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[SleepyJill]

I have had my 2 sleep studies, and just received my CPAP machine and equipment 2 nights ago. My second sleep study determined that my optimum pressure is 6. How long did it take for you to start feeling more rested after getting the equipment and learning to adjust to the mask?

[Stefernie]

I have had my 2 sleep studies, and just received my CPAP machine and equipment 2 nights ago. My second sleep study determined that my optimum pressure is 6. How long did it take for you to start feeling more rested after getting the equipment and learning to adjust to the mask?

You can start feeling better the first night. I know my brain felt less foggy right after my titration study.

The kicker...it will take you about 4-6 weeks to get fully adjusted and sleeping 8 hours with the mask on. It isn't easy, but stick with it! It will get easier!

The good news is your pressure isn't very high at all and should be quite easy to breathe against and get used to.

[John_M]

I have had my 2 sleep studies, and just received my CPAP machine and equipment 2 nights ago. My second sleep study determined that my optimum pressure is 6. How long did it take for you to start feeling more rested after getting the equipment and learning to adjust to the mask?

Welcome Jill,
I think your two darling red-heads are getting to be real glad you found this site (and you will too).
Some people feel instantaenous relief. I wasnt so lucky. I have been doing this for about six months and still feel tired occasionally. But the color is back in my cheeks, I can swim continuously again and I wake up feeling refreshed. I also no longer collapse on the floor after taking a shower.

Have you checked out the light bulb yet ? I found a fantastic wealth of information on this site. I hope you do too.

John M

[BrensTiredMom]

Welcome Jill!

I've been on CPAP almost a month now. It took 2 solid weeks to even start to be comfortable...and the last 2 weeks have been up & down. But I DO feel a definite difference!! Just keep plugging away...soon you hopefully won't even notice the machine/mask and will just sleep.

Good luck!!

Coleen :`)

[Snoredog]

takes the avg. patient about 4-6 weeks before they can sleep through the night with CPAP. It can also take that long before your notice your daytime fatigue getting better.

[SleepyJill]

Thanks, everyone! I did better last night. I think part of my problem the first two nights was getting my mask adjusted properly...I had it too tight thinking I needed to have it like that to get it to seal. I have also dealt with depression for years, and I am hoping that getting a proper night's sleep will end up helping with that too.

[ozij]

Hi, Jill, welcome!

The following link (click on the dark blue text) will get you to the full article about sleep apnea and depression - and you'll find further links in the article itself if you're interested. Sleeping well at night, and especially no longer experieneing nightly suffocation make many of us feel much better. It's great that you're already feeling more comfortable with the mask.

O.

Symptoms of Depression in Individuals With Obstructive Sleep Apnea May Be Amenable to Treatment With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Chest. 2005;128:1304-1309

Objective: To assess the reversibility of symptoms of depression using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients/methods: Patients referred to our center for evaluation of OSA who had a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) 15 and who demonstrated a significant response to CPAP ( 50% drop in RDI) were evaluated for the symptoms of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and then reassessed after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment with CPAP at home.

Results: In this group of patients, the institution of CPAP therapy resulted in a significant (p < 0.0001) decrease in those symptoms of depression as assessed by the BDI (BDI at baseline, 4.1 ± 3.7; BDI after CPAP, 1.0 ± 2.0). This change in BDI was noted both in those individuals who had received an antidepressant prescription prior to referral, and in those who had not. An analysis of variance failed to reveal any effect on these data related to gender or baseline RDI.

Conclusions: Patients with OSA may present to their primary care physician with symptoms suggesting a diagnosis of depression. In some of these individuals, the symptoms of depression may be ameliorated with CPAP.

[tangents]

SleepyJill

Thanks, everyone! I did better last night. I think part of my problem the first two nights was getting my mask adjusted properly...I had it too tight thinking I needed to have it like that to get it to seal. I have also dealt with depression for years, and I am hoping that getting a proper night's sleep will end up helping with that too.

Welcome, Jill!

It's natural to try to torque down the mask straps thinking that you will get a better seal. But a good mask (for you) should seal without too much strap tension. In fact, too much tension will actually cause leaks a lot of times.

Many posters here have dealt with depression, also. Myself included. I think that getting enough rest certainly helps. Give yourself time to adjust. Your body is going through a healing process now, and everyone reacts differently to it, IMHO. Add to that all the phychological aspects of sleeping with a hose strapped to your face, and you need to cut yourself lots of slack for a few months.

Keep posting, and let us know how you're doing. If you have questions, the folks here will set you straight.

Taks Care,
Cathy