How long to get results?

I have read where people have been cured with one night of rest. Last night was my first "full" night with my CPAP. I feel a little better and I had um...."erectile success" this morning. It has been a long time since that has happened at any time of the day and I'm too young to have that problem.

I'm about to finish my first month on CPAP, and I no longer dread going to bed at night only to lie there awake for hours and hours. At first I had headaches and felt like my eyes were bulging, but I discovered that was due to my mask being too tight! The sleep tech and DME had adjusted it for me. Since then, I've loosened it considerably, allowing it to inflate and seal better. No more bulging eyes and headaches! I have to say that I don't feel "cured" of my sleep deprivation by any means, but I understand it can takes months to pay back the sleep debt.

Although the machine's a bit weird, I'm already used to sleeping with the mask and hose and wouldn't even consider sleeping without it! Anyway, congrats on your "success." I hope you continue to feel better quickly.

It's extremely variable. Some people use their xPAP one night and feel like a new person. Many others find it takes some time to either get their equipment setup right or for their bodies (and minds) to recover, or both. And some people who have a great first night or two find they have problems to solve later on.

As for me, I didn't have a titration study to save money, and instead got an APAP (thanks, Dad). But it's been over 3 weeks and I have not had a "good" night (by the numbers or by my feelings) yet. I have the software and card reader and I should spend some time today figuring out how to post some of my nightly graphs. (I know what to do, I just have to get myself to do it.)

At least you have a "concrete" sign that your first night is helping you. Keep reading here, keep in touch with your physician, and make use of any data capability you have. If you don't have a fully-data-capable machine and got your via insurance through a DME you may have 30 days to get them to exchange for a better model. If you go to the User Control Panel (under the cpaptalk.com logo) and click on the Profile tab at the top of the page, and then the Edit Equipment tab at the left, you can enter your equipment and have it appear at the bottom of each post. Select Text in the very bottom box because it's easier for everyone to see exactly what you have than with icons. Knowing your equipment will help everyone advise you.

Twokatmew, I can't help but imagine feline CPAP machines when I look at that picture, LOL. I'll bet a cat would love it. Then again, don't all cats have sleep apnea? It seems like all they do it sleep.

So you do have a data capable machine, and one that will give you some efficacy data via the LCD screen. Do you know how to access it?

I can send you instructions for my machine (S8 AutoSet II), which is one version newer if you send me an email address. Or maybe someone with the Vantage will chime in.

Unklematt.....

I suspect that the rate of your "improvement" is directly linked to how fast you can get your blood O2 saturation levels at 93% or better....all night....every night.

You need a CPAP machine with software that gives you full data.....snore rate, hypopneas, apneas, flow limitations, non-responsives. You also need a recording Oximeter with good software that will give you all-night print-outs that show O2 levels, desaturations, and pulse rates.

The sooner you learn how to reduce your sleep-disordered-breathing, the sooner you'll experience success.

Gerald