One Month Noticeable Changes

[quietmorning]

Here are the changes I've noticed in my general well being since starting CPAP.

-- Problem: Fatigued - Previously I woke up at 6am . . .drank two cups of coffee and did not officially 'wake up' until 1 pm in the afternoon... then by 2pm, I was getting tired and was done for the day. I felt drugged on Benadryl most of the time. . .only there was no Benadryl or any other drug in my system.

++ Change: I wake up alert and feel good to start the day. I don't need the coffee to get me going, though I still like the taste of it. I still start feeling fatigued around 5pm - with an occasional fatigue onset at around 9pm. I'm hoping the 9pm onset becomes the norm eventually.

-- Problem: Nails stopped growing. I used to have very long strong natural finger nails with growth of 1/8 an inch a week. Years ago they just stopped growing or if they grew they'd break fairly quickly.

++ Change: Wow. . .I wish I could post a picture. Just in the last four weeks they have grown a half an inch, and they are strong again. Who knew??!!

-- Problem: Weight gain without ability of weight loss. I gained 50 pounds in since 2007 and no matter what I did - I could not lose it.

++ Change: I've lost 8 lbs by just . . .sleeping.

-- Problem - no heart rate recovery from exercise. Heart rate just kept going up and stayed up. Rest had no effect on it - doc finally put me on a med to slow my heart-rate down. Even with med, heart rate was too high.

-- Change - my heart rate has been the lowest it's been in several years. A nice normal 72 at rest when sitting on the couch. I haven't taken it on waking, yet - will probably do that when I start to exercise again to make sure I'm recovering well.

-- Problem - Moderately high blood pressure despite medication.

-- Change - Nice normal 120/70 for the last couple of weeks when checked. Would like to see it get down to what it used to be when I was in shape (90/60) but that'll take getting back into shape.

-- Problem - didn't dream. (No one took me seriously - as 'everyone dreams'). . .well, I never got to REM sleep, so I REALLY didn't dream.

++ Change - goodness. . .and how weird can they get? I seem to be rebound dreaming right now. . .lots and lots and lots of dreams.

-- Problem - anxiety on going to sleep - constant vague fear of something being very dangerously wrong or some kind of impending doom that I would not live through.

++ Change - Wow. What it is to look FORWARD to going to sleep!! The constant vague fear of doom is completely gone. The anxiety is completely gone.

--Problem - waking up every night several times a night without being able to go back to sleep.

++ Change - I don't wake up any longer, until either the alarm goes off, or I'm just simply ready to wake up.

-- Problem - Colds tend to turn into sinus infections and bronchitis due to not being able to clear airway, and I'm also assuming that not getting into the deep sleep to restore tissue doesn't help. An average cold with all the complications for me generally lasts a good four weeks.

++ Change - THIS cold lasted one week. No infections. Seems I'm fighting infection - viral or otherwise better. . . though this is the first cold that's ever done this, it could be a fluke. It'll take a few more colds to say this is absolutely the case.

-- Problem - Chronic pain. I had a spinal fusion surgery back in 2005 - and since then, my lower back, hips and legs constantly hurt. Sleeping just made it worse. High blood pressure added to the pain.

++ Change - My hips, lower back and legs don't hurt any more!! OMgoodness. What a relief!!

So. . . this last month there has been a lot of expense, frustrated nights and few frustrated tired days - my DME was, I'm sure getting sick of my calling her so often (and to be honest, the best help was found here at cpaptalk.com - not on the phone calls!) . . .was it worth all the above. . .totally. Totally completely. I felt like I was aging like crazy, and someone just gave me 15 years back.

Thank you all of you vet's for all of your help, whether it was specifically helping me or not. . .you are worth your weight in gold - and are a huge part of literally saving my life.

And to those of you just starting out - put in a good fight, it's completely worth the effort.

[Guest]

That is amazing good for you. Im new to this and i do feel alot better. Its great to hear people that feel better and start living and enjoying life.

[quietmorning]

Oh, one more thing - I used to crave sugar and starches like crazy -which didn't help with the weight gain. Since the CPAP machine, that craving is gone. I'm back to my old eating habits. Doc said she wasn't surprised that a lot of people crave sugar and starches when they are sleep deprived, but didn't say the whatfor or how come. . .so out of curiosity, does anyone know why the craving is so out of control nuts when you're sleep deprived?

[Lori Dawn]

I have been successfully using CPAP right around six weeks.... the first six weeks of good pressure, low AHI, low leak rates, and sleeping well. I had not really noticed a difference in my EDS until a power failure last week showed me the contrast! I felt AWFUL after not being able to use the machine all night! I slept FIVE hours with the machine the next day after the power was restored. So I have to say the EDS is slowly improving, even if the day to day changes are almost imperceptible.

