I'm new...what do I need to know?

[Twosparkles]

Hello everyone!

I'm so happy to find this forum. I read some of the responses about the CPAP providing restful, amazing sleep--and I actually got tears in my eyes. I can't wait to sleep well--and to receive all of the benefits of restful sleep, as well as reverse the damage.

I had a sleep study ten day ago. The tech said the doctor had to give me the official results--but she told me that I stopped breathing a lot and she thought I definitely had sleep apnea. I see the doctor in six days (can you tell I'm counting down the hours until that appointment?)

I've spent the last four years progressively spiralling into an awful cycle. I was originally a normal weight with an active life. I gained 20 pounds, and the snorting started a bit. My eating habits got worse--craving carbs and sugar--anything to wake me up. The snoring worsened, I became more tired and the eating habits became horrible. Within the last four years, I've gained 80 lbs. I have no energy, and I'm exhausted. I'm not depressed, but I feel like my brain is in a fog and like my entire body is moving in cement. There have been a few times, when I was driving, that I forgot where I was and why I was in the car. I had to work to reorient myself. When I'm having conversations--I often can't find the words to say what I want. My brain feels like its been numbed with novacaine! Everything is hard.

My blood pressure, blood sugars, triglicerides and cholesteral are all borderline high. All of these numbers were excellent five years ago.

I finally changed doctors a couple of months ago. It was my new ob-gyn who suggested sleep apnea. My GP never mentioned it. Despite my weight gain, two years without periods, exhaustion and inactivity--but my GP she never mentioned sleep apnea. The only thing she offered was Lexipro--which I turned down. I intuitively knew I wasn't depressed--I was tired!

I couldn't believe it when I began reading about sleep apnea, after my new ob-gyn said I should do a sleep study. I have every symptom in spades.

I am so thrilled, overjoyed and excited to get the results of my study--and to get on a CPAP. I am so motivated to end this nightmare. I feel like a bear who is emerging from hibernation. I know I have some hard work to do--exercising eating right, training myself to make good choices again. I feel that the CPAP won't do the work for me--but it will help me to get rested--so I CAN make these good choices.

I'm sure my doctor will guide me through this process, but there's nothing better than hearing from other people who are enduring the same thing. I don't even know the right questions to ask at this point, but I wanted to introduce myself, learn some new things and provide support to others as well.

Thank you for reading my post. I hope for restful nights and excellent health for all of us!

[jdm2857]

Firstly and most importantly, make certain you get a machine that is fully data capable. Compliance data (just how long you used the machine each night) is not enough. You want efficacy data (data that tells you how well the therapy is working). For Respironics, that is the M Series Pro, and for ResMed it's the S8 Elite II. There are other brands, so if you are not sure, ask here.

You will also want to get a data card reader and PC software to display your data. Insurance usually will not cover these, but they are very useful. You need feedback to understand what is going on while you sleep, even if your sleep doctor doesn't want it (and believe it or not, some don't.)

[carbonman]

I am so thrilled, overjoyed and excited to get the results of my study--and to get on a CPAP. I am so motivated to end this nightmare.

I'm sure my doctor will guide me through this process, but I wanted to introduce myself, learn some new things and provide support to others as well.

Two, Welcome!

Keep that thrilled attitude. Remain overjoyed. Stay excited and motivated.
Your nightmare WILL end.

Your doctor MAY guide you through this process.....
but just in case it doesn't work out that way....
educate yourself.

All the best for you as your cpap journey begins.

[SleepyT]

TwoSparkles,
Wow! You have a super (de dooper) attitude! (Sorry, my niece is big into Barney!) Seriously, I feel like you will do fine. Any obstacles you run into can be overcome...just blog to your friends here and I know you will get the answers you need. Hang in there!

T.

[karessamom]

Welcome! Sounds like you have a fantastic attitude! The best advice I can give is to STAY positive. Sometimes it takes awhile for everything to kick in. You've been sleep deprived for a while, so it may take a while before you really start feeling better again. My husband was lucky in that as soon as he started CPAP the very next day he was feeling better, however there are others that have said even after a year or 2 they're still having problems. Hopefully, you'll soon be feeling better really soon after therapy is started, however don't be discouraged if you don't have immediate relief. Stick around the forums and chat at night it's good to have support and encouragement and to know you're not alone in your feelings. FYi i'm waiting for a study on Saturday! I'm hoping that i can find out finally why i'm not sleeping well at night. I didn't fit the typical pattern as I don't snore. we'll see what happens. Welcome once again!

[Follow Up Call]

If the DME company tries to give you a ResMed Tango CPAP machine, don't except it. It not good enough.