How long before I start feeling the energy?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:24 pm

New hosehead here, doing well with a Resmed S8 Compact and Swift mask. I've been using these for almost three weeks now and feel I'm adapting nicely (after a few of the typical startup problems that made for some long nights).

I know everyone is different, but I am curious as to how long before the energy returns to my life. I do feel a bit better - but that's all. My general health is good otherwise. My apnea is considered severe (80 events/hour at the sleep study) - pressure is +14. I assume I've suffered from this for at least five years, maybe longer.

This forum is great - so glad I ran into you good folks. Any responses are appreciated.

Thanks - Greg in Michigan

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:28 pm

Hi, Greg and welcome aboard cpaptalk.com. Nice to see new faces and to hear nice stories of new folks working hard to be compliant with their treatment!

As for "How long", well, the truth is it's different for everyone. Some folks feel a surge of energy from Day 1, others can take a month or maybe even 2 or 3 months before they notice a real difference. The main thing is to hang in there! A lot of folks have reported that they really didn't think anything was happening until they had to skip a night of treatment. Others said they suddenly noticed little things....they weren't nodding off at work any more, they were able to watch a tv program without falling asleep, the drive to and from work was not a race to get to the destination for fear of nodding off behind the wheel. K? With I could say that on "X" day, you'd get a burst of energy, but that usually doesn't happen.

Another thing, there seems to be a "rebound" effect...after using and feeling better for a couple of months, there's a bit of regression for some folks. Again, it's something to work through, being compliant.

OK, now that I've probably bummed you out, the good news is that with compliant, effective treatment, things WILL and DO get better...and stay better! Keep up the good work!

Kajun

P.S.
I've been a hosehead for about 22 months now and have good days and a bad day now and then. But it sure as heck beats what life was (or WASN'T) for me 2 years ago!!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:56 pm

Welcome to the message board, Greg. In addition to the very good post by Kajun, click this link (from the "Lightbulb" above) to see more thoughts about what to expect:

Help For New or Struggling CPAP users

Here's another good link for you to click:

http://www.smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com
Mile High Sleeper's great information resource for cpap users.

And another!

viewtopic.php?t=14494
Oct 19, 2006 subject: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Hang in there, Greg, and keep looking for tips to make everything about your treatment more and more comfortable. A comfortable mask is the biggest piece of the puzzle to get "right", imho.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:48 pm

Greg -

It varies form person to person. I was lucky and was off to a good start. Improvements followed when I discovered this forum ... a great place to blast off to the top of the learning curve.

I would suggest you go ahead and register and fill out your profile or signiture file with some of your basic info ... that way forum members can more easily help you out.

In addition to reading Rested Gal's links, I would also suggest you make certain that you get a copy of your sleep study from your doc as soon as you can ... lots of valuable info in there for understanding and tweaking your treatment. Also be sure to get the original CPAP prescription. When you go to your follow up visit with your doc, and after educating yourself here, try as best you can to convince your doctor to upgrade your machine to an "auto" type so you can monitor and tweak your treatment.

Best of luck and be sure to visit the forum as often as you can.

- roberto

Gregersen2 · Post by **Gregersen2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:40 pm

Hey Greg,

I just got my CPAP yesterday so I'm just starting out, but my apnea is so bad (averaging 130/hr according to sleep study), and my energy is so low that it can't get any worse. The RT who fitted my machine and mask told me that everything will be OK, and that I will feel better than most normal people who get a full nights rest with no apneas. I'm also going to have bariatric surgery within a few months, and he said a well rested body will have an easier time losing weight. So I'm counting on this little machine next to my bed to produce great results sooner or later. A rough start last night: it leaked a little bit, and I still have to try and relax and let the machine do it's job. Perhaps things will go better tonight. Best of luck to you.

Chris (also in Michigan)

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:52 pm

It really DOES vary from person to person. I was fully compliant from day three...all night, every night. But it took weeks to really notice a difference in how I felt, It was a slow, gradual build up of alertness and energy. I think a key thing to remember is that even if you do not feel a burst of energy at first, you are doing something essential for your long-term good health. The results may not be evident early on, but it pays dividends in the long run.

Good luck!

FLJim0121 · Post by **FLJim0121** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:55 am

Greg,

Welcome to the forum! I'm a relative new guy here too and there is a ton of good info here.

I've been on CPAP for almost two weeks now and it's been a slow and gradual improvement. I feel just a little better than I did before, but my girlfriend says that I don't startle myself gasping for air in the middle of the night.

I think the main thing to remember that each person is different and it will take baby steps to get where you need to be.

Jim

Wildwind · Post by **Wildwind** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:51 pm

Thanks for the great responses! Obviously I was hoping for blue skies and turbo boost from day one - oh well.

BTW I am registered, but for some reason it would not let me post the message even though I was logged in. My handle is Wildwind - hopefully I'll figure out how to get that working. All contacts are welcome.

