Not sure if C-PAP is helping...

sleeplessinseattle · Post by **sleeplessinseattle** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:32 pm

I've been using my machine for a few weeks now. In my sleep study, they diagnosed me with SEVERE apnea (like 100+ times per hour). The thing was that I didn't really have any symptoms. My wife got me to go to the doctor because she could hear it (along with my snoring). Now that I'm on the machine, my snoring is gone completely, but I really don't feel any different. Friends who started sleeping with the CPAP said that they noticed a major change immediately. My AHI is at 1.0 and I've noticed that I don't shift position as much in my sleep, but beyond not snoring, I don't know if much is going on. One thing that worries me is that the tech said that they set my pressure (9) right at the end of the study and so she wasn't sure if that was right for me.

I haven't got the software, I'm on a mac, so I can't go through the details until my next appt. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

MrRandom · Post by **MrRandom** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:13 pm

How did your friends feel prior to using the CPAP? Maybe you don't feel different because you didn't notice anything before using it? I personally was very tired all the time. I did not feel better (in fact felt worse) when I first started. I've found a pressure that so far seems to work ok for me and I have had some really good days. I'm still experimenting though. Even if you don't feel different, it's good to treat it because it can have bad effects on other body systems (heart and such).

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:30 pm

I must say I don't feel any better either and I started on APAP at the end of December 2007 - I don't snore anymore but that really is the only benefit.

I KNOW the APAP is working though because I have a SPO7500 and I don't have any de-sats at all. I'm above 95% 100% of the time.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:57 pm

SleeplessInSeattle,

A copy of your full sleep report could shed some light on the tech's remark about your pressure. If they failed to find an adequate pressure during titration, I'd be tempted to take that as justifiable cause to ask them for a 2 week loaner of an autopap to determine if 9 is really adequate.

Your AHI sounds good, but if your leak rate is too high, the AHI might not be accurate. If you have a smart card, many DME's will read it for you.

A few weeks is still fairly new in the treatment. You may feel a difference yet. Good luck at figuring out if that 9 is indeed your magic number.

Kathy

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:11 am

Sleepless,

I agree with Kathy about trying for an autopap to check your pressure setting. Meanwhile, though, keep at it. Some folks notice a difference right away, while others continue to feel crummy while their sleep debt is paid off. Some even feel worse. I believe it's your body's way of healing from the past nightly assault it endured.

bigk, I offer the same advice for you. It took me over 4 months before I would feel rested with 8 hours of sleep. Before that I was really tired, and if it weren't for my data telling me otherwise, I would have assumed that the CPAP wasn't doing its job.

Take care, and good luck,
Cathy

ww · Post by ww » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:20 am

[quote="sleeplessinseattle"]I've been using my machine for a few weeks now. In my sleep study, they diagnosed me with SEVERE apnea (like 100+ times per hour). The thing was that I didn't really have any symptoms. My wife got me to go to the doctor because she could hear it (along with my snoring). Now that I'm on the machine, my snoring is gone completely, but I really don't feel any different. Friends who started sleeping with the CPAP said that they noticed a major change immediately. My AHI is at 1.0 and I've noticed that I don't shift position as much in my sleep, but beyond not snoring, I don't know if much is going on. One thing that worries me is that the tech said that they set my pressure (9) right at the end of the study and so she wasn't sure if that was right for me.

I haven't got the software, I'm on a mac, so I can't go through the details until my next appt. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:21 am

Does Sleeplessinseattle mean you are from the Northwest? If so, you join others on this forum including myself who are from the Northwest. Can you believe our weather? Snow, sleet, hail, rain (again today), and heat all in one week. Did we slip nearer the rockies when I wasn't looking?

Anyway, back on topic:

After so long with a sleep deficit, it took me awhile to be able to say that I felt rested, day after day. The 'awhile' was also after I was able to find a mask that worked and get used to it being strapped on my face, and sleep peacefully.

I'm able to say that now, almost a year later, that it was a gradual process and that if I look at the evidence I feel so much better.

Less cranky
Not sleepy during the day
Have an established sleep routine, going to bed at about the same time everynight and waking up at around the same time in the morning (Versus repeatedly falling asleep in the evening before bed, getting up 3 or more times a night, and not liking to get out of bed in the morning.)

And so on,

Best wishes!

