One month update

[Badnvsleep]

Well it's hard to believe that my first month is almost done. I don't think I can say this enough, but thank you to all that post here and provide support and information. It truly makes this adjustment easier.

Well as the title says one month in and all is going pretty good. I have had some bad nights, but a bad night now is better than my good nights were before. I feel better, not exhausted all the time, and have started getting my "honey do list" done, slowly. My work schedule is not the best for this type of treatment, sometimes not sleeping but for a couple of hours in a 24 hour period, but I am handling those night much better now.

I have played with the humidity and AFLEX settings. It's really dry here in the Vegas area and found I need the humidity setting up around 3 without causing any rainout. AFLEX was interesting, got to experience the air in the stomach issue. I finally realized what caused it, had AFLEX at 1, it's now back at 3 and no problems. I think i will leave that alone for a long time. So now I am on cruise control for awhile and keep recharging my internal batteries......

I had a follow up with my DR. About a week into the treatment, provided him the printouts from Sleepyhead and he was surprised. His office does not have any software and I was telling his assistant about Sleepyhead software, they might try it as well.

I want to share this with those that may just be starting their treatment, so they know they are not alone. There will be bad nights, but there will also be some really good nights. I slept for over 9 hours last night, slept, not tossed and turn for 7 hours with a couple of 30 min naps in the middle. I woke up feeling great, rested, and have been going all day and still not tired... What a different a month makes.

Again, thank you to all that are here and provide support. I will add my two cents when I can and provide supporting words when needed.

David

[kteague]

Something thing you said that I sooooo agree with is that my bad nights now are still better than my good nights before treatment. Congrats on getting in the groove so early in treatment.

[ptl4now]

May I ask what makes the nights bad? Good job on pushing through until you can feel better!!

[kteague]

May I ask what makes the nights bad? Good job on pushing through until you can feel better!!

I'm guessing your question is for the OP but as for me, my "bad" nights are totally unrelated to CPAP therapy. Usually my jumpy legs bear the blame, sometimes it's just me drinking caffeine later than I should.

[Badnvsleep]

My bad nights are when I don't sleep well, wake up multiple times, or just wake up feeling like I had not slept. I have not been able to identify what causes the above yet. I keep a log so I can find out what my settings are for a given nite, how I felt when I woke up, and the number of times I woke up. Bad nights are those nights I want to question if the treatment is really doing me any good, if it is working, and or helping me feel better.

I think bad nights are part of this treatment, as CPAP is not a cure, it's a treatment. There is nothing that I know of that makes the cause(s) go away. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night for no reason that I can find both in Sleepyhead or when I wake up. The only thing so far is when working my night shifts and sleeping at the station. That has been a constant since starting CPAP, but it's a different bed, room, surroundings, heating and cooling settings, etc.

I say I have bad nights, but as I also say those nights are far better than most nights I had before CPAP. I should probably change the term I use, maybe I should say they are not my best nights. I can say there have been nights where I have slept sound and solid all night and woke up feeling great all day and into the night. My not the best night I usually don't need naps, but I am ready to go to be as early as I can and my family life will allow.

For me my sleep apnea was the main thing going on, that and being overweight more than I like. I don't have any known heart problems, or the spontaneous leg shaking / movement at night that some have. I do have a pretty through physical exam yearly that would identify heart and lung problems.

Sorry for the delay in responding to your post, I have been at work the last few days and really haven't gotten on here. I hope that answers your question......