One Year Into Therapy - My First Year's Results

[Hose_Head]

I'm now one full year into cpap therapy. I thought I'd share my progress.

First my situation:

My sleep study showed an ahi of 27. Mostly hypopneas. No centrals. I was titrated at 9 cm and on my request for an auto cpap, my doctor set me up with a prescription of 5 - 12.

My blower is a respironics M Series Auto with built in humidifier. My primary mask is a Resmed Activa. Sometimes, for a change, I'll also use a Swift II. I also use a snugglehose. Distilled water only. I use Encoreviewer software.

My Results:
Compliance: I've missed just one night on cpap, and that was a night in which I had to get up with only 3 hours sleep to catch an early flight.

Average Pressure: for the first three months and my prescribed pressure of 5-12, I had an ahi of about 3.4 . I reset my pressure to 7-12 and since then, my ahi has been consistently under 2, with the last month averaging 1.7.
My 90% cpap pressure is just 8.0 (less than my titration pressure!).

My time in apnea per day is down to 7 seconds!

My average daily usage of the apap is 8 hrs 13 minutes. This compares to an inveterate undersleeper of less than 6 hours per night of restless sleep.

How do I feel? Better. Not 100%. But certainly better than before. I have less trouble getting through the day without need for a nap. My memory has improved. I'm less depressed.

Unfortunately, my weight is up about 20 lbs. I need to do something about that, next.

Overall: a success story. I'm not cured. But I'm more than just coping.

[MrSandman]

I applaud your ability to stick to something I am still struggling for good results. I also have been gaining weight but do not know if it is winter weight gain or not.

[yorkiemum01]

You may not realize it...but YOU are a success story, wtggggg!

[glfredrick]

I'm also into my second year now, with similar results.

My AHI is down to .9 -- 1.4 on average. I don't have the software yet, so I can't track detailed incidents, but I'm sleeping deeper and dreaming more. Not having any problems falling asleep when it is time -- IF I can get to it being time. I just work too much... Averaging 5.5 hours in bed a night for a year now -- all on the machine. Mostly, if I'm in bed, I'm hooked up, except for a bit of snuggling with my wife here and there. I've only missed two nights in a year +.

I've adjusted my pressures some during the year, as well as played with APAP, CPAP, settings for each, etc. I've settled in, and actually raised my pressures a bit according to my AHI scores. I've been as low as 12 and as high as 16. Currently, I'm running a 90% at 15.8 and I'm completly used to that pressure, sleeping well with it.