Newby

Hello. I am new to Sleep Apnea treatment (sort of). I had a sleep study in May and was titrated shortly thereafter. Went on treatment (BiPap) in June. I consider myself lucky in that I can tolerate the treatment and have been using it every night, including naps. Average 8.4 hours a day. Problem? I am getting discouraged. It is taking a looooooong time (I think) to feel any benefit. My sleep doc suggested another titration (so soon?!) but I am willing to try anything to get some relief. He also suggested I try APAP since my titration study showed my apneas and hypopneas were all over the map. I have yet to try that because I have difficulty exhaling against the same inhale pressure (which is the reason for the BiPap). I am currently on 14 IPAP/10 EPAP.

I have been trying the treatment with BiPap for three months so far. What is a reasonable expectation? Shouldn't I at least feel some relief by now? I did take a one week vacation and I actually felt better...but I think that had more to do with being able to rest a lot, 'cause shortly after I got back into the daily routine...I was back into needing naps! Has it taken anyone more than 3 months to begin to feel relief? Am I just impatient?

Yes it was about three months before i felt better, then about another before I really felt better. It has been a couple of years now and I still have nap days but AI got my life back and still am getting better as I learn more about cpap and about interfaces that work for me like the Swift and the Activa.

Hang in there, it WILL get better, but don't expect miracles, it took you a long time to get in the mess you are in and it will take awhile to get out of it. You have a sleep deficit to make up.

He also suggested I try APAP since my titration study showed my apneas and hypopneas were all over the map. I have yet to try that because I have difficulty exhaling against the same inhale pressure (which is the reason for the BiPap). I am currently on 14 IPAP/10 EPAP.

Wow, you're lucky...you've got a doctor who is actually suggesting you try an autopap, for the right reason -- to vary the pressure according to what you really need through the night.

There is one autopap machine that can also drop the pressure some each time you exhale. It won't be the exact, precise-to-the-cm drop that you get with a bi-level machine, but is a very comfortable "vague" reduction in pressure for exhaling for most people. The machine is the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex.

I think I'd give that particular autopap a try, if I were you and could rent it for a trial period. It might not make one whit of difference in how you feel. Or it might.

Sounds more like an extra busy life is running a race against your treatment:

I did take a one week vacation and I actually felt better...but I think that had more to do with being able to rest a lot, 'cause shortly after I got back into the daily routine...I was back into needing naps!

It was good to hear that you're using your machine during the naps too.

I hope you get the results you're looking for soon. Good luck!

Any mention in your study of PLMD or RLS?

[quote="rock and roll"]Yes it was about three months before i felt better, then about another before I really felt better. It has been a couple of years now and I still have nap days but AI got my life back and still am getting better as I learn more about cpap and about interfaces that work for me like the Swift and the Activa.


Hang in there, it WILL get better, but don't expect miracles, it took you a long time to get in the mess you are in and it will take awhile to get out of it. You have a sleep deficit to make up.

Rock and Roll: This is so good to know (there is hope!). I actually like my Respironics BiPap Pro 2 with BiFlex AND the Mirage Swift mask...but if I have to use it all the time, I would really like to see results. This gives me more incentive to keep going. Thank you!

Rested Gal,
Yes...I agree that I have an excellent sleep doc who is willing to try APAP, Bilvel, etc. in order to get me results. I will do another sleep titration study with Bilevel since I can at least breath with it and it feels more natural. If it turns out that it has to be set so high that I am awakened by the numbers, I will try APAP next. Since I am a sensitive and light sleeper, I would like to know if the technology today with APAP awakens people when it changes air levels (like a ramp feature might do). Luckily, I am renting the BiPap machine so I can always trade it for an APAP if necessary. Thanks for responding. As for the too much activity....well...3 years ago I restructured my job responsibilities and have been working part time (4 hours a day, 5 days a week) because I thought I was under too much stress. I never thought that Sleep Apnea could have been contributing to my fatigue since I don't quite fit the profile .....I eventually found out it is likely hereditary in my family. And, I did have a high stress job (contract negotiator). Now, I am farther away from the "front lines" and get to just advise those who do negotiate and write contracts. A brain drain for sure which doesn't help when I have sleep apnea.....thus, my impatience to want the treatment to work for me.

Sleepless Li,
I had very little PLMS or RLS...insignificant really. I had not thought of that as a potential disturbance factor. Thanks for thinking outside the box![/quote]

FF,

The only reason I mention it, as I've posted before but can't find it now, my doctor said they would put me on something to treat my rather moderate to high PLMD if after a month on CPAP it didn't help me feel rested as CPAP can eliminate it, also, and a month's time on CPAP should have you starting to feel more rested. So if you had enough PLMD episodes to disturb your sleep, too, it could have been that. I'm glad yours were not something to consider.