how long does it take to really feel better?

[wolewyck]

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago and have been using my CPAP nightly since received (September 17). After the first couple of nights of use, I seemed to feel a lot better the following day. But that feeling seems to have dissipated some, and more recently, I've still felt kinda fogged and am having a hard time focusing. As of yesterday(!), I just learned how to see the AHI result from the previous evening on my machine, and it was 5.1 (down from something like 30 in the sleep study). So, I'd think I'd feel better, but... it's not as much as I'd hoped. The AHI (from one day!) doesn't seem too bad, but I don't know if I'm getting as much of the Stage 3 and REM sleep as I'm supposed to, and I don't think (?) that kind of information is saved by the CPAP machine anyway, since that's what all the wires are for in the sleep study, yes? So I'm hoping folks will tell me that it's normal to still feel fogged two weeks into this, because I really want to get back to my old mentally energetic self, from so long ago.

[Palamedes]

I'd love to hear the answer to this as well.. I'm very much in the same boat..

It's odd but prior to my cpap I'd sleep the whole night and wake up completely tired and unrested.. Now I can't seem to sleep the whole night at all but rather sleep in 1 to 2 hour blocks, but wake up well rested..

Last night as an example; I went to bed at midnight, woke at 1:30.. changed position, drank some water etc.. Slept from 1:30(ish) to 3:00.. bathroom break.. 3:30ish to 5:30 and I was done.. I got up and got ready for work.. I woke up completely rested, but it strikes me as odd the number of times I wake up in the middle of the night..

I feel like I should be asleep the whole night.. and I worry that I'm not getting to good REM sleep because I keep waking up..

[Emilia]

Hi wolewyck... welcome to the forum. Can you tell us what your pressure setting is? Do you have a copy of the sleep study results as well as your titration study? If so, posting the results in more detail than just the AHI would help. For example your AI and HI #'s separately.... did you can any centrals? Leg movements? Are you having any problems with leaks? All these things would give us a clearer picture of your situation.

Your current AHI of 5.1 is good for a newbie.... ideally, you want to get it below 5, and the closer to 0 the better. I average around 1.5, but I can tell you that even 5 weeks into this, I am still a bit tired. The fogginess has lifted, but my energy level is only marginally better at this point. If you read the testimonials and success stories at the link at the top of this page, you will find that most folks differ in their recovery times. Some lucky ones do bounce back in a day or two with great energy, but I tend to think that is a minority. Most take weeks, if not months to pay back the sleep debt accrued prior to diagnosis.

Just keep plugging away and give us some more details so we can help you out. Take some time to read, read, read this forum and use the wiki, located at the yellow lightbulb at the top of the page to help educate yourself.

If you don't have the software for your machine, you can fine Uncle_Bob on this forum and ask for the links to your clinician's manual and software.

[Emilia]

@ Palamedes.... You are describing waking up after complete sleep cycles. You probably never had one of those before cpap! I never had much, if any REM sleep before cpap, now I have lots of dreams so I know I am there. We normally cycle through the 4 stages of sleep in about 90-120 minutes and do that about 3-4 times a night. This is exactly what you are describing....so I would bet you are feeling rested because you are getting the proper stages of sleep with good deep REM. Hopefully, soon, you will just blissfully sleep through all 4 cycles uninterrupted as I did last night!

[Palamedes]

*gleee*.. I can't wait.. hehe thanks

[wolewyck]

Unfortunately, I don't have copy of the sleep study results--I just asked for that to be sent to me, actually--but in the meantime, I don't know the answers to the questions you pose. I don't think (?) I'm having trouble with air leaks--at least, I've tried to use the "mask fit" feature of my machine to test, and it's always come out ok, but I guess I don't know for sure what happens while I'm asleep without getting the data from the machine, which is something I'm working on also...!

Oh, my pressure setting is 8. That much I know.

[BlackSpinner]

First you have to make sure you are not mouth breathing. With nasal masks sometimes the air can just go out of the mouth and defeat the whole purpose.

Second is that it may take your sleeping brain about a month to believe that you are not going to die with that thing on your face. It has spent years not allowing you to sleep deeply so that you re-start your breathing as required. It may not believe it is safe to stand down from this.

Also it may take quite a while for the damage done by the lack of oxygen for years to be repaired. When you put a cast on a broken leg it doesn't mean the leg is all better does it?

[robysue]

wolewyk,

You said:

but I guess I don't know for sure what happens while I'm asleep without getting the data from the machine, which is something I'm working on also...!

Have you been able to determine whether the Sleep Quality setting is set to Usage or On? You want it set to On in order to be able to get at the most basic information from the S9's LCD screen in the morning. If you press the info button before noon on day that you used the S9, do you just see usage data or do you see a screen that tells you the usage, a green smiley/red frowny face for mask fit, AND an AHI number?

