Sleeping Through the Night

Sometimes improvements due to xPAP therapy just kinda creep up on ya. This morning, for example, in reviewing the data I happened to notice that I hadn't gotten up during the night at all for the past four nights. Then I decided to count the number of days like that in the past month and found about twenty, including seven days in a row. I knew therapy was going well, but, to be honest, that just snuck up on me. Other than the past couple of months though, it's been thirty years since I experienced anything like that. I'm even close to "sleeping" through the night. The number of times I wake up to adjust the mask, or whatever, are so few now that I wasn't certain I'd woken up once last night until I started thinking about it.

Five months, four masks, three machines, two software programs, one oximeter, and Poligrip strips for the past few weeks have brought me to this exalted point. And, it feels good. Some mornings when I get up now, I even feel like I did when I was 17, at least for a little while.

I truly felt better the very first night on xPAP, but the rest of the gains have come in small steps - small but definite and measurable.

Should I quit now, as some suggest, just because I'm feeling so much better. I don't think so. There's a definite distinction between good and better. There are still several things going on that need improvement. It's not just an academic exercise either. My AHI is still around 3.5. I'm pretty sure congestion plays a part in that, but there may be other things. I still see occasional desaturations in the oximeter data. I still find myself mouth breathing sometimes, and I still have some aerophagia, but overall I'm pleased. I'm even beginning to find some new energy to get things done.

When things plateau, and measurable progress stops, maybe then I'll quit trying to improve my xPAP therapy. Or, maybe when I get so much new found energy to do things that I no longer have time for this stuff, maybe then I'll quit fiddling with it. Might be tomorrow, or it might be a couple of years away. Hard to say.

Regards,
Bill

NightHawkeye wrote:Should I quit now, as some suggest, just because I'm feeling so much better. I don't think so. There's a definite distinction between good and better. There are still several things going on that need improvement. It's not just an academic exercise either. My AHI is still around 3.5. I'm pretty sure congestion plays a part in that, but there may be other things. I still see occasional desaturations in the oximeter data. I still find myself mouth breathing sometimes, and I still have some aerophagia, but overall I'm pleased. I'm even beginning to find some new energy to get things done.]

An AHI of 3.5 is excellent. I wish I could get mine that low. I thought I read anything under 5 is considered normal, but I might have that wrong.

Congratulations on figuring it all out and thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!

Do you still find you are mouth-breathing even with the Poligrip strips? I haven't tried those yet and wondered if they prevent mouth-breathing.

NightHawkeye wrote:Five months, four masks, three machines, two software programs, one oximeter, and Poligrip strips

...and a partridge in a pear tree?

Congratulations, Bill.

Hang in there.

Best wishes,

Den

Guest wrote:Do you still find you are mouth-breathing even with the Poligrip strips? I haven't tried those yet and wondered if they prevent mouth-breathing.

Unfortunately, yes, but not as much. Sometimes I think it's just a little poof of air, but sometimes it's more. The thing I like about the Poligrip strips is that I can still open my mouth if I need to, but that's also the disadvantage. They work good enough though that I don't feel the need for tape (which I refuse to use, in any case).

The strips have made a big improvement in the number of nights without any apneas for me, so they definitely help. They're also so easy to use. In fact, using the Poligrip strips may be the easiest part of xPAP therapy. Quick on, quick off, and just a few swipes on the lips with a wet washcloth in the morning. Good stuff.

Regards,
Bill

Bill, it's wonderful that you are doing so well - congratulations.

You ask, "Should I quit now, as some suggest, just because I'm feeling so much better. I don't think so.".

Why ask?. Knowing you, we would have to take away your computer to keep you away from your data reports and manipulations.

My AHI numbers are like yours, and I feel great. Especially since I started using the Aura back in February. Nuff said (for me).

Nice reading a success story.

Knowing you, we would have to take away your computer to keep you away from your data reports and manipulations

.

Knowing him, he'd probably order a new one before we were out the door...

Keep up the good sleep, Bill!
O.

Congrats, Bill! Glad the therapy has made such a difference for you