My Beginning

[newhosehead]

I am three nights in to this journey and have found such good information here, I wanted to share the beginnings of my journey. I got my machine and nasal mask on Monday night after a pretty successful night in the lab. That night I slept around 5-6 hours, with one panicked wakeup pulling at the mask. I was amazed that I did as well as I did, considering my history as a mouthbreather. Got the machine delivered the next day and did fairly well that night as well, although as in the lab, it took about an hour for me to get to sleep. The next night was hell. I could feel the air filling my mouth rather soon after the machine ramped up and it just wouldnt stop. Around 1am, I got up and tied a scarf under my chin and knotted it tight at the top of my head! Didn't work, as the air kept finding a way to bubble out between my lips. Finally fell asleep from pure exhaustion around 3 and woke up 2 hours later with the driest mouth and gums I have ever experienced in my life. Called my provider and they came right out with a full face mask (the Quattro I believe) and last night I slept 8 hours with no issues, even fell alseep rather quickly. I felt a bit groggy when I woke up but a couple of hours later, it seems to be better. I have lived the Hell of total exhaustion for far too long and the pure relief of a diagnosis (there will definitely be a post on that later!) is enough to keep my going with this, no matter what it takes. I apologize for my wordiness but I want to let you all know what this site has meant to me as I begin my journey. Or maybe I can't really put that into words, maybe you already know. I look forward to learning more here and sharing as well. While I feel some small relief already, I really look forward to the possibility of getting better and better. Reading many of your posts makes me feel that is a real possibility. Thank you.

[MoneyGal]

Hooray! Many, many people on this site were once exactly where you were, from the hell of pure exhaustion to the relief of diagnosis. Welcome to the rest of your life.

[JohnBFisher]

... Called my provider and they came right out with a full face mask (the Quattro I believe) and last night I slept 8 hours with no issues, even fell alseep rather quickly. I felt a bit groggy when I woke up but a couple of hours later, it seems to be better. I have lived the Hell of total exhaustion for far too long and the pure relief of a diagnosis (there will definitely be a post on that later!) is enough to keep my going with this, no matter what it takes. ...

EXACTLY! I do understand the "Hell of total exhaustion". Many of us understand very well. And we agree. An actual diagnosis and a fairly simple - if awkward and inelagant solution - is such a blessing. It's not a cure. But it WORKS!

When initially diagnosed, I actually took some time off from work and slept and slept and slept. It was WONDERFUL.

... I apologize for my wordiness but I want to let you all know what this site has meant to me as I begin my journey. Or maybe I can't really put that into words, maybe you already know. ...

Not everyone gets to the same point of exhaustion. And I certainly would never wish it on anyone else. Anyone who thinks sleep deprivation is not real torture has never lived through it.

... I look forward to learning more here and sharing as well. While I feel some small relief already, I really look forward to the possibility of getting better and better. Reading many of your posts makes me feel that is a real possibility. ...

Before I forget... Welcome! Glad you found the site and are reading. Taking an active role in your therapy is very important. The more you recognize this is a chronic condition and you need to take charge and be certain the therapy meets your needs, the better you will do. You will get better and better. You may face a battle to adjust fully to the machine. Or you might take to it like a fish in water. It's impossible to tell. However, as you progress, I suggest you take one day off from the machine and see how you sleep and how you feel after one day without your VPAP. I think you will be shocked how far you have come. But don't plan on doing anything the following day!

[Gerryk]

Welcome aboard, why not go ahead and register, it's free and allows you to use the same name over easily. Registering will also allow you to list your equipment, that way if you have a problem or a question someone can answer it without having to ask you several more questions.

You have only been on cpap a very short time and already feel a benefit. Just wait! It gets better as time goes on! No, you won't wake up one morning feeling like a 12 year old again, but you will kind of get up in the morning with a spring to your step and feel like your loaded with coffee.

Best of luck

Gerry

[Disneymama]

Isn't it great to have someone say, "This is what's wrong with you, and this is how we treat it."? And to have the treatment actually work is AWESOME! I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, depression, TMJD... There is no prescribed treatment that is totally effective. It's always, "Lets see if this drug helps." And the drugs almost never help. The CPAP has been a blessing for me.

My first couple days were hell, also. I woke up a couple times and took off the mask for hours at a time. Now (a whole two weeks later with a different mask) I don't even notice it. What I do notice is that most of my nagging pains are gone, I don't have a headache when I wake up, I have more energy especially in the afternoon, and I'm a lot less grumpy.

I hope your treatment goes well and you continue to get better and better.

[Muse-Inc]

Welcome aboard! Great info and great folks here. Congrats on doing so well so early. Took me about a month to go from exhaustion to plain ole tired...maybe you're recovery will go faster! Allow lots of time for sleeping...ya gotta a lot of 'sleep debt' to make up.