CPAP Anniversaries

[BB6078]

After my second follow up with the pulmonologist, I'm happy to report I've been fully compliant for exactly 30 days. AHI from 8.6 (mild OSA) to .5 (not really any apnea episodes). Here's my story.

I got the CPAP April 18 2014 and could not get used to it, having had severe insomnia and the ability to fall or stay asleep mid Feb-mid April. I had UARS diagnosed in mid 2012, got a dental device for which I could never use/fall asleep w/.

All that time I was still able to "sleep" but it was crappy, had backaches and tired all the time. In mid Feb 2014 the insomnia roared, was low on Vit D + other health issues erupted mostly from obesity and bad genes plus bad sleep.

In early June it was a week or two before my first follow-up w/ the pulmo, I figured I had to get on the stick. Had already gotten a new nasal pillow mask and that was actually worse because I didn't want to start from square 1 as I'd been using the nasal cup since April 18, just sitting around or trying to nap or sleep at night. I had been able to fall asleep in a nap w/ it on and put it on in the middle of the night once and fell back asleep. But I was having more way more misses than hits.

But it was a nemesis since I was NOW able to fall asleep naturally without meds starting about late April as I'd lost 15 lbs or so. It was better to have back the crappy sleep than to lay awake all night.

I had a few Ambien left, so thought okay I will try it with 1/2 of a 5 mg pill, then 1/4 of a pill and so on. I divvied up two pills and the first night I never woke up for like 8 hours. I thought okay this CPAP HAS to be working because Ambien made me fall asleep but never kept me asleep. And a 5 mg pill only let me sleep about 2 hours.

The next couple nights I took just 1/4 pill and it worked just as well as the 1/2 pill, so I stopped Ambien altogether. Now I can't imagine not using my hose monster.

OMG I thought it would NEVER work when I first got it. I've now lost 30 lbs and probably gained the ability to breathe better at night but not going to give up with it until more wt loss. Or not, maybe I'll just keep using it.

I am so glad for the advice here and being able to read your stories. I never figured out how to get the flash drive card to work with my mac despite calls and email exchanges. i still don't know about the advanced settings on the F&P but don't even care at this point. I just fill it with distilled, press the button, put on the mask and get into bed and fall asleep.