Did you feel instantly better?

[indyzoom]

I didn't realize that I was that bad before CPAP. I've only been on it a few weeks, but there is a noticeable improvement. Granted, it's not every day. I often wake up feeling exhausted, but feel much better later in the day. I've had a few days where I've needed a nap (and taken one). However, I can tell there's a difference because I'm more willing to do things, I don't feel exhausted at the end of the day, and I'm finding it easier to do the diet I've been trying to do for months. Speaking of dieting, I've noticed a significant improvement in my appetite (or lack thereof). I find I don't crave the large amounts of food I used to, nor the bad ones so much. This has made it much easier to stick to my diet.

I have two theories on why some people feel better immediately and others don't. First is different severities. I have moderate sleep apnea, but my oxygen levels got extremely low. People who have severe apnea may have a harder time. My other theory is that there are different levels of competencies with doctors and sleep centers. I wonder if you could have two doctors tell you the same thing about what pressure, machine, mask, etc, you need. Just a few thoughts from a newbie!

[adrianne]

I upped my pressure last night from 10 to 12 (my prescription is 14). I was getting a lot of leaks on my XS pillows so I switched to S. All in all I ended up taking it off at 5:30am, which put me at 7 and a half hours of use, but slept another 5 hours without it. I definitely found it harder to wake up after sleeping without it and I got "stuck" in and out of sleep for a while.

Just popped my SD card into the computer and took a look at Sleepyhead and last night with the higher pressure I had NO apneas and only one hypopnea, but more RERAs.

Any advice on what to do moving forward?

[Pugsy]

but slept another 5 hours without it. I definitely found it harder to wake up after sleeping without it

This habit is a bad one and hard to break. You need to really try not to let this happen. The body is going to remember the 5 hours without the machine and totally forget the good 7 hours on the machine even though it occurred. It is just the way the body does. While obviously you had some good hours the bad 5 hours without the machine leaves a long lasting and predominant "no treatment at all feeling" even though you did have treatment. I have had the same thing happen with as little as 1 hour of sleep without the mask and 6 hours with the mask and good data. It doesn't happen often but sometimes I take the mask off and go back to sleep and never remember it. I wake up feeling like I never used the machine when it is obvious by the reports that I did.

As long as you continue to allow sleeping without the mask and machine you aren't going to see any improvements because bad overshadows good (if good was even there to start with). Even those people who always use the mask and machine may take a good long while to see any marked improvement.
Add sleeping without the mask and you really limit the chances of achieving what you want.

[MaxDarkside]

Pugsy,

I'm curious... Do you take your halo off at night? And how do you keep your wings from getting rumpled when you sleep? You are an angel.

[Kairosgrammy]

I was diagnosed with severe OSA in a disastrous sleep study in Nov 2009. I just hated the whole thing, could not sleep, wasn't comfortable, etc. I had a titration study done at a different sleep center in March 2010 and was prescribed a CPAP which until this last week pretty much just collected dust. I finally got sick and tired of being tired all the time and made it sort of a new year's resolution to make a solid effort to use the CPAP.

First night was miserable - I spent about 4 hours with the machine on in a sort of half asleep/half awake situation. I eventually fell asleep for about 2.5 hours. Since then I have adjusted mask tightness, upped humidifier settings and just got used to breathing normally with the CPAP on. I've had 3 full, successful nights of CPAP therapy. I don't know if I feel any better yet. I see people on the internet saying they instantly felt amazing - I still wake up feeling tired. I'm going to stick with it, but someone please tell me it gets better.

It does take time and adjustment. From the sounds of it, you've had several years of sleep deprivation and your overall health has probably gotten a bit worse. You have to heal now. You are finally sleeping well, not stopping breathing all the time so now, it's a matter of letting your body heal. I suspect a lot that say they feel instantly better are just saying that cause they feel they should or the whole thing was a big mistake. It's not. It takes time and consistancy. It's like taking your blood pressure medicine only half the time. Your blood pressure will still be high. When you aren't consistent with cpap use, you aren't reaping the benefits. Just stick with it. Your improvement will probably be quite gradual until one day you realize you just feel better.

[Paul56]

Once the following was achieved...

- therapy was dialed-in
- I became more knowledgeable about treatment
- I became used to the equipment

...I felt 100% better.

Now it is just not normal for me to sleep without my equipment
and I remember at the beginning it was not normal to sleep with
it.

Stick with it and work through the issues. The forum is here for
assistance... there is a wealth of knowledge.

[chunkyfrog]

I totally agree with Pugsy about the body remembering the bad stuff more easily than the good stuff.
A day at the spa will be forgotten much faster than a 10-minute beating.
And sleeping without CPAP, for me, is taking a beating.

[Kody]

Pugsy,
I'm curious... Do you take your halo off at night? And how do you keep your wings from getting rumpled when you sleep? You are an angel.

Agree with this totally you really go above and beyond with people, thanks are in order.

A day at the spa will be forgotten much faster than a 10-minute beating.

...... I don't know why this line killed me, would make a great signature tag!

