Moderate OSA 2 nights on CPAP

[yankee_hoser]

So got my results of my sleep study at my follow up. I have Moderate OSA. Per hour, my AHI was 15 and my RDI was 20. Ill post my full study later.

So far no major problems adjusting. iv been able to keep the mask on the whole time im sleeping. Im going to work on getting that software to see my machine stats, i think its called sleepyhead, along with a SD card reader.

I havent noticed a great "refreshed" feeling when i wake up, but i already see a difference later on in the day. I usually crash hard a few hours before bed and im just in zombie mode. the first night after the cpap, during that "crash" time i was talking more, in a better mood, and able to go to the mall with my wife and baby. Im still yawning a bunch, but otherwise it seems to be helping a little.

so good news so far.

[Julie]

Nice to hear that!

[Pugsy]

That "great refreshed" feeling immediately upon waking.....that's elusive for a lot of people. The few that do get the "miracle" they are actually in the minority. Most people it takes some time to get there if they ever get there. There's so much more to feeling better than just slapping the mask on and sleeping with it. I wish it were that easy but it just isn't.

I still don't wake up feeling immediately like taking on the whole world...but then I never was a morning person anyway. It's unlikely that using the cpap machine is going to make me into something I never was even before I started having OSA because I haven't had it my whole life...I know just about when it started.

[caffeinatedcfo]

Yeah, I didn't magically wake up feeling like Popeye on spinach. However, I notice more energy throughout the day, no more waking with headaches, and generally wake up feeling rested and ready to get up. I've also been much more focused and productive at work the past several days (started a week ago). My AHI was 45.5 and is averaging <5 on CPAP.

[DEXSUZ]

To "caffeinatedcfo":

Yes, one doesn't suddenly awaken feeling like Babe Ruth, Superman, or the Terminator, but the energy that keeps being generated throughout the day is the huge difference.

I taught for four decades and had sh**ty sleep after sh**ty night of sleep and would boast of how much I accomplished on so little quality sleep. In the first five weeks of CPAP (started on March 3), however, I'm astonished at how I can now function all day and into the evening with no caffeine, no naps, and no 'dozy feelings.

I'm not one to beat himself up on missed opportunities or regrets but it is flat out amazing how much difference that little mask, hose, and gizmo have made in my life.

[MS Gray Man]

I did get that feeling the night of my sleep study... I assume because I hadn't slept more than an hour at a time and generally no more than 3-4 hours a night in about 4 maybe 5 years...

I might have gotten a lesser feeling a few other times, but in general no..

[zoocrewphoto]

I still don't wake up feeling immediately like taking on the whole world...but then I never was a morning person anyway. It's unlikely that using the cpap machine is going to make me into something I never was even before I started having OSA because I haven't had it my whole life...I know just about when it started.

I'm like this too. I do not wake up extremely energetic. But I do feel a lot better, and definitely less tired. When people asked me, "How are you?", my answer was always "Tired." It hasn't been that way for almost a year. I feel good even if I am not bursting with energy, though some days I do feel more energetic.

The past 3 weeks, I have had a bad cough, and I have mostly been unable to use my machine, though the last couple nights have been much better. Several nights, I didn't use it all. I was having coughing spasms and couldn't breathe with my mask on. But even with the crappy sleep, and I felt much worse than normal, I still felt better than before I started cpap treatment. So, while I was getting crappy sleep, I wasn't months behind on real sleep, so it wasn't as hard on me. Even with the crappy sleep, I still wasn't the dead tired I was before. So, I can really see a huge difference between how I felt before cpap treatment and now with treatment.

Many of the improvements have been subtle, but over time, noticeable.

[Denial Dave]

There were some immediate changes for me such as no more "bathroom runs in the middle of the night".

BUT it took me 2 months before I was able to find a good fitting mask and to be able to get my mask leaks under control.

it was probably another 2 months after that before I got my nightly AHI below 2.0 & that I started to feel better.

it's a slow journey.

keep a positive attitude and things will get better.

[yankee_hoser]

the one big difference after a night or two on the hose, was that i did not need nearly as much caffeine and sugar to get through my work shift. Most nights i would need 2 - 3 (21 oz bottles) a shift.

and for the first time (i think maybe even since starting this job a year ago) i didnt need to finish off my bottle before my first break 3 hours in. in fact i only needed 1 caffeinated soda all night !

Also one thing that is a subtle difference is that my body feels a little bit more physically tired/worn, possibly from getting by on poor sleep and being fueled by caffeine and sugar. But i am no longer feeling that whole body/mind complete exhaustion.

Its kinda funny, but the smell of the mask... When i take it off after the night the smell is a little bit more noticeable. I actually kinda like it . . . there are worse plasticly smells that ive ran across i guess.

[herefishy]

I look back on my younger years when I would go to sleep in the middle of a conversation, and even sometimes have bad times driving and wonder if I have always had OSA. I never remember having any incidents, but would sleep, and sleep, and sleep...