I give up!!

chefmate · Post by **chefmate** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:53 am

No improvement after 2 weeks of Apap therpay. none. not even an ounce. I feel even more tired for some reason because of all the adjustmets I have to make to get used to cpap mask. I am going to return this Apap and maybe ask my doctor to prescribe a mandibular device.

49er · Post by **49er** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:06 am

chefmate wrote:No improvement after 2 weeks of Apap therpay. none. not even an ounce. I feel even more tired for some reason because of all the adjustmets I have to make to get used to cpap mask. I am going to return this Apap and maybe ask my doctor to prescribe a mandibular device.

cheftmate,

As an FYI, it can take up to 6 months to obtain any substantial improvement, even if your therapy is completely optimal. But in case it isn't, you might want to click on the links in my signature for downloading free sleepyhead software and posting the reports so experienced members can help you out.

49er

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:07 am

Let me guess; your pressures are wide open at 4-20 cm, because the dumb DME is too lazy to give you a tighter range?
Sheesh! That would keep me awake. My range (see below) is quite comfortable.
Get the software and start reading data, then you will have a better idea where it should be set.
Also, two weeks is not really enough time for a lot of people, who may need a month or more,
I didn't really settle down for about four months.

Nick Danger · Post by **Nick Danger** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:15 am

Getting used to CPAP is hard work. I can understand your frustration and discouragement. Let's face it, getting used to CPAP sucks (well, actually, I guess it blows...). Two weeks seems like a long time to you, but most people take longer than that to get used to the machine.

Depending on the extent of your OSA, a mandibular device may reduce your symptoms. Keep in mind that mandibular devices are expensive, may result in pain in your jaws, and are successful in only a small percentage of cases (and rarely successful if the OSA is more than a mild case). There are one or two people on the forum who have had success with a mandibular device. My wife, who has a mild case of OSA, found the jaw discomfort to be too much for her.

Good luck!

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:33 am

You said "blows", tee, hee! Reminded me of Mike Moran.
viewtopic.php?t=11790

WildMtnHoney · Post by **WildMtnHoney** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:55 am

You think getting used to cpap blows? Wait until you try the mandibular device! I had a jaw expander a pre-teen, and I've heard/read that the pain level is similar. I wish you luck.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:12 am

WildMtnHoney wrote:Wait until you try the mandibular device! I had a jaw expander a pre-teen, and I've heard/read that the pain level is similar.

No, it's not that bad and you should not be spreading that idea without knowledge or experience.

WildMtnHoney wrote:You think getting used to cpap blows? Wait until you try the mandibular device!

But you are right that using a MAD is no piece of cake. Gramps and I both have top of the line MADs fitted by heavily experienced dentists. Neither of us can tolerate them. Plus, even with our jaws well extended, we could tell we were still having apneas when we did sleep.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:15 am

chefmate wrote: because of all the adjustmets I have to make to get used to cpap mask

The mask in your profile is fairly easy to adjust. What problems are you having?

WildMtnHoney · Post by **WildMtnHoney** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:18 am

No, it's not that bad and you should not be spreading that idea without knowledge or experience.

Fair enough -- Just what I had "heard/read" and I was honest about that. Also, it's been a long time since I was "pre-teen" so I admit my ideas of what that felt like back then may also be warped through lens of time.

Sleeprider · Post by **Sleeprider** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:31 am

chefmate wrote:No improvement after 2 weeks of Apap therpay. none. not even an ounce. I feel even more tired for some reason because of all the adjustmets I have to make to get used to cpap mask. I am going to return this Apap and maybe ask my doctor to prescribe a mandibular device.

You quit easy. As I recall you were diagnosed with severe OSA around 50 AHI and you posted a thread showing a treated AHI of 1.09 consisting of a small amount of CA and H, and your main concern was flow limitations. The advise was give constant pressure, and that advise would still apply since you claim you don't feel better. Your claim you have no improvement is not supported by the facts. You may indeed need more time for the improvement to translate into how you "feel", but you have eliminated OSA. Coming on here and announcing "I quit" is a bit dramatic. Lots of people quit, no one needs to know. Come back when you actually want help.

SleepDisturbed · Post by **SleepDisturbed** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:43 am

Then why are still here?

1. Are you looking for someone to talk you out of quitting?
2. Are you looking for someone to validate your decision?
3. Other?

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:09 am

WildMtnHoney wrote: "pre-teen"

Some exhibit a lot of drama in those years. We did not allow it with our kids and there was no place for it when I was a teen.

But I do agree that tolerating a MAD is far from easy for many people.

englandsf · Post by **englandsf** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:35 am

Please don't give up!

It'll take longer than you're allowing to get your therapy under control.

Spend your energy understanding your numbers and adjusting your press etc and you'll get good numbers, comfort and feel better.

It took me over a month to get started and six months to get organized...

purple · Post by **purple** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:35 am

My observation on your situation: Once you find the right mask for you. Make sure the leaks are under control all night (data machine). Then if your pressures start too low, then that is the problem. I would feel like I was suffocating if I started with a low starting pressure that an APAP often is set to for beginners. Like Froggie said, look at the information, find your correct initial pressure that will stop Apneas for you. If you do not have leaks, then that is the max pressure the APAP has. If you have leaks, then you will have go through a process of little increases to find the pressure your machine should have for its first pressure of the night.

If the titration sleep study went well, then the doc has better starting number than a wide range on an APAP machine. Give your Docs office a call and tell them your experience.

BTW: Usually the Sleep Doc wants to see a new patient in four to six weeks just because the doc knows he can provide better for the patient. So that visit is not a scam to get more money.

Give Pugsy some more specific information from the data on the machine, she can supplement what a doc might say.

Trust Pugsy, and the Frog.

coolbranch · Post by **coolbranch** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:59 am

chefmate,

I have felt your pain and frustration. For the record, it took me over 100 days before I started improving my cpap therapy. Friends were telling me I looked like "warmed over death" and I felt like it. Over time I tweeked my mask type and fit as well as my cpap low and high settings. It takes a while to get things calibrated. "Righteous persistence brings reward"- Old Chinese proverb

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