If you only see the usage data, the first thing you'll need to do is get Sleep Quality is set to On. If you've downloaded the Clinical manual, there are instructions in it on how to change the Sleep Quality setting to On. Once you've got the right Sleep Quality setting, you can at least find out your 95% Leak Rate from the LCD by following instructions that are in the User/Patient manual (they're also in the Clinical manual). The 95% Leak Rate data isn't much to go on, but obviously the lower it is, the better. But to really find out if leaking is a problem, you'll need to download the high resolution data and look at the leak rate graph for several nights.

As for how long it takes to start feeling better? I think that's varies a whole, whole lot. I count myself lucky that not quite two weeks into CPAP, I'm up to feeling mediocre instead of awful; haven't had a really good day yet. But I know it will come sometime. My advice is to celebrate the first day where you don't feel as bad as you're currently feeling.

[sagesteve]

Took me 6 months.

Now?...PERFECT sleep and feeling FANTASTIC after a year and a half of solid use. I'll be a "hose head" forever. Also, my oxygen bleed is making me look younger and is adding years to my life. I bleed 3 liters into my Intellipap.
I'm 63. I dream like crazy and very intensely...Technicolor, 3D, extreme detail etc. Don't remember much of the dreams which means I am sleeping great. I feel amazing throughout the day compared to nodding off in the middle of the afternoon like I "used" too. I've had sleep apnea all my life. I probably dream better than most because I'm an Artist.

[Uncle_Bob]

For me its case of good, better & best.
I felt good after the first night. I'm feeling better now in general at almost 2 years.
I occasionally feel my best when the numbers are 0, my sleep hygiene is spotless and all the stars are in alignment

Links are to the left underneath my roast beef dinner

[jonquiljo]

I hear this a lot but am not sure what it means - what actually is "sleep hygiene"? I suspect it means more than taking a shower before you go to bed!

[robysue]

^^
"Good sleep hygiene" refers to behavior patterns that encourage a person who often has trouble falling or staying asleep to get to sleep relatively quickly and stay asleep more easily. "Bad sleep hygiene" refers to behavior patterns that tend to interfere with a person's ability to fall asleep in a normal amount of time or tend to encourage a person to not stay asleep during the night.

[sunnyway]

It took me about 4-5 months before I started feeling refreshed after a night's sleep. The battle with masks is a huge issue. Once I finally found the right mask, my sleep improved and I caught up on the sleep debt fairly quickly.

I finally settled on a total Face Mask, the FitLife by Respironics. It looks like a fighter pilot's mask, but it's all clear so it's not claustrophobic. It does not rub on anything. It does not squeal when it leaks. It does leak over my forehead, so I wear a CPAP cap or a Buff, which minimizes the leak. I can sleep on my side.

[jonquiljo]

^^
"Good sleep hygiene" refers to behavior patterns that encourage a person who often has trouble falling or staying asleep to get to sleep relatively quickly and stay asleep more easily. "Bad sleep hygiene" refers to behavior patterns that tend to interfere with a person's ability to fall asleep in a normal amount of time or tend to encourage a person to not stay asleep during the night.

Oh, makes sense. I really did picture someone sleeping in a dirty bed or something like that. Really, it sounds like a strange term to use. So yes, no sleeping watching TV or eating brownies, etc. Get ready and go to bed, etc. The same time each day, etc.

[SirWouldLikeToSleepAlot]

How long it takes depends on many things - how long you've had your apnea/hypopnea condition, how well your machine is adjusted to fit your personal needs, how well your mask fits, how diligent you are about using the *pap machine (this is extremely important!) and other factors.

I didn't have a sleep specialist when I was first diagnosed, but my internal medicine specialist got me started back on to the path to sleep. I dreamt all night for about the first two months that I got my machine - it was exhausting! Even then, it took me a couple of months to somewhat comfortable with it, and much longer until I got the right gear (mask) to make it work really well. One hint - if at first you don't succeed - work with your doctor to try other settings and masks!!!

When I finally saw a sleep specialist this year (I should have done this years ago!), she said - oh - REM-rebound. It went on for HOW long????

Everyone is different. I finally had a 'split' sleep study and had an AHI of 63. (>50 is 'extreme. Ugh.) However, my doctor was incredulous that my 'compliance' was 100% - my comment: I do *not* sleep without my machine. Ever. I can't!

Not everyone adjusts in the same way, and it can take months or years to get it 'right'. Or not!

Also, sleep issues are not confined to apnea. In the last couple of years, my sleep issues have become more - complex. I'm now about to start my fourth medication to attempt to stop me from running marathons in my sleep. Work with your specialist, if a machine isn't the complete answer, your doctor should continue to work with you to find out what is needed. My doctor claims that I have 'good sleep architecture'. Too bad the carpenters didn't follow the plan! I'm bagged every morning and have sore arms and legs. (I have other medical conditions that require me to take meds that alter my sleep - this isn't helping!) We're working to get around these issues.

My point - there's no one, simple answer, and getting there is a journey, and the destination may be a lot further than the 7-11 around the corner... I wish you the perseverance and grace to get to the pleasantly restful sleep that you deserve.