How long before relief?

Susanm · Post by **Susanm** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:36 am

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea (about 19 apneas per hour) and have been using my machine (Resmed S8 elite) for a week. So far, I haven't felt any better upon awakening than I did before I started using it, and I was just wondering, how long does it take before I should start getting some relief? I stay so sleepy and exhausted that my life basically consists of a part time job (no way to stay awake for a full time job) and sleeping, and was really hoping this machine would make a difference.

Thanks,
Susan

tuna · Post by **tuna** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:52 am

Susanm wrote:Hi, I was recently diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea (about 19 apneas per hour) and have been using my machine (Resmed S8 elite) for a week. So far, I haven't felt any better upon awakening than I did before I started using it, and I was just wondering, how long does it take before I should start getting some relief? I stay so sleepy and exhausted that my life basically consists of a part time job (no way to stay awake for a full time job) and sleeping, and was really hoping this machine would make a difference.

Thanks,
Susan

Welcome to the board! For me it took about a week before I started really noticing a big difference. Some it take less, others may take longer.

There is alot of help on here and click the yellow light bulb at the top for lotsa of info..

Don't give up yet!

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:26 pm

Susanm,
Fill in your profile and we may be able to provide some specific suggestions. One thing to keep firmly in mind is that the treatment has so many sides to it that there are lots of adjustments that may make a huge difference in your results. I am in my 17th month of treatment and my sixth mask and still have a day or two per week which are tough.

Some problem areas are:
1. Are you awakening many times per night to adjust the mask to stop leaks and squeaks?
2. Are you allowing sufficient time each night for enough sleep? I feel much better if I make sure I actually have eight hours of sleep available before I roll out.
3. Are you perhaps letting the air pressure leak out of you mouth or just between your lips when you are asleep? Losing that air pressure stops the treatment cold. Usually you will note a very dry mouth because the air drys it.
There may be other problems with your sleep that you'll have to identify and eliminate or treat.

Good luck, but remember you are just getting started at this "game".

TerryB

Bogof · Post by **Bogof** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:48 pm

Yeah, considering chances are CPAP is for life, a week is only early days. Some feel great after one night, some can take weeks. The presistance and determination will be worth it. As they say "the pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret".

Susanm · Post by **Susanm** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:54 pm

I'm using the Resmed S8 with a heated humidifier, but because I live in eastern NC, the land of 99% humidity, I don't use the humidifier unit. I have some weird type of asthma where I have a LOT of difficulty with lung pain/breathing with very moist air. I'm using a Resmed Ultra Mirage full face mask, and my pressure is 10cm/h20.

I woke up a lot the first night, but the second night I slept pretty well (for about 12 hours!), only woke up a couple of times to visit the bathroom. Last night was hellish though, I never could go completely to sleep. It just felt like I had a hot Alien attached to my face. I finally had to take it off around 5:30 am so I could have a "nap" before work. I think tonight I might try turning a fan on so I'll have a cool breeze blowing on me, and see if that helps with the comfort factor.

I just want to say this seems like a great forum, I spent a lot of downtime at work today reading the forums and found a lot of useful/inspirational information. My doc said that if I lost about 40 lbs I'd probably not need the machine, but I see a lot of you were told something similar and still had the problems after you lost the weight. So, I'm still going to work on the weight, but now I know not to pin my hopes on that!

Thanks so much,
Susan

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, breeze, humidifier, mirage

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:13 pm

It can take 4 - 6 weeks just to get used to sleeping with all of this 'stuff'. Give yourself time. You will have bad nights now and then but you should find that you have more and more good nights. In the warmer weather I always have to have the fan on to keep me cool. A ceiling fan works great!

Brenda

Ron628 · Post by **Ron628** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:17 pm

My first two "nights" were using a FF mask, this killed the bridge of my nose. I went to the DME this morning and changed to the mirage swift II with a chin strap and I slept great today. (I work nights.)

I also think you may be losing lots of pressure through leaks. I guess that I am just one of the lucky ones, I feel so much better already.

Good luck and don't give up. These people around here are awesome and can walk you through any problem you may be having.

Ron

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:41 pm

I felt a difference the first night. Definitely don't give up. Trying different masks will help you find one you like and it is 85% of the battle. Once you have a great night of sleep, it will be worth it all. My tension headaches going way was a huge blessing. After about a month or so, I am feeling pretty "normal". My coping skills are getting better. I felt like I was losing my mind before cpap.

daphneyoung · Post by **daphneyoung** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:35 am

I have been using the mask for about 3 weeks now and had great difficulty to start, I managed to jam the forehead adjustment so the mask somehow pinched either side of my nose resulting in sore places so it became very painful to wear. Just as I was about to give up, the thing unjammed and it has been all systems go ever since!

