try not to let all those "I feel GREAT and it's only been a month!" posts get you down. If you keep plugging away, solving one issue at a time, it will eventually start to get better. And in the meantime, rest assured in the knowledge that your body is no longer physically suffering from the affects of untreated OSA every night.

[jtswife]

I started using my machine in March of 2012 and I am just starting to really feel a difference in how I feel. I still get tired by the afternoon but not feeling like I am in a fog all day.
I think you better discuss your issue with your sleep doctor.

[robysue]

The only issues so far that I have are the Quattro FX mask I cannot stop leaking, the nose pillows and nasal mask make me feel like I cannot get enough air in, or out in the right amount.

My nose seems to always be stuffed up and gets worse when I lay down. No allergies or blockages

These are very BIG issues with adjusting to CPAP.

The mask is critical. If the mask is not comfortable, it's difficult to get a good night's sleep no matter how hard you try.

If you like the Quattro FX except for the leaks, try a mask liner or an anti-leak strap from Padacheek. If you don't like the Quatrro FX, then it's time to try another mask---either another FFM or maybe a hybrid or even one of the Total Face masks that cover your full face, not just your nose and mouth.

For the nasal congestion problems: Are you using a heated humidifier? At what setting? Consider turning it DOWN as well as UP in your quest to find the sweet spot.

The use of nasal sprays and a neti pot may help.

For more of RobySue's suggestions on dealing with nasal congestion see: http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -cpap.html

[Pugsy]

How many hours of sleep (not laying in bed awake) do you normally get?
Are those hours of sleep fragmented in any way? Wake up often? If so, why?
Do you take any meds...even OTC?

[jtswife]

The liner for the face mask work good, I use the quattro fx for women and with the liners I dont have any leaks.
The liners do take some adjustment to be comfortable but do stop leaks for me.

[Maxie]

One thing I can tell you is that CPAP is not like taking a pill and getting well in a few days or a week. It is a process that requires your input on a continual basis. I got my CPAP on Dec. 27 and after a lot of reading here I know I fall into the category of those who do not see immediate success but that did not keep me from continuing to work towards that goal. I've done a lot of tweaking my equipment and a lot of tweaking my own life to fit the CPAP into it. I've worked hard at arranging my medication schedule to compliment the CPAP treatment into it and although I would see a day here or there that I felt good it was not at all on a regular basis. Finally this last tweaking on my medication schedule seems to be working well with my CPAP treatment and I do feel good on a regular basis. I'm not done yet though, there are things in my treatment that I want to work better and frankly, I don't think that it's going to be something for me that one day I will say this is it. It's a process and you will get a lot of encouragement on this forum and answers to your questions. I'm not up yet on the technical aspects but I'm learning!! You will too and it's a case of keeping on keeping on.

[chunkyfrog]

My darling is having some luck with a breathe-rite strip.
The doc gave him a RX for cortisone nasal spray.
I wish he hadn't stopped taking the loratadine.
I think he needs all three.

[scooter133]

Thank you all for your replies.

Just feeling so frustrated... My Last Dr Conversation ended with him saying that we might want to look more into my 'Mental Health'. I'm not interested in AD meds.

The Mask I'm using at the moment is the Quattro (Non FX) full-face mask with Headgear. Has the big forehead piece. Its not too bad in terms of leaking. So I don't think leaks are the issue with this one. With the Sinus congestion (Every DAY!) I need the FFM or I feel like I'm suffocating. The weird part is I don't think that once I'm asleep that I'm breathing though my mouth, just my nose. So the Air that I do get is not the best for flow rate. I have not downloaded my data is a couple weeks, though with my new PR S1, the Pressure is between 5-13 with an average of 11 or so. Pre-treatment AHI was 49, with CPAP it was 2-3.

The Repertory therapist did convince DME to give me a PR S1 over my old ResMed M200 series. So now I have the Auto Pressure. I think that has helped… And way more Data.

I use CPAP 99% of the time. There have been a couple nights (less than 6) since January 1st that I’ve not used it, and thought the Night I use it at least 6-7 hours. Jan-March I was getting an average of 6-6.5 hours of sleep. I changed my Work hours in April so now I get closer to 8 hours of sleep a Night.

I don’t Take naps during the day, Though seems like I could if I had the opportunity. The 1-2 Miles I walk at lunch I could do before CPAP. I have lost 10 lbs since the Sleep Study.



