New To The Hose

rbrown3rd · Post by **rbrown3rd** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:57 pm

Hello everyone. I am 69 years old and have been using the CPAP now for a couple of weeks. I have experienced gradual improvements in my sleep and at least now do not dread falling asleep but instead I look forward to it. This sort of thing is so subjective that it is hard for me to measure the improvements I have experienced but the data at the clinic certainly verified that the night with the mask was a great improvement over the night without it. I am looking forward to continued improvement. Perhaps it takes a long time to make up a sleep deficit built up over years. I am glad I found this terrific forum in case to answer the many questions building in my mind regarding data that my machine captures.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:03 pm

Welcome to the forum Bob.

Yes, sometimes the improvements are very gradual. My husband says my eyes smile more, says I laugh more.
Me, I noticed the absence of the nighttime bathroom breaks immediately but the rest has been very slow for me to see improvement. Good days and better days..

We wish you continued success. It does get easier and it does get better.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:31 pm

Welcome aboard Bob! All of us here share something. I mean its not normal to stick this mask with a hose on our face over night. Yet we all do it cos we know it will help us live longer and be able to spend more time with our loved ones. This is a great place to have your questions answered, and also share a few laughs. Hang around, ask ask ask away.

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:18 pm

Glad to have you with us. It does take time to really feel like you are getting sleep. I do think it takes a while to make up all the time you lost not sleeping. It took months before I could really say I felt better. I too, stopped making bathroom trips all night long and that was the first thing I noticed right away. Then before long I noticed I could watch a TV program all the way through without crashing! Now, I count on a good sleep almost every night.

millich · Post by **millich** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:24 pm

Hi and Welcome rbrown3! I'm glad you found us.

Yes, quite often improvements are gradual. In fact, I think that's the case more often than the dramatic, first night successes you hear about. I have to say, though, that looking forward to sleep and not dreading it is HUGE. Don't undermine that as an accomplishment! There are people here who would be thrilled to get that.

You've come to the right place. I'm betting things will continue to improve for you.

rbrown3rd · Post by **rbrown3rd** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:12 am

Thanks everyone. Just awoke from a good night's sleep. Now that you mention it I have not been getting up for bathroom breaks as I did before. I will say that in general I am beginning to feel more rested. Yes, that is a huge improvement and looking forward to going to bed is a big change for me. Now, I will head for bed while my wife stays up watching TV. Another strange thing is that in the evening I will really start getting sleepy. Oddly, when I was untreated I hardly ever felt like going to bed. Thinking about it, that is a strange thing indeed.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:11 am

rbrown3rd wrote:Oddly, when I was untreated I hardly ever felt like going to bed. Thinking about it, that is a strange thing indeed.

I was sort of the same way. I might have had a brief period of feeling sleepy (10 minutes) then I would be wide awake till 1 AM and get up at 5 AM. I think our subconscious was telling us to avoid going to sleep because we were in trouble while we were sleeping.

vipertec · Post by **vipertec** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:19 am

Welcome to the wonderful world of cpap and to the forum ! I have good nights and bad nights ,the bad nights usually involve insomnia ,but I will say that I sleep way better than before I had cpap. good luck to you!

millich · Post by **millich** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:39 am

rbrown3rd wrote: Oddly, when I was untreated I hardly ever felt like going to bed. Thinking about it, that is a strange thing indeed.

Yes, many of us respond to sleep apnea/chronic insomnia with an increase in our "fight or flight" hormones. As a result, we feel wired instead of sleepy. It's not healthy.

You may also be experiencing a rebound need for increased sleep now that your body is relaxing. In other words, you may need more sleep now in order to repay your sleep debt. Then, your sleep needs should level off.

PST · Post by **PST** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:52 am

rbrown3rd wrote:Thanks everyone. Just awoke from a good night's sleep. Now that you mention it I have not been getting up for bathroom breaks as I did before. I will say that in general I am beginning to feel more rested. Yes, that is a huge improvement and looking forward to going to bed is a big change for me. Now, I will head for bed while my wife stays up watching TV. Another strange thing is that in the evening I will really start getting sleepy. Oddly, when I was untreated I hardly ever felt like going to bed. Thinking about it, that is a strange thing indeed.

One of the best things about the way CPAP puts an end to repetitive nighttime bathroom breaks for many of us is that this gives us instant assurance that something good is happening. Some of the other benefits may accrue gradually, leaving us to wonder if we're really getting better, but when you've been getting up five times a night and then suddenly you're not, it allays any lingering suspicion that this whole OSA-CPAP business might be a con and a placebo.

As for not wanting to go to bed before you started treatment, that could be because no one really likes sustained strangulation.

rbrown3rd · Post by **rbrown3rd** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:26 am

There is definite improvement for me. I think you are on to something about our bodies being programmed a certain way and now with CPAP our brains have to relearn responses. I just woke up from a good sleep but still feel a bit groggy. Maybe that is a good thing. I am sleeping longer and longer. I know I am addicted to CPAP because I just can't wait to put on my mask and get started on sleeping. I used to dread it. That in itself is a big improvement. Thanks for all the feedback. I have a lot to learn about this new environment.

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:49 pm

My hubby used to nap on and off most of the day and fall asleep in his recliner at night watching TV. Now he takes a nap mid-morning for about an hr and then he's good until bedtime about 11PM, less bathroom breaks too.

rbrown3rd · Post by **rbrown3rd** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:01 am

Just got up a bit ago from a really good night of sleep. I don't think I got up once. Also, I don't seem to change positions as much. I think I woke up in the same position I was in when I went to sleep. This is getting to be very addictive. I can't wait at night to don the mask and head for la la land. I am going to try a night without my sleep meds which I needed before. I am betting I can do away with those after a while too. Another thing is that I have not taken my meds for reflux that I used to take every other day. I have not taken it for a couple of weeks now. Wow. That is pretty neat.

SleepyT · Post by **SleepyT** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:18 am

rbrown3rd wrote:Just got up a bit ago from a really good night of sleep. I don't think I got up once. Also, I don't seem to change positions as much. I think I woke up in the same position I was in when I went to sleep. This is getting to be very addictive. I can't wait at night to don the mask and head for la la land. I am going to try a night without my sleep meds which I needed before. I am betting I can do away with those after a while too. Another thing is that I have not taken my meds for reflux that I used to take every other day. I have not taken it for a couple of weeks now. Wow. That is pretty neat.

well, mr. brown, you seem to be a member of the smart group! you are embracing your therapy...loving your machine...and understand instantly what a good thing CPAP is! this puts you miles ahead of many who find CPAP to be a pain the in the arse! your attitude is wonderful and it serves you well! you may also find that your blood pressure in normalizing...if it was high before. there are many benefits to be had! just keep on keeping on....and don't let any future bumps in the road sway you from your journey. if problems pop up...just come on back to the forum! and congrats for taking good care of yourself. best of luck to you!

PurpleSwan3033 · Post by **PurpleSwan3033** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:47 pm

I agree with PST, amen! The fact that I noticed my first night that I am not getting up numerous times to use the bathroom was clear and significant assurance that something good is happening. From my first night on, I went from getting up 4-5 times per night to only one time a night. I am in my 5th week now. I look forward to the day I can sleep without getting up in the middle of the night at all. However, if that doesn't happen and I stay at only one bathroom break a night, then I will be satisfied. That's much better than before.

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