hours of use of cpap

[calcody]

I have been on cpap now for about a month. I find that some nights, I just cannot keep my nasal mask on all night. Sometimes it's because of general restlessness. Sometimes there seems to be a bit more discomfort than others.
My question:does using cpap even for 4 or 5 hours a night help with overall improvement of osa?

[packitin]

Well, I can tell you what happened to me. I was diagnosed 4 yrs ago. I first got an old Respironics machine and used it off and on for approx. 2 yrs. I became frustrated with it and turned it back in. Then for about a year, I went without any treatment, thinking I could lick this apnea on my own.

But what convinced me to go back to the sleep doctor was that I began to wake myself up snoring, and with a pounding heart. I had enough wisdom, thank goodness, to realize that I was going several seconds without breathing. In my dreams I would always be trying to "catch up" with someone, as if I couldn't keep up, such as on a bicycle, and these were nightmares of different sorts, but in each circumstance, I was trying to "get somewhere" and felt I couldn't make it. I realized that my body was trying to wake me up and tell me "something is wrong".

So I had another sleep study done and found the apneas. Then when I got on this forum in July, I began to read about all the data showing that persons with apnea were more prone to have heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and a host of other dysfunctions. So, naturally, it alarmed me and I decided to stay with the cpap and keep learning all I could about treatment.

Stay with your cpap, and stay on this forum, learn all you can, and in the long run you won't be sorry.

Of course, I'm an older guy, and 4 hrs per night would be excellent for me, since I don't average but about 5.5 or 6 hrs of sleep per night. I realize that the younger crowd must get more sleep than that. But as time goes on, you'll adjust more and more to it. There are many other issues, such as the correct type of mask, which machine, and what position you sleep in.

Why don't you fill out your profile and let us see more about what you are using?
Good luck to you,
Jay

[Goofproof]

Is breathing at night for four hours better than not breathing, Yes. It means that for half the night, you are trying to do the right thing. Is half good enough, it will be unless you die from sleep apnea the other, untreated half of the night. I choose to use my treatment anytime I go to sleep. Taking have the bullets out of a revolver doesn't make it safe. We do what we choose to do. Some things we have to do for ourselves, no one can force us to do what we know is right. Jim

[wlo2008]

you will get used to it over time. While those four hours are great what about the other three or so that you are not breathing. So you are just having a battle with your body and brain. I know with my self if I even sleep two hours with out the pap then I feel horrid the next day. We all have trouble getting used to it and the more you go the better you will feel. good luck and keep us posted