The Allergist poked me with all kinds of things. Nothing came back positive. The Head and Neck Dr. ran a scope up my nose with nothing interesting. The MRI of my sinus came back fine too.

I'm using a Humidifier though its set to one and it seems like the water in the tank can last me a week. On my old M200 Series I'd go though almost a tank a night. My nose does not feel dry in the mornings, just clogged up. Most days’ one nostril is 80+% blocked. I can't blow my nose to get anything out of it. In the evenings it gets worse. By the time I’m laying down for bed, the one side is just about completely blocked. When I get up in the morning, one side has no airflow (the side I slept on last) and the other side is partially blocked. I cannot breath though my nose in the shower and cannot keep my mouth closed for more than a couple seconds without gasping for air... I've been on Allegra and Flonase for months now with no apparent difference. I'll use the Neti Pot a couple times a week. I have eucalyptus oil at the CPAP intake. None of this has seemed to help with the stuffy nose.

Thyroid is fine; Though Testosterone is out of whack. The Endo Dr I have is a pure Old School Textbook Dr that has not looked at what Testosterone Replacement patients today are doing to get good sustained Testosterone levels that make people feel better. They are still looking at giving people huge T shots every two weeks. I'm on a T Gel at the moment and that gives me leveled out T, though my Estradiol (E2) is elevated, which they don't seem to care about but TRT patients seem to think its critical to get it lowered to feel better.

So besides some Vitamins and the Testosterone Gel, no other meds. I feel that I get enough protein with Tofu, other Soy, Nuts, beans, etc. I’m not a strict vegan, probably 85+%. So If I want a boneless/skinless chicken breast, I’ll have one.

[BlackSpinner]

You may want to try an elimination diet. They can't test for food intolerance's easily.

Wheat, dairy and soy are often culprits. Try eliminating one for 2-3 weeks and keep a diary with symptoms.

[Maxie]

Things that worked for me that might work for you. Up the humidity and keep experimenting, use Flonase in the morning and the Allegra at night. I was using Olbas oil but I cut that out for a while to see how things go so try cutting out the eucalyptus oil for a while. Discontinue the Neti pot for a while also--I cut it out and I've not gone back. I was doing all of the things you are doing and it took a lot of tweaking to get it all to work together but I never have nasal congestion now and I had it badly before CPAP.

[robysue]

The Allergist poked me with all kinds of things. Nothing came back positive. The Head and Neck Dr. ran a scope up my nose with nothing interesting. The MRI of my sinus came back fine too.

I'm using a Humidifier though its set to one and it seems like the water in the tank can last me a week. On my old M200 Series I'd go though almost a tank a night. My nose does not feel dry in the mornings, just clogged up. Most days’ one nostril is 80+% blocked. I can't blow my nose to get anything out of it. In the evenings it gets worse. By the time I’m laying down for bed, the one side is just about completely blocked. When I get up in the morning, one side has no airflow (the side I slept on last) and the other side is partially blocked. I cannot breath though my nose in the shower and cannot keep my mouth closed for more than a couple seconds without gasping for air... I've been on Allegra and Flonase for months now with no apparent difference. I'll use the Neti Pot a couple times a week. I have eucalyptus oil at the CPAP intake. None of this has seemed to help with the stuffy nose.

Google Nonallergic rhinitis. Because that's what it sounds like you are dealing with. Unfortunately many of the things that you do to take care of allergic rhinitis may not work for nonallergic rhinitis. It all depends on the particular person and his/her nose.

Two good links for learning more about how nonallergic rhinitis can affect CPAP and (more importantly) some things you can try to alleviate the nonallergic rhinitis are:
* Nasal Breathing Video Series, from Dr. Barry Krakow's web pages
* Unstuff Your Stuffy Nose, from Dr. Steven Y. Park's web pages.

When you were using the M200 Series where you went through almost a tankful of water a night, was the congestion worse, better, or about the same? The answer to that question may point which way to experiment with your current humidifier.

And are you a mouth breather during the day when you are NOT in the shower?

[macewa]

I had a lot of nose problems starting out and it was due to the high air pressures I had that caused what I call "nose burn." It caused me to have a runny nose and breathing in regular air during the day was painful. I finally had my numbers changed and things got better. Right now I am having days of runny nose (on one side) and I still think that has to do with my air pressure numbers (EPAP 14 and IPAP 23). The humidifier helps and it also helps with a lot of allergy stuff and dry nose. It could be allergies causing your problems and IMHO, maybe you just have to get used to air blowing through your nose. Could be your nose is says, "What the heck!"