First Month Down

[caffeinatedcfo]

Welp, my first month on CPAP has come and gone. Many of you know I struggled with mask issues the first three weeks. My last week has been heavenly, sleeping most of the night ( I usually wake once due to OA - I'm only averaging 1 or 2 per night).

Prior to starting CPAP I was so run down due to sleep deprivation that I could not longer exercise and had begun putting back on some pounds. I have also been chasing some nerve issues (Carpal, neck, capillary issues), for about a year.

This past week my energy levels have increased to normal and I've been able to return to my workout schedule. I even had enough gung-ho to rake and fertilize the lawn this weekend (it was beautiful up here this weekend)! I'm getting back on track and even increased my weights today at the gym. I've also noticed I'm not so stressed out over every little thing. It didn't take much to irritate me prior to CPAP, but now I feel cool as a cucumber.

Tomorrow I go to Albany (NY) for a neuro consult, since there are no good neuros in my town. I think my carpal tunnel is referring to my neck and causing the discomfort there as MRI of my neck / head are both unremarkable.

For those of you just starting out and struggling ... stick with it. THIS FORUM - not my doctor or DME - had everything to do with my success!

Thank you!

[Jimster]

caffeinatedcfo, sounds good.

Everybody that gets into this business must have mask issues to start with.

Yes, you're right this site is great.

You sound sort of like me in one sense, and that is when I started I wasn't going to quit come h--l or high water, if I could help it. I guess the rule never say never applies here too, so to be safe I won't say never ever.

Let's just hope that others along with ourselves can over come any obstacles that might interfere with their and our sleep therapy now and in the future.

Go luck with the other issues you are dealing with at this time.

Talk to you later,

Jim

[Kenwood]

My Caffeinated friend - I'm soo happy things are going much better for you too!

[Tigerlily]

My Caffeinated friend - I'm soo happy things are going much better for you too!

I like that! And....I'm stealing it!!

[caffeinatedcfo]

Had a great consult with neuro today. This doc really took a lot of time to understand what's been going on. He made me laugh when I advised I had OSA and was on CPAP. He replied, "What?! You don't look like a typical sleep apnea patient." He examined my airway and thought it looked great. I assured him I likely had OSA long before last March. We quickly got back on track since I wasn't there to discuss my sleep apnea. He was familiar with Dr. Park's work though.

Bottom line is he's ordering a follow-up MRI of my C-spine ... it's been a little over a year .. just to be sure nothing is going on there. He's thinking I either sustained a minor injury to my cervical spinal cord or most likely, had a viral infection that attacked and caused some inflammation there last year, resulting in some damage to some of my autonomic nerves. The good news is there is no significant nerve damage and it does not appear to be progressive. He even stated my sx may even resolve with time.

So long as my workouts keep progressing my prognosis is good.