I sleep for hours, silently - a great relief to my husband! - and do not even half wake for a bathroom visit, which is almost unprecedented for me. During the day I never "nod off" which is what I was doing all the time before being diagnosed, nor do I wake and restlessly need to get up and potter around during the early hours.

So it really does work. and my husband keeps saying it has transformed our lives! My daughter is happy too - she is pregnant and was strongly hinting that she would be unable to entrust her precious bundle to grandma unless a solution was sought!

Keep at it - there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Daphne

Nazareth · Post by **Nazareth** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:31 pm

Susan- been on one two weeks now, still nothing significant- perhaps a slight increase in stamina, but nothign major- come 3:00 p.m and I'm almost falling asleep and take a 2 hour nap- One slight difference htough is the 'brain fog' seems to have lifted slightly, but I still am having trouble talking (Trying to htink of the right words to say, getting words backwards, losing track of what I was saying etc.)

It can geta bit discouraging, especially when we haven't felt good for many years, and I know I'd liewk to see resulyts soon- but I'm going to give it at least 3-4 months, and if nothign improves by then, I'll go in and have another sleep test done (And at least htis time, I'll be able to sleep during the test with the mask on no problems lol)

arthuranxious · Post by **arthuranxious** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:58 am

I have been on it for a long time, the only real difference is no night sweats. When I complain to my doctor that I am waiting for the big energy boost etc. he says "You never complained about feeling tired before, so how can you expect a change?" And maybe he is right. Honestly, not everyone notices a difference, and I am probably still straining my heart less etc. I just had blood tests done, if my CRP and other heart risk factors are down taht will already prove its doing me good!

lilsheba · Post by **lilsheba** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:49 pm

Nazareth....First of all I LOVE your sig can I steal it?

Secondly I'm new, I just got done with a diagnostic sleep study and am freshly diagnosed with sleep apnea. I am going for my next sleep study this week to get fitted to the cpap machine. So I will be using one soon, and I"ve been reading up on people's new experiences with it. I know not to expect miracles the first night, and in fact expect to just hate it pretty much. I'm not thrilled with how I'm going to end up looking with the masks, and the thought of sore spots or dry sinuses or whatever doesn't appeal either. But I have to do this, I suffer from daytime sleepiness, unable to think clearly or function well, all sorts of things I"ve seen described on here. I know eventually it will fix it.

One thing I'm curious about, is everyone on here in a relationship, where you have a partner that will be understanding? Or is anyone on here single and if you are what to do you when you first "sleep over" with someone? That's an issue that must come up once in a while.

Thanks!

Jeanine

Nazareth wrote:Susan- been on one two weeks now, still nothing significant- perhaps a slight increase in stamina, but nothign major- come 3:00 p.m and I'm almost falling asleep and take a 2 hour nap- One slight difference htough is the 'brain fog' seems to have lifted slightly, but I still am having trouble talking (Trying to htink of the right words to say, getting words backwards, losing track of what I was saying etc.)

It can geta bit discouraging, especially when we haven't felt good for many years, and I know I'd liewk to see resulyts soon- but I'm going to give it at least 3-4 months, and if nothign improves by then, I'll go in and have another sleep test done (And at least htis time, I'll be able to sleep during the test with the mask on no problems lol)

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:38 pm

Remember that Yellow Lightbulb?

There is a section under "Help For New or Struggling CPAP Users" entitled: How Long Until I Feel Better?

For those of us unlikely to leave the thread, here are the four entries under that heading: Click on the bold, blue text to go to that section:

Mike Moran's Seven Stages of CPAP and Perry Holzman's What is Feeling Good

Mile High Sleeper's Recovery and CPAP Adaptation Stages

Birdshell's Thoughts on Improvement

Mile High Sleeper's OSA Recovery - Specific Conditions and Quality of Life

lilsheba wrote: One thing I'm curious about, is everyone on here in a relationship, where you have a partner that will be understanding? Or is anyone on here single and if you are what to do you when you first "sleep over" with someone? That's an issue that must come up once in a while.

Jeanine, there is something under the yellow lightbulb for you, too!

Singles, xPAP Obvious at Night (various posters submitted by birdshell)

Click Here for Thoughts on Why A Partner Should Know About Your Apnea Treatment

I hope this helps.

Karen

lilsheba · Post by **lilsheba** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:32 pm

Karen those links are helpful thanks.

I still want to steal that sig from Nazareth though

Nazareth · Post by **Nazareth** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:01 pm

lol you can have it- I stoile it from someone else

How long before relief?

How long before relief?

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How long before relief?

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