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:47 am

sleeplessinseattle wrote:I've been using my machine for a few weeks now. In my sleep study, they diagnosed me with SEVERE apnea (like 100+ times per hour). The thing was that I didn't really have any symptoms. My wife got me to go to the doctor because she could hear it (along with my snoring). Now that I'm on the machine, my snoring is gone completely, but I really don't feel any different. Friends who started sleeping with the CPAP said that they noticed a major change immediately. My AHI is at 1.0 and I've noticed that I don't shift position as much in my sleep, but beyond not snoring, I don't know if much is going on. One thing that worries me is that the tech said that they set my pressure (9) right at the end of the study and so she wasn't sure if that was right for me.

I haven't got the software, I'm on a mac, so I can't go through the details until my next appt. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

Just consider yourself lucky ... even luckier than me

I too was diagnosed with severe OSA (100+ AHI). I'm pretty sure I lived with undiagnosed and untreated OSA for 25+ years and never really had any serious symptoms to complain about until the last 5 years prior to diagnosis/treatment. Those last 5 years were tough though and I was very lucky to have survived them without experiencing a heart attack or stroke (had basically become a living dead person). When I began treatment it was like night and day and I felt like I did when I was in my twenties ... so I did notice a difference like your friends did.

So you just lucked out on not having to be a living dead person and traumitizing your body by submitting it to high modbidity risks for too long a period. You be one lucky person!

pjwalman · Post by **pjwalman** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:55 pm

Tangents, I was interested to read your post about not feeling like CPAP was making a difference for really four months and feeling tired still until then, even after eight hours. I am only three weeks in, and I swear I'm experiencing more daytime sleepiness than before, so it's good to know "this, too, shall pass". Thank you!

Peggy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:09 pm

Hey, I'm in Lakewood, WA! Hi!

It took me 6 weeks before I saw ANY improvement. And it's been very slow and gradual since I started last year, April 20. Oh yeah - Happy Birthday CPAP Machine!

Give it some time. Keep going with it. Let us know what's going on, and we'll do our best to help iron out any bugs.

BTW, best sleep lab around here seems to be Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I went to a seminar they had last year about this time for Sleep Apnea patients. It was VERY GOOD. Holller at them and see if they are doing it again. Free, and they feed you a decent lunch. And you get to meet lots of mask vendors and try stuff on!!!

Cheers,
Babs - South of you in the COPS capitol of the Northwest

jules · Post by **jules** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:34 pm

gasp wrote: Can you believe our weather? Snow, sleet, hail, rain (again today), and heat all in one week.

What is this all in one week? Thought that was just today's weather.

Don't forget the wind too.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:59 pm

give it at least 2 months and if your still tired, get checked for thyroid and what have you. It might be something else, too

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:24 pm

Cathy - I'm over 4 months on my APAP now. I have no intention of giving up. I've averaged 8 hours a night since I started and haven't missed a night on the hose.

A few nights ago I adjusted the minimum pressure up to 10 (was previously 9) and still left the maximum at 15. Hasn't seemed to have made any difference to my AHI yet. My AI is usually very low or zero. My 95% is around 12cm so maybe I will adjust my way up to that is a few weeks. I may even decide to try straight CPAP. We'll see.

trice54 · Post by **trice54** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:08 pm

I started CPAP back in the beginning of Feb. and am just now starting to feel much difference. I think part of it might be the improvement in weather (sorry, Seattle area!! ) and the longer days, too..hard to tell. I am just finally getting my mask situation worked out so maybe I will see some more pronounced improvement now. I have also had problems with sciatica pain in my lower back and leg, and the pain was just wearing me out. That is starting to improve after weeks of PT, so that is contributing to feeling better, too.
Trice

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:38 pm

[quote="Anonymous"]Hey, I'm in Lakewood, WA! Hi!

It took me 6 weeks before I saw ANY improvement. And it's been very slow and gradual since I started last year, April 20. Oh yeah - Happy Birthday CPAP Machine!

Give it some time. Keep going with it. Let us know what's going on, and we'll do our best to help iron out any bugs.

BTW, best sleep lab around here seems to be Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I went to a seminar they had last year about this time for Sleep Apnea patients. It was VERY GOOD. Holller at them and see if they are doing it again. Free, and they feed you a decent lunch. And you get to meet lots of mask vendors and try stuff on!!!

Cheers,
Babs - South of you in the COPS capitol of the Northwest

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