Mild Apneacs: Is the CPAP treatment worth it for you?

[noahmckinnon]

I was diagnosed with 39 respiratory events in one night and have been struggling with CPAP therapy. I've shot down some problems like dryness and mouth leaks, but I decided to give up after 3 weeks of poor sleep (the latest problem being mask leaks) and wait for my new rig to arrive: Resmed Auto Spirit w/Reslink Oxy Sensor module and Activa mask. The costs are spiralling and I've put my life on hold to really give this CPAP therapy a fair go.

Has anyone here who was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea really benefitted from a CPAP? I would love to hear answers in the affirmative for a little encouragement, though I certainly can take the negative as well. Thanks.

[mommaw]

Noah,

I was diagnoised with moderate sleep apnea and have been on cpap for about 5 weeks now. I can say a definite YES, I feel my treatment is really working. I feel much better in the mornings and through out the day. I am more alert, have more energy and can actually stay awake all day. I had none of these before I began treatment. I have and continue to struggle with the mask issue. There are nights I still jerk it off and turn over and go to sleep. But those nights I suffer the next day! My biggest help in moving along the road of cpap adjustment was to purchase several different masks. It is expensive, but some nights one works better than the others, just depends on the night I am having. I have even changed masks in the middle of the night. . Just continue to try as much as you can tolerate, try different masks, (my favorite - Breeze nasal pillows) and wear them as long as you can. Sometimes it is better to take the mask off for awhile, get out of bed and relax, talk yourself into calming down, then try again. I have found the more I fight the mask, the more furstrating it gets and the MASK will win! But just keep telling yourself, I can do this and no leaky old mask is gonna get the best of me.

And remember, we are all in this together. Just keep asking questions, venting or whatever you need to do and someone will always reply.

Hang in there! You CAN do it.
Gilda

[day for night]

Mild apnea- check
cost spiraling - check
making me feel worse instead of better - check

We are in a similar situation. I'm still plugging away at this cpap thing after 5 weeks. Got my third mask yesterday, a resmed activa and slept with it part of the night last night. It seems to have some potential, it seals well and I may be able to sleep on my side with it. I'm givng this another couple of months. It with either work or I will be back in for more surgery(I had the UPPP three years ago, now my tounge is a problem).

[wading thru the muck!]

I have mild apnea - AHI of 12.

I've seen great improvement since I started therapy. I researched my original equipment and it worked great. Since I purchased several different "masks" Each one better than the last.

Keep looking for a solution!

Do you have the software to monitor your results?

[ozij]

Noah -
Thanks for asking, it's a question I'm asking myself as well
And thanks to all the others for troubling to answer!
O.

[littlebaddow]

My doc told me I was mild to moderate with 10 to 20 events an hour. I had been feeling quite unwell for several months - no energy, constantly tired & irritable, unable to concentrate, couldn't remember things.

Just over 3 months after starting treatment, my AHI is below 2 every night and I feel a whole lot better.

The first month was horrible - couldn't get used to the CPAP machine & mask, I was using a CPAP set at 10cm without humidifier and a cheap mask. 2 weeks in, I got a better mask (resmed mirage vista) and managed a little better.

The big change, however, came after 4 weeks when I got a remstar auto c-flex with heated humidifier. I found this much easier to get on with and within another 2 weeks using it I was feeling much better.

I've now almost forgotten the fear and frustration of the first few weeks, when if anything I felt worse rather than better.

Don't give up on this. Even if it takes months to get the right combination and feel the improvement, isn't that better than a lifetime of the alternative?

[noahmckinnon]

thanks for all the replies.

Gilda, you may be right about the mask rigamarole. I'm getting my second one soon, an Activa which hopefully seals better than the Comfort Classic.

DFN, sounds like we are in a similar boat. I saw on your previous posts that you're using a Remstar Plus but are thinking of an autoPAP. Did you order one yet? I'm sure I'll be posting about my aPAP experience at some point, hopefully in a positive light.

Wader, yes, I did get the Autoscan software and I'm very curious to see the data. I'm hoping the results say, "Dude, just relax, figure out your life and sleep on your side".

Not that I would fall into this category, but I'm curious if an autoPAP set with a low end of 4 would actually stay at pressure of 4 for someone who was breathing fine on his or her own. Anyone know?

[Grant I]

Noah,
You are correct. The low pressure setting on an AutoPAP is the starting point for pressure. It would only be increased if the machine sensed events (apneic, hypopneic, snores). If there are no events, the machine would maintain the low pressure throughout the treatment.
Grant