On Mothers Day, I was given a cheesecake sampler by my husband. I LOVE CHEESECAKE! Also, the same weekend, my friend made a HUGE vat of banana pudding when she came for dinner that Saturday night. DELICIOUS! So I had two of my favorite things to eat in my house. Usually, I wouldn't have been able to resist having a little here, a little there, all day long! I started to notice, it just didn't sound that good to me. Both would have spoiled, had my husband not helped me eat them. I had two small servings of each the following week. Same thing with other "sweets" and things that I used to crave, just don't want them so much anymore.

This is something I TOTALLY didn't expect! Oh, by the way, the scale today says I have lost FOUR pounds! I have done NOTHING different really, except be sure and have breakfast within two hours of waking. I was trying to take a ten-minute walk every day, but actually only do it about 2-3 times a week.

[quietmorning]

I have been successfully using CPAP right around six weeks.... the first six weeks of good pressure, low AHI, low leak rates, and sleeping well. I had not really noticed a difference in my EDS until a power failure last week showed me the contrast! I felt AWFUL after not being able to use the machine all night! I slept FIVE hours with the machine the next day after the power was restored. So I have to say the EDS is slowly improving, even if the day to day changes are almost imperceptible.

On Mothers Day, I was given a cheesecake sampler by my husband. I LOVE CHEESECAKE! Also, the same weekend, my friend made a HUGE vat of banana pudding when she came for dinner that Saturday night. DELICIOUS! So I had two of my favorite things to eat in my house. Usually, I wouldn't have been able to resist having a little here, a little there, all day long! I started to notice, it just didn't sound that good to me. Both would have spoiled, had my husband not helped me eat them. I had two small servings of each the following week. Same thing with other "sweets" and things that I used to crave, just don't want them so much anymore.

This is something I TOTALLY didn't expect! Oh, by the way, the scale today says I have lost FOUR pounds! I have done NOTHING different really, except be sure and have breakfast within two hours of waking. I was trying to take a ten-minute walk every day, but actually only do it about 2-3 times a week.

It's so strange about the sugar and starch - I'd love to know why this happens. I'm glad it's stopped, now, though!

[Captain_Midnight]

QM - - Thanks for the great post.

One of my principle interests in this board is reading the various symptoms (and potential symptoms) of OSA that folks report; and I'm especially intrigued if xpap therapy overcomes them.

I had not read or heard about OSA affecting nail growth, so I'll be adding that one to the list of symptoms that I've compiled over the years.

As far as physical conditioning, you might be pleasantly surprised by how fast you can regain some shape. I was something of a distance runner, but at the time of diagnosis, I could barely run for one minute. A couple of months following initiation of cpap therapy, I was able to run a 5 k for the first time in nearly a year. I kept at it, building conditioning and distance: and the following year (at the tender age of 57) I ran my first half-marathon.

xPAP is not a cure-all, but it is a great partner for those patients (just like you) who take positive action for improvement.

.

[quietmorning]

QM - - Thanks for the great post.

One of my principle interests in this board is reading the various symptoms (and potential symptoms) of OSA that folks report; and I'm especially intrigued if xpap therapy overcomes them.

I had not read or heard about OSA affecting nail growth, so I'll be adding that one to the list of symptoms that I've compiled over the years.

As far as physical conditioning, you might be pleasantly surprised by how fast you can regain some shape. I was something of a distance runner, but at the time of diagnosis, I could barely run for one minute. A couple of months following initiation of cpap therapy, I was able to run a 5 k for the first time in nearly a year. I kept at it, building conditioning and distance: and the following year (at the tender age of 57) I ran my first half-marathon.

xPAP is not a cure-all, but it is a great partner for those patients (just like you) who take positive action for improvement.

.

The nail growth is so unmistakable - wow. I had no idea I'd get my nails back! What a very pleasant surprise!

I'm starting on the bike today. Doc told me to start off very very slow - five minutes than build from there - I'm so looking forward to moving again!

[bailachel]

One of my principle interests in this board is reading the various symptoms (and potential symptoms) of OSA that folks report; and I'm especially intrigued if xpap therapy overcomes them.

I had not read or heard about OSA affecting nail growth, so I'll be adding that one to the list of symptoms that I've compiled over the years.
.

Both my mother and I experienced the nail growth phenomena. We figured it was due to more oxygen reaching the extremities now that we are on CPAP.

