How long does it take?

[goofyfever]

Hi,
New cpap user here... I got my machine Saturday night at second sleep study. Didnt sleep well at center. Used it for the first night at home last night. I kept it on all night and think I slept all night. I didnt wake with headache like normal but I still feel just as tired this morning and foggy as always. How long on the machine before you actually feel like you have slept and feel refreshed?

[bdp522]

Welcome to the forum!

Using the mask and machine for a whole night, the first night is GREAT!!!!

Everyone is different. Some feel results immediately and some take a very long time to feel even the smallest improvement. You already have one improvement-no headache, and that's just one night. It takes time to pay back sleep debt,you need to give your body time to adjust to this new way of sleeping. You're doing great! Keep up the good work!

Brenda

[sleepycarol]

It varies. For many people it is an adjustment and may take several weeks to a few months.

A few may feel better immediately, though they are probably a minority.

It DOES get better. The effects of sleep apnea is cumulative over time -- in other words it has been building probably for a long time -- means it will take awhile for your body to heal itself.

Ask questions here, know that it does get better and you will feel more rested over time.

[goofyfever]

Thanks for replying, I just want to feel better and guess I am looking for immediate results. I will definitely stick to it. I know my husband was happy with no snoring last night. LOL .. I feel I made good progress already with just keeping it on all night. I will keep reading and learning on this site. Thanks

[sleepydoll]

Thanks for replying, I just want to feel better and guess I am looking for immediate results.

welcome to this great place! Just as the other members said, a lot of things come into consideration when we're at the beginning.
You're quite lucky to get some positive results so quickly.
Let me share with you a very insightful reply from another member some time ago. This was the push I needed to keep at it!
Hope it will help you too!
_____________________________________________________________
by carbonman on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:40 am

I am new here. I just discovered this group.
I am at the point of tears after reading the
Seven Stages of CPAP and What Is Feeling Good?
I have had my sleep study and diagnosed w/OSA.
I have not seen the specific results, yet.
I am at the stage of waiting for contact from the DME supplier.

I am feeling all those things listed in that article.
I am feeling a wave of relief wash over me, knowing that
I am not alone.
I have not slept well in years.
I had no idea I have such a problem.
As I write this I feel the fatigue of the day beginning to drag me down.

If I get nothing else from this site, thank you for that article.
For the first time in years, I have such a positive feeling that
I can take my life back from the fatigue that has consumed it for so
many years.

I am 57yrs young. I am an avid endurance cyclist.
Skinny tire, fast and far. I fight the fatigue and pain,
to be on the bike. Cycling is life, the rest is just details.

I have already learned so much from this site.
Thanks!!
carbonman
________________________________________________________________

Good luck with your therapy, and welcome to the family!
D.

[echo]

Let me share with you a very insightful reply from another member some time ago. This was the push I needed to keep at it!
Hope it will help you too!
_____________________________________________________________
by carbonman on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:40 am

I am new here. I just discovered this group.

And now carbonman is a poster child for OSA recovery

It CAN and WILL get better with time.

However, you have to be sure to address issues that may be preventing optimal treatment.
These include mask leaks, mouth breathing (which you won't have since you have a full face mask), or incorrect pressure settings. Now I'm not encouraging you to start playing with your pressure after 2 days on CPAP, but it wouldn't be the first time that a new starter has received the incorrect pressure. This can be due to the fact that the first time we sleep with the CPAP, in the lab, we are in a very foreign environment, sleeping with air blowing down our throats for the first time. Furthermore, we all sleep differently every night, so the night of your titration may not have been truly representative of your real sleep. If you find that after a few weeks to a month you're not seeing any improvements, you may want to start investigating. This is why we all push for a data-capable machine: you will immediately see if leaks and residual events are still an issue.

Of course there can be other medical issues at play, related to sleep or not. For example, if you have limb movements that don't resolve after starting therapy, they can continue to wreck your sleep architecture. Diabetes, thyroid problems, and other health issues can also cause you to feel tired. GERD (reflux) is another biggie - and it CAN interfere with your sleep, leaving you tired during the day even if your CPAP therapy is working perfectly.

All that said, it IS normal for it to take some time for your body to recover from the sleep and oxygen deprivation. Several weeks to several months is probably normal, any more time than that without any improvements, and I'd start digging deeper.

[goofyfever]

Thanks so much for all that info.. It is very helpful and at least gives me some direction to follow. My night in the sleep lab sucked so bad. Took me two hours to fall asleep with the help of a sleep aid, which did nothing for me. Nerves probably had alot to due with that as well as having all the wires and mask on. I am confident it will get better as long as I stick to it.
" I can accomplish anything I put my mind to"
I am just so very tired of being tired!