Poll: How Long to Adjust & Start Sleeping Restfully?

[gasparama]

There are nights that my mask does bother me. However, overall, my sleep experience is good. I felt better after the 2nd night. I remember getting up that 2nd morning and flopping down on the sofa to get some more sleep like I did every morning. But, I didn't go back to sleep because I had slept and breathed all night. It was such a surprise. I've not fallen asleep at the wheel or in my 2nd grade classroom once since I've been on the hose.

[Catnap]

Boy do I remember that "flopping down on the sofa first thing" life. It seemed like I timed everything from nap to nap, going through the rest of the hours in a daze. Recently, due to illness in the family, I had to sleep somewhere else for a night and didn't have my machine. It was the first time since I started (almost a year ago) that I tried to sleep without CPAP, and after one night I was grateful all over again that I no longer have to live like that.

[2flamingos]

I consider myself one of the very fortunate - I had no problem from the get go. Yes, there were adjustments to the headgear to make the mask more comfortable, but I slept with it on all night from the very first nigt. Only once in - OMG, it will be a year Thursday - have I taken the mask off during sleep.

For the most part, I have had no issues. The only times that I have had issues or problems have been when trying news masks (hybrid, FulLife). AS long as I stick with nasal pillows - I am good to go!

[Muse-Inc]

...OMG, it will be a year Thursday

CONGRATS!!!

[gasparama]

My headgear rarely lasts more than 3 months because I wear out the Velcro by tightening and loosening the straps several times every night when I go to bed. But that's ok because most nights, it takes only a few minutes to go to sleep. And you know what? I'm so thankful that this forum is here. No one else in the world can understand that I'm soooo happy with my therapy in spite of having a mask strapped to my face every night and that, as Catnapper, I do not like to sleep without the humming of that machine next to the bed. CPAP gave me back a daytime life.

[Cygnusia]

I'm still not at that happy medium, I guess. Sure, my nights are a little more restful, but I don't wake up with bountiful energy and alertness. I'm still pretty early in my therapy, though... and I'm sure that having high cholesterol and low testosterone are not helping the situation.

I did get my second set of lab results back, btw... anemia is MUCH better, but testosterone has actually dropped even more, and my cholesterol is still screwed up. :\

One out of three isn't too bad, I suppose...

[Muse-Inc]

bump...thought newbies might be interested in this thread.

[sleepyjan]

It's been a slow process of ups and downs last night was a down and up and down and up but yesterday at work I accomplished in 5 hours what would have taken 10 two months ago!

[slibhart]

I noticed results immediately. Before cpap I had to get up to go to the bathroom 5-6 times a night. The very first night on cpap that all went away I have very vivid dreams now and remember them....that means I am getting some very deep restful sleep. I love my mask...it did take some adjustments at first but no I can lay on either side and not have leaks. The only challenge I have is taking the mask off in the middle of the night sometimes. I am not sure why I do it and I don't do it every night. The frequency of doing that is going away as well. I have more nights than not where I keep the mask on all night. The humidifier really helps keep my nasal passages clear and I enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes with lots of fresh air available to breathe and I am so grateful for not being exhausted during the day.

[gladtosleep]

Reading the replies has shown me my experience is not uncommon - the first night I got 9 hours of lovely, uninterrupted sleep and woke up feeling better than I had in years. I fell in love with CPAP immediately. Then leaks, headgear discomfort, and other mask problems took a bit of the shine off, so I started the quest for the perfect mask. I've made progress and have a couple of masks I trade off between when I get congested from the pillows or a nasal cushion gives me bruises. I'm still learning about how to do mask adjustments - I only started CPAP four months ago.

Now I'm encountering eye problems, mostly a lot of swelling, so I'm tackling that. My goal is to get to the point a friend of mine says she's reached - it's so routine she hardly even realizes she's on CPAP. Of course, she's been on it for 14 years.....

Good luck to all of you out there. This forum has helped me SO much. Thank you to everyone who posts!