CPAP Therapy Short, Medium and Long Range Perspective

Hello,

This game is still very new to me. About 3 weeks on CPAP. Basically two things have happened:

1. My morning headaches have disappeared and I sleep better when I sleep

2. The mask, CPAP itself tend to wake me more often and make it harder to fall back to sleep so I am not getting that much more rest than I did before.

Obviously I want this to work. I am wondering what the curve of this treatment has been for you old-timers. What is the average curve? I don't know what my expectations should be. I was hoping for an "instant cure", but having failed in that I am hoping (praying) that I will get used to this over time and sleep more. Your wisdom and experience would be appreciated.

David

I'm not an old-timer, having been on this only about 5 weeks, but in reading your post, I found myself thinking.....you already ARE sleeping more. The evidence: Your morning headaches are gone and you feel better. You may not be getting the hours of sleep you are looking for, but what sleep you are getting is REAL, restorative sleep, compared to all the muckety-muck we all were getting pre-CPAP.

You might want to try a new mask. I know exactly what you are saying about waking up even more than you did prior to treatment, having to adjust your mask. I did that with my last mask. I'm now using the SWIFT and having to adjust far, far fewer times. I'm also noticing as I get more and more into treatment and more comfortable with the SWIFT....the adjustments I do have to make while sleeping are done just like that...WHILE sleeping! I'm not waking up as fully to do the little mask adjustments, they are becoming second nature and do not require the same level of "awareness" they once required.

So check out the mask situation and stick with treatment. You are improving and you will feel better and better as time goes along.

Jan in Colo.

Jan,

In that sense I am getting more sleep. By the way I am using the Swift. I put in an order today at cpap.com for the Aura as that is my last best hope for true freedom of movement.

David

Hi David,

"instant cure"? I'm afraid there aren't very many of those for this affliction....and one of those you DEFINITELY don't want....that's why you're using this therapy. My philosophy is that it took me years to get to this point and it's going to take awhile to reverse the affects of OSA. It also takes a period of time to get accustomed to sleep with something strapped to your face. Some of us are lucky enough to have everything work from the start and then some of us struggle with various aspects of the therapy. One of the key parts is the "interface" (mask). Once you find the one that works best for you, your therapy will become easier. It (the therapy) has to become an acceptance thing...."mind over matter". When you overcome that, it becomes easier. That's also the reason most of us are here, too......to have the company and support of others who have been through this and who are going through this. Whatever you're going through.....you're not alone.

Best wishes,

Den

I guess I'll just keep on keeping on and see where I end up after a couple of months.

David

I ordered an Aura today. Having read many of the reviews I hope that this mask will provide the flexibility and freedom that I am looking for. The Swift was an improvement, but it isn't really the greatest for side sleeping.

David

Den,
Great post. Good advice and encouragement.

David,
Nice to see you posted your photo! And I hope, like me, you get more luck with the Aura. The Swift is a great interface, but you have already found out about the pitfalls. Compared to the others I had tried before the Aura, it was my favorite and I still think it's a great interface. But if you have the same results that I had with the Oracle and the Swift, I sure hope you have it when you get your Aura. Keep us all posted. And DON'T GIVE UP!!!

dkeat,

I was diagnosed w/OSA and started using CPAP May 2005. The months of Jun/July were nothing short of HELL!!! Kept taking mask off, had trouble getting to sleep/staying asleep, was irritable, confused, ect, ect. I WAS A TRAINWRECK!!!! Then in Aug, I had a total turnaround!!! I sleep well, exercise often, am HAPPY to wake up every morning feeling REFRESHED and ready for the day. Give yourself some time (sounds like you're off to a good start!!!), and keep tuning in to this website!!!! The people here are GREAT, HILARIOUS, AND TRULY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING THRU, AND WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OSA/CPAP!!!!!! WELCOME ABOARD HOSEHEAD!!!!

CD