[busylady]

So glad to hear all your positive changes. Reading your post is a good motivator! Hope I can have similar results. I'm 11 nights into this. I'd love to not crave certain foods, or nibble during the day. Losing 10 lbs is on my list before an upcoming HS reunion. We all need such motivation! Am hoping for lower a.m. BPs and better glucose tolerance. I'm borderline diabetic -- hereditary and nearly 10# baby. Stronger fingernails would be a plus too. I broke 2 today while gardening.

[Pugsy]

It's so strange about the sugar and starch - I'd love to know why this happens. I'm glad it's stopped, now, though!

I have my own unverified thoughts on the sugar and starch cravings. I think it was me wanting the energy boost that comes with it. Never mind the crash later...which always happened. Nasty little cycle. Starches are easily converted to sugars.
My body was craving foods that would give me a little pick me up. Sort of mini speed drug.

[Bluecat]

I have lost 22 lbs in a month. I just started eating "better" (keeping an eye out for fatty foods and carbs). I had already tried that approach before being on CPAP, it hadn't worked, I felt really deprived (in terms of quantity and type of food) and there was no significant weight loss. I therefore always gave up quickly.
Now, I feel I have enough to eat even though my portions are smaller, I don't crave all those "bad" foods (chips, cakes, etc..), and I have enough energy to go and do my 1km (0.621 miles?) swimming every week, I plan to increase that to twice a week soon and also go for 1.5 km.
I really feel that OSA prevented me from losing weight, and I can now hope to loose a lot of weight (I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay overweight... many lbs to go yet!!)

[quietmorning]

And oh!! This one was a biggie **laughing and hugely blushes** - I didn't remember until I, um went to the . . .um. . .bathroom this morning.

I've ALWAYS had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome - really hard to manage - and nothing ever worked.

Until I got hooked up to the cpap machine. . . now. . . wow. . .. . um. . .everything FINALLY . . .. comes out all. . .right. . .

It's normal for the first time in my life. CONSISTENTLY normal. EVERY DAY normal.

This is big - as there are many members of my family with this issue, parents, siblings and children. Another, 'who knew!'

[mikeandtina]

Problem: Fatigued - Previously I woke up at 6am . . .drank two cups of coffee and did not officially 'wake up' until 1 pm in the afternoon... then by 2pm, I was getting tired and was done for the day. I felt drugged on Benadryl most of the time. . .only there was no Benadryl or any other drug in my system.

Wow - This is exactly how I feel - like I am on Benadryl all morning until mid-afternoon. Later in the day, I have a few hours of feeling okay, then it's time to go to bed. I have been on CPAP for three weeks, but don't feel much better. It is very exciting to read your post and hope to have the same results. What pressure are you set at? When did you start feeling better? I am also dreaming now, but had no REM during my sleep study. This is good news but am hoping for the day when I am normal!

Thank you for sharing your experience - it makes me happy to hear about it!
Tina

[Sireneh]

Wow. I am so happy to read of your successes! Thank you for sharing this with us! There are probably people who have or will read this who will need this kind of encouragement more than you know.

[quietmorning]

Problem: Fatigued - Previously I woke up at 6am . . .drank two cups of coffee and did not officially 'wake up' until 1 pm in the afternoon... then by 2pm, I was getting tired and was done for the day. I felt drugged on Benadryl most of the time. . .only there was no Benadryl or any other drug in my system.

Wow - This is exactly how I feel - like I am on Benadryl all morning until mid-afternoon. Later in the day, I have a few hours of feeling okay, then it's time to go to bed. I have been on CPAP for three weeks, but don't feel much better. It is very exciting to read your post and hope to have the same results. What pressure are you set at? When did you start feeling better? I am also dreaming now, but had no REM during my sleep study. This is good news but am hoping for the day when I am normal!

Thank you for sharing your experience - it makes me happy to hear about it!
Tina

Mikeandtina, the first week I was wondering why on earth I felt so much better after the test, but not better that first week? Then the second week, I had a few days where I was alert in the morning . . .right on up to, heh. . . noon. Then I had a lot of days were I was alert until 2ish. . . with a day or two where I was alert until 8ish (PM no less!!) but then it moved to where I'd be alert until about 4pm. . .then get zonked. . .and the 9pm all but disappeared. . .. then I came down with a cold, go figure. Now. . .I was very alert until about 7pm last night. . . so I expect it to go back and forth - from 4ish to 9ish depending on how I'm doing and as time passes.

The first couple of weeks, though, I think I was just gulping up the sleep, I was so deprived.

I'd say the middle of the third week, right before I got sick was when I felt like I had noticeably turned the corner - then with the cold I felt really lazy for a good ten days. My recovery from the cold, though - great!! Wow!!