To the original post, yes I did feel instantly better. Could definitely feel the difference right away, but was still very tired. After awhile the headaches left for good which so far has been one of the best benefits, as I used to pop ibuprofen every morning. Things are Slowly getting better, but they are getting better all the time. Some of us have large sleep debts to pay off as well as dialing everything in to work together, mask, machine, sleep practices etc. Hang in there it is worth it and just takes awhile.

[ChrisD]

I read the posts on this thread (RocketGirl,Kohkie) and I see myself. I too am a newbie when it comes to CPAP therapy. Started CPAP therapy on November 30, 2011. I was diagnosed with severe OSA, AHI was around 102. That really scared all of us, so I was highly motivated to make the therapy work. My sleep study was on a Wedensday night and I planned on being late to work the next day. Arrived at 7PM for the sleep study, got hooked up to all the wires and went to sleep. Once asleep they monitored me for an hour or two and at that point it was very clear to them that I had OSA. They woke me up and put the mask (TrueBlue Nasal) on me and turned on the blower. I admit it seemed to take forever to fall asleep with the mask on but they report that I slept for 6 hours. I was up and out the door at 6AM. I thought it would be a normal day - drowsey all day, 2PM wall smack, nodding off durning long meetings, etc. but I made it through the day without feeling like that. I was amazed.

Went in later for the follow-up appointment where they issued my my CPAP equipment. Went home and set it up and went to bed. No problems falling asleep with it on and running. I guess at that point I was just too tired to think about it. All I wanted was to sleep. Slept well that night and really have no problems with the machine or using it. I guess that makes me a minority here.

After using the machine for a month I've noticed the following: I feel better, less drowsey, more focused, able to concentrate more, not nodding off during meetings, and a general improvement of my mood. I hope you stick with it and it helps you as much as it has helped myself and others. You may need to keep tweaking the pressue and it may take a while to find the right mask but the main thing is to keep at it until you find what works for you. Like TalonNYC said - "it's a journey, not a race."

Good luck on your journey.

[derek70]

Hi, adrianne. I'm a newbie too.

Started with Cpap 27/12, diagnosed with severe OSA (AHI=40 and desaturation of 72%).

My advice, be used to your mask and keep track of your data every morning.

My goal is a AHI<5 AI<1 and 7 hours of sleep for 10 days in a row.

[adrianne]

I got more done today than on a typical Sunday - managed to go to Costco and grocery store with my husband (usually he goes alone) and then cleaned the kitchen/fridge. I hit a wall about 3pm and took a nap for 2.5 hours WITH CPAP. Did not wake up feeling like crap like I usually do when I take naps.

I also think the CPAP humidifier is helping with my sinus problems. I typically have a lot of dry sinus/sinus congestion issues in the winter due to forced air heat.

[retrodave15]

Did I feel better instantly - no, it took some time. I have been on CPAP for about 8 weeks not, the most dramatic change was over the first two weeks. Now the change is more gradual.

I understand what you mean by having more energy, I get more done at work, I have more focus, and my mood is much better.

My wifes progression has been a little slower, but it is getting better, she has been on for about a month and this weekend seemed to be a turning point for her. She says that she has more energy and she no longer feels like she is always tired. We cleaned the downstairs yesterday and got everything put away from Christmas, usually she would poop out on me halfway through, but she kept up all day.

Be patient, keep up with your use, use it at naps, and you will feel better. I do and I will NEVER go back to feeling like I did.

[JHZR2]

Hi!

I see youre wearing a Swift nasal mask over the head. Ive just tried to transition to this mask, thinking that it would be less intrusive and therefore even more comfortable, allowing me to sleep even better. So far, no dice, and my AHI has gone from 2 to over 13. So Im not sleeping as well.

Are you sure you dont rely upon your mouth when breathing/sleeping?

Id recommend considering a full face mask to see how it goes for you. While the straps can be more intrusive, you get used to it, and if youre a side sleeper like me, I dont think youll find the placement of the hose any different.

I never had a daytime energy issue, I had an ability to wake up issue. I found that immediately most of my headache issues and my inability to wake up all went away. So IMO you should see things change for the better, fast.

So check your mask, as that is what makes and breaks it. You need to get air in, and in the right way. You may not be. Does your machine report AHI and similar stats?

[Kairosgrammy]

I got more done today than on a typical Sunday - managed to go to Costco and grocery store with my husband (usually he goes alone) and then cleaned the kitchen/fridge. I hit a wall about 3pm and took a nap for 2.5 hours WITH CPAP. Did not wake up feeling like crap like I usually do when I take naps.

I also think the CPAP humidifier is helping with my sinus problems. I typically have a lot of dry sinus/sinus congestion issues in the winter due to forced air heat.

Sounds like you are becoming a cpap success story.

[adrianne]

I am! Here I am up and wide awake at 5am - one hour before my alarm.

Just put my data into sleepyhead and I think I had a successful night. I did wake up a couple times and go back and forth between the S and the XS pillows, but I slept for 7.5 hours with an AHI of 0.81.

Are you sure you dont rely upon your mouth when breathing/sleeping?

I am pretty sure I'm not relying on my mouth. I was conscious of mouth breathing the first night - I had some interesting dreams - but since then I believe it's been a non-issue as I haven't experienced the same things plus I'm not waking up with a dry mouth.