how long till you felt better??

mool · Post by **mool** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:13 pm

hi people, im new to this, just got my cpap on friday 07/10. just want to know how long it takes to feel better? its tuesday and i feel worse. my nose is bruised(purply red) from the mask, which also leaks when i lay on my side. also what pressure are you guys using? they started me on 8cm, which i dont think is enough. im 22 yet i feel 72. so tired i cant think.

ANY advice is more than welcome.

out.

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Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:31 pm

It took me about a week and a half before I could sleep with the mask on all night, I have a humidifier but have yet to need to use it. I have been on cpap since the end of June 2005, and I feel like I could do cartwheels from the Mexican border to the Canadian Border, I had not slept all night in almost 20 years or more. after about three days I started to feel better and after I got used to the mask I've felt great ever since.
Hang in there

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:23 am

Most of us have gone thru a challenging period of adapting (getting the right mask, understanding the value of fixed CPAP vs variable APAP, the plusses & minuses of CFLEX etc)

The older folk among may, it seems, be more committed to dealing with problems because we have histories of low energy & threatened careers.

Then again some of us have experienced a 'cpappers high' only to come back to a more normal daily routine but usually devoid of the falling asleep.

This is not an easy road to travel. I do it because I have concluded (as have so many others here) that I will pay a very high price for not dealing with my SA/OSA.

I wish you the best in working out the frustrations & there are sooo many helpful folk here, but be prepared for a little bit of a roller coaster ride as you grapple with this challenge.

DSM

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:19 am

I've had my cpap for less than a week now, so I'm no expert! But I don't think your nose should be bruised at all. I had a 5 day trial from my doc and my nose looked like someone had hit it! The RT said - you'll need a different mask when you get your cpap and I did.

I'd call my DME and find out what they think - I have an mirage activa nasal mask. My nose is not even red in the morning. Use the ask question button at the top - https://www.cpap.com has wonderful suggestions as well.

I still don't sleep through the night, but my concentration level and mental acuity has risen trememdously and my brain fog has lifted from lack of sleep. When I do sleep, I must sleep like I never have before.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:12 am

Mool,

Hi and welcome. I agree with Sleepyred. Your nose doesn't have to and should be bruised and purple from your mask. Let your DME know right away and they should get you a different mask. If you are going for a nasal mask, definitely try the Activa. It is a great first mask for almost everyone. Very good with leaks and movements when you turn from side to side, or any which way for that matter.

I had to replace my mask a week into therapy and the insurance company said no problem since most people usually make the wrong choice, or have it made for them, when it comes to the first one. Don't think about it, really do it. Get the Activa. You stand a great chance of adapting better with it. I took everyone's advice here on got that as my second mask and was very happy for a long time. Here's the link so you can check it out https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... allow.html

Also, remember it takes usually more than a few days to feel it with the correct mask. So don't be surprised that you just started Friday and after four nights, you're not feeling it. You will, each in our own time. And try to look for subtle signs that it could be working, like less fatigue or not as sleepy during the day. It's not always an obvious "slap in the face" type awareness.

Good luck and let us know how you do. By the way, my son is also 22.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:51 am

dsm wrote:The older folk among may, it seems, be more committed to dealing with problems because we have histories of low energy & threatened careers.

Sounds like you are talking about me.

Then again some of us have experienced a 'cpappers high' only to come back to a more normal daily routine but usually devoid of the falling asleep.

Now I know you are talking about me!

I was lucky that I got 2 masks that both fit me comfortably right from the start. That, plus I'd found this site and had read here extensively so I knew what to expect and went into it with an attitude that helped me succeed.

I'm convinced that the 2 primary factors in obtaining successful CPAP treatment are, in order: attitude and the proper mask.

thewebbie · Post by **thewebbie** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:00 am

Hang in there. If you search through this site you will find many people struggle in the beginning and every story is the same but over different periods of time. I've only been on my BiPap for two weeks. I was disappointed that I did not get more than two hours my first night, I was hoping for instant relief. The good news is that after two weeks I am starting to feel more energized and the pain in my joints is going away. I average 6.5 to 7.5 hours on the mask every night now.

If I've learned one thing from this site it is that everything is flexible, your health is in grave risk. Change your mask and machine if you have to. Don't give up.

Just being here helps!