I am convinced I'm doing something great for my body. After being very upset with the diagnosis and the concept of having to sleep with a machine for the rest of my life, my attitude has adjusted considerably. This group is the main reason - many thanks. I'll vist often.

I am having deviated septum repair surgery next week - can hardly wait. Actually, I'm told it isn't as bad as it used to be - no packing! It sounds like that was the worst part. So I am told to pack my CPAP and plan on using it during my one-night stay and each night thereafter. Any of you who have undergone this - I'd love to hear from you. I'm very nervous - I've never been in the hospital or under anesthesia before. And the surgery sounds painful, at least for a few days. But it has to be done and should have been done years ago. I was born with this and have always fought with nasal congestion issues. It will be nice to not have those any longer.

I'll check the links when I have more time - thanks for posting them. You people are great!

Greg in Michigan

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:00 pm

[quote="Wildwind"]Thanks for the great responses! Obviously I was hoping for blue skies and turbo boost from day one - oh well.

BTW I am registered, but for some reason it would not let me post the message even though I was logged in. My handle is Wildwind - hopefully I'll figure out how to get that working. All contacts are welcome.

I am convinced I'm doing something great for my body. After being very upset with the diagnosis and the concept of having to sleep with a machine for the rest of my life, my attitude has adjusted considerably. This group is the main reason - many thanks. I'll vist often.

I am having deviated septum repair surgery next week - can hardly wait. Actually, I'm told it isn't as bad as it used to be - no packing! It sounds like that was the worst part. So I am told to pack my CPAP and plan on using it during my one-night stay and each night thereafter. Any of you who have undergone this - I'd love to hear from you. I'm very nervous - I've never been in the hospital or under anesthesia before. And the surgery sounds painful, at least for a few days. But it has to be done and should have been done years ago. I was born with this and have always fought with nasal congestion issues. It will be nice to not have those any longer.

I'll check the links when I have more time - thanks for posting them. You people are great!

Greg in Michigan

Wildwind · Post by **Wildwind** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:11 pm

I'm glad to hear it's no big deal.

I was instructed to bring my CPAP and told I would be using it. The doc says they have a new way of doing this that eliminates that packing. I'll know more when I get there.

The doc wants me to stay overnight because of the apnea. I'm going to try to talk him out of it - but if he insists, I'll be a good boy. This time.

Thanks for the response - Greg

arthuranxious · Post by **arthuranxious** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:00 pm

waiting to feel the energy? Who says you will feel it? If you were very tired you will probably notice a difference soon, if you never felt tired, like me, you will not have an improvement! It is just one more cross to bear... keep on using the CPAP---it does reduce the odds of not waking up ever again! Enough reason to tolerate the misery, and the distrubed nights from the discomfort of the mask. I haven't slept through the night once since being started on this ghastly treatm,ent... but I believe it will keep me around longer!

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:02 pm

I know its different for everybody but I am trying to be compliant yet do not feel any different since being on cpap. Forcing myself to do it every night just to be compliant. My dr. has this thing where you have to bring the card in to them every month, they get the info off the card and put it in your file for compliancy I think.

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:37 pm

Baby steps is an appropriate answer. Like the other posters have said we are all so different. I noticed more energy right away. Then I noticed that I was hardly napping anymore. I hit a bump last month when I was feeling tired again and my MD prescribed Provigil which is a temporary fix.

laurie2025 · Post by **laurie2025** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:24 pm

While I've only been using cpap for a week, and some nights more than others, I do feel less 'foggy'. I used to feel like my brain was wrapped in fuzz... I also feel like I am remembering a bit better; short term memory that is. Of course this could be wishful thinking, but that is how I feel.

Wildwind · Post by **Wildwind** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:50 pm

I believe I'm feeling small improvements, including some energy increase here or there. It isn't dramatic yet. I admit I'm hoping for dramatic.

At the sleep study they made me watch a video. It was of a fairly young (albeit somewhat overweight) guy who would fall asleep playing cards, eating, and probably while going to the restroom (didn't show that part...). Post-CPAP, he was a human dynamo. A bit optimistic maybe, but it would be nice if it was true.

I have to look at it this way - I've had the problem for a good while, I've been in sleep deficit for a long time (at the very least - hopefully there hasn't been any other damage done), and it will take a while to gain enough ground to begin to really feel the results. I know I'm doing that and that makes me feel better already.

I wasn't all the symptomatic, but I now realize I have been tired for the last two or three years. I figured it was mostly from being overweight - and as I've been slimming down energy levels have been increasing. But too little oxygen is serious business and I'm sure these elements will work hand-in-hand.

Thanks for the great responses. I have a much better idea what to expect. I'm out of here for the weekend - enjoy.

Greg

Mask

Additional Comments: Machine:Resmed S7 Elite; Oracle Mask(YES! My DREAM mask!!)

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

How long before I start feeling the energy?

How long before I start feeling the energy?

feel different