need support

[jazzmynn1]

Hello,
I need support and hope someone can reassure me that this will get better.
I have been using cpap for about a month but I am still having sleepiness and foggy feelings at times. I also feel irritable like crying and bummed out. I was driving the other day and fighting to stay awake.
I am more alert and feel better, but is this normal?
I also had my stepdaughter visit for a week last week and didn't get a lot of time to sleep.
Can you relate?

Thanks

[Babette]

All of this is very typical for the early days of therapy. Most of us experience a degradation before we reap the benefits.

We can help you get to the "beneficial" stage of therapy FASTER, if you will register for the forum, and fill in your equipment and mask information.

Best of luck and all the sympathy in the world,
Barbara

[ozij]

Yes, it's normal, and it will get better. I had a terrible time when I started - many of us did.
There are things you can do to make it better - you can read about some of them here:viewtopic/t35702/Where-A-CPAP-Newbie-Should-Start.html . You can aslo learn a lot if you click on links on this thread.

Joining the forum is not mandatory - but it helps - and if you do join, add your equipment (machine, mask) to your profile - preferably from the verbal list, not icons - and a word about your pressure in the comment. If you do that, the info will appear automatically on all your posts, and save us asking you for it whenever we want to give you tips.

Question are always welcome here.

Hang in there.
O.

[kteague]

Hi Jazzmynn. Sorry to hear you're still going thru a lot getting adjusted. I remember early on you did register an account under Jazzmynn. Are you having problems logging in under that account? I'm sure you're getting tired of repeating your information to try to get some targeted help. If you can use that account, all your current info can be retained for those replying to see.

Having added activities or responsibilities during the adjustment phase is not the best timing, but life doesn't seem to wait for our convenience, does it? When you consider how long you've been at this, also consider at what point were you sleeping longer and struggling less with mask issues. Until this is happening, you might as well not expect to feel better. How much sleep are you getting each night on the machine? Are you sleeping any without it?

Be quite kind to yourself during this time. Hopefully those around you support your efforts to regain your health and well being. You have endured long term trauma to your brain and body and recovery will come quicker with plenty of rest - more than usual.

Since sleep deprivation is considered an effective means of "breaking" both hardened criminals and seasoned soldiers, I think we should all pat ourselves on the back for our commendable strength in the face of this challenge. Give yourself some credit for how far you have come. And there will be plenty more credit to give yourself as time passes. Again, I can't say enough about the value of PLENTY of rest for a while. The hardest part for me was giving myself permission to be unavailable.

I have a theory about that rough period so many experience in the early days. I think we have lived on sheer resolve for so long, when we go on cpap we allow ourselves to lessen our resolve a bit in expectation the machine will support us, but the lessening of resolve and support of cpap don't always coincide. Reminds me of when I was learning to drive a stick shift car - releasing the clutch and giving it gas can be a sputtering, lurching, stalling mess until things smooth out.

Let us know some specifics of how we can be of help to you during this time.

Kathy

[Bearcat42]

I can totally relate to how you feel. I have been on cpap for about 2 weeks now and I have good days and bad. It seems like the bad outweigh the good. My last 2 nights have been better with numbers coming down. I am still trying to come to grips with the fact that I cant solve everything that hampers my therapy in 1 or 2 nights. I know it will take time but after having a really good night and feeling the effects the next day you just dread having a "bad" night.
I am trying Pur-Sleep tonight for the first time and basically taking one step at a time so I know what works for me and what doesnt, like using a fleece hose cover or washing my face before bed, along with rubbing my nose down really well so my nose wont itch.
Just hang in there and dont give up. Surely it will get better as time goes by and before long you and I both will benefit from a well deserved sleep each night.

[Mike@TibroMedical]

The main things that I wonder are how much time for sleep do you have, you mentioned that you didn't sleep much while your daughter was there, during that week when you DID sleep were you on the machine? I have allot of Pt's that feel getting use to it cost them almost as much non-restful sleep as non treated OSA. Consistency is key when starting on therapy, the other thing i tell my pt's is if it's a matter of trying to get use to the mask and the pressure while sleeping try wearing it while you watch your TV shows each night, that way your body can become use to the pressure and the feeling of the mask so when you are trying to sleep it's not such a un-natural feeling.

[clandestine]

hi all, im a 3 days cpap user, i use resmed s8 elite II with a swift LT . My calculated AHI was 47 in the lab. My prescribed pressure is 6 . For two days i check out the AI, HI,AHI values from the machine's LCD screen my AHIs are 12.1 , 9.1 respectively . I think It is supposed to be blow 5 . Is it too early to be suspicious about the prescribed pressure ?