I have "my life" back. Thank you all.

[jazzer4]

A new life for me.

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in Nov. of 2009. I'm pretty sure I've had it for about 15 years. I can't figure out why none of my doctors recognized the signs, as I sure had them all. But, that was then and this is now.

I'm an avid golfer. I was a dance teacher for 30 years before I retired. I live in a gated golf community on a beautiful lake. But I was a life drop-out because of Sleep Apena. I spent so much of my time worrying about my memory and my health. I stop golfing because when asked what I did on the last hole I couldn't remember. I couldn't retrace my hits....I just lived in a fog, a day to day fog. Post-its everywhere. People would talk to me and I couldn't remember much of the details the next day. I stopped golfing and stopped calling my friends. My skin was so bad, grey and wrinkled. I just looked terrible. I was embarrased. I had aged 5 years in just one. I was thought everyone must think I'm just stupit and old. So I just dropped out of life. I stayed home and was depressed.

Now, on c-pap I'm alive again. It took 8 months to get here. I know I couldn't have done it without this forum. I didn't ask many question, but I would read everything posted everyday. Just gathering information and trying to apply it to myself. Try this try that. I never was in danger of not using my machine, as I need it and I knew it. 110% compliance for me.

Success didn't happen overnight for sure. I certainly had and still do have problems pop up now and then, but I'm no longer in that FOG and wow has my skin repaired. Golfed a 89 the other day. I have my life back, and I feel GREAT, no not great...wonderful!!
Lots of the other health issues I was having just started to get better, slowly, day by day. Now they all seem to be gone. So far, so good.

A big turn around came for me about 2 months ago when I started to take the ERP level from 3 to 1 and Ramp only. It took weeks of slow adjustments to get there but boy has it made a difference for me. My breathing is so much better now. And, I also think there is a lot to be said for paying back sleep debt. For me slow but steady progress.

I also played around (without this forum I would never have had the courage to adjust myself) with the pressure over months and found what I think is working for me by reading my card and keeping good notes like Katie says.

I just don't know how to thank you all enough.
How about diner at my house tonight?

[jabman]

WOW Great post. I am very glad that you have had the success you have. This will be a great encouragement for us newbies and some not so newbies.
Even though I have only been on CPAP for a month I to am starting to feel the effects it is having on me. One major one is that I no longer get Heart Burn. I have not had to take heart burn meds for the past 4 weeks now.

[nanwilson]

YOU GO GIRL!!!!! Congrats, its a journey with persistance and patience as the keys to success.
Cheers
Nan

[Patrick A]

Congratulations.....it will get better everyday and easier every day.

[justcaring]

Okay you shot and 89, I definitely will be looking for more compliance out of myself to lower my golf score!! Maybe Tiger should wear a CPAP!!

Good to hear your success story.

[SleepingUgly]

Congratulations!!!!

P.S. Please PM directions to your house for dinner. Mind if I bring my 2 kids and father?

[elena88]

well FABULOUS news..

its no small journey to get your life back, congratulations!

No more life drop outs! three cheers, and hope many happy nights and mornings filled with all the activities you
have loved and cherished are ahead of you!

thanks for letting us know.. when the newbies read how long it takes sometimes, maybe they will hang in there a little longer..

I know its worth it.. good job on all the tweeking and studying!

elena

[Mary Z]

jazzer4, thanks for posting!
Wish I could come to dinner, but I'm in Virginia.

[bailachel]

Congratulations! I love to read success stories like yours. Very inspiring!

[Sleepy Taz]

Jazzer4,

You live in Texas so dinner is either steak or chili, and I love both. It is nice to hear someone working through the kinks of therapy and realizing a life changing experience. The longer that you use your Cpap the more comfortable it will become. Congrats on your early success and keep up the great work!!!

Taz

[sister]

Great news! i also have recently seen some progress and it's almost unbelievable what a difference you feel when you finally sleep!
God bless you on your journey, go forward all the way!!!!!!

[Jayjonbeach]

Thank YOU for posting and congrats!

At this point I want to kick ever doctor I ever went to square in the Gonads. I have been complaining for the last 20 years I was tired all the time and FINALLY some doctor puts two and two together. To think of all the things I have been missing out on, like you, because these people simply didn't put enough effort in their analysis.

Reading a post like yours gives me so much hope I can't even tell you, I'm 42 and have bad memory loss, Foggy head and heartburn for the last 20 years also, jumping cripe I just want to feel AWAKE and it sounds like you have done it!

Welcome to your new life, hope I will join you in the land of the living.

[DreamOn]

Thanks so much for sharing your success story, Jazzer! I also went undiagnosed for at least 15 years, and I had the same problems with foggy thinking and memory loss as you had. I had very high blood pressure and heart arrythmia too. I've also done very well on CPAP. At least we're on the right track now!!!

[Catnapper]

When I was a newbie I asked the forum for success stories. Yours is a great one! Would you please post it again in the top section in the thread where I requested them? (3rd one down in the top section) I think it deserves to go in there with the other stories to help newbies.

I am not a newbie now, after 4 years. I still love those success stories and I think they are very helpful and encouraging for everyone, not just the newbies!

Thanks for posting. I hope you continue to succeed with the cpap.

Catnapper - Joanie

[jazzer4]

Thanks catnapper, I did put it in the success stories section.

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
It saved my Life
And can save you too.