Matthew

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:11 am

Matthew,

Glad to hear you're doing so much better now after two weeks. Great post, by the way. Very true.

DrainedDad · Post by **DrainedDad** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:26 am

I have been on cpap since the end of July. The first two weeks were so great; I adapted to the treatment immediately. But after about a month things took a turn. I started struggling with the mask and started to question whether to quit the therapy.

What I have found is that the treatment is a lot like every other area in your life. You will have good days and bad days. There are days when I feel like I could run marathons again and there are day when I feel like I could sleep all day! But if you stick with it, get advice from the "veterans" of this sight, and work through the problems you will begin to feel the positive results.

Stick with it!

crazyone · Post by **crazyone** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:53 am

Boy I was way off when I thought I was the youngest on here. Whew!

Been on cpap since January and still only make it a couple of hours a night (I think) because of the claustrophobic feeling I get. Which I believe is due to the uncomfortable pressure on my nose. Just found out about the comfort curve mask though and ordered it Monday (seems less invasive). I'm hoping that it will at least help me to last 4 or more hours a night. The nasal pillows or prongs are a no go due to my idiosyncrasies (for that matter - the whole damn cpap).

I believe the others are correct in that you have to (HAVE TO) find the right mask. Which, obviously, I am still searching for. This will now be mask number 6.

I keep pushing myself to start new every week though. My husband and job are understanding for now, but I have no clue how long I'll be lucky enough for that to last.

Keep on trying......If you think the cpap is driving you batty.....little or no sleep for a month is 10 times worst.

mool · Post by **mool** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:24 pm

thank you every1 for your support. it really feels good to hear from people in similar situations. i often find myself gettin very depressed, i think because no1 around me understands what it is and how it makes us feel. i believe ive had this problem since very young, earliest i can REMEMBER feelin this way was bout 5 or 6.

im going to call the sleep clinic today and request the activa, it sounds real good. also wouldnt mind know you guys pressure setting if you wanna share.

thanks for listening.
out.

Oh 2 breathe · Post by **Oh 2 breathe** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:07 am

I had my first night of CPAP therapy in the sleep lab on Aug. 29/05 and remember the incredible difference I felt right away. Unfortunately I came out on a Saturday and could not get to a CPAP supplier until Monday, so I felt deseparate to go back to it. After that I went through 6 different masks until I found the one that works best for me - the Comfort Curve. I've been using that since Sept. 16th and I can't believe the difference. I am a new person. I have regained the use of my memory after a year of chronic forgetfulness and cognitive fog. I am delighted to find that I have lost 10 pounds in 6 weeks! I still have need an occassional nap to supplement my night time sleep, and am still prone to falling asleep a little early in the evening, but my daytime alertness has improved significantly. I feel much more present for my clients at work and much more on top of remembering details in my daily work. I finally feel like have enough energy for both work and single parenting. So I would say the therapy has been very successful so far in a very short time frame.

I agree with the above posts that it all comes down to finding the right mask. Spare no expense here, it's worth every penny to find the right one.

~ OTB

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:19 am

Oh2, welcome to the board! And it's great to hear about such good results from almost day 1 (ok, day 1 of having a mask that works for you.) Like DrainedDad says, though, there's good nights and there's not so good nights. I've experienced the same thing (course, I was trying to "tweak" my settings, but that's a whole 'nother story).

Hang in there all of ya'll! This therapy WORKS!!!

Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:08 pm

[quote="Patrick A"]
It took me about a week and a half before I could sleep with the mask on all night, I have a humidifier but have yet to need to use it. I have been on cpap since the end of June 2005, and I feel like I could do cartwheels from the Mexican border to the Canadian Border, I had not slept all night in almost 20 years or more. after about three days I started to feel better and after I got used to the mask I've felt great ever since.
Hang in there

padathir · Post by **padathir** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:18 pm

It took me three months before I really felt the difference, partially because I had to try some different masks until I found an arangement that didn't leak air into my eyelids, and partially because it was gradual improvement that is hard to notice as it happens.

I only really fully realized how important my CPAP is a couple weeks ago when an overnight power outage left me without it, and the next day I was back to feeling very much like I did before treatment. Ended up getting a backup battery to avoid a reccurence of this, but the experience really made the improvement clearly visible by contrast.

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how long till you felt better??

how long till you felt better??

how long till you felt better??

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