Disapointed

I've been using CPAP for over 3 weeks now and still don't feel any better. I've been doing everything my doctor has been telling me and still feel the same. How long will it take before i start noticing a change? My doctor originally told me I should start to feel better with in the first week but obviously thats not the case. I got my hopes up because iim so ready to start feeling better and now I'm a little frustrated and disappointed. I've checked for leaks and now have a chin strap to help keep my mouth closed. I don't know what else to do besides keep on wearing it and hope and pray it starts working for me. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated, even letting me know how long it took for you to start feeling better. That way i'll know if other people felt the same as me. I'm not going to give up!!

Have you installed the sleepyHead software or Encore to look at your sleep reports? What do the reports say?

hope4me wrote:I've been using CPAP for over 3 weeks now and still don't feel any better. I've been doing everything my doctor has been telling me and still feel the same. How long will it take before i start noticing a change? My doctor originally told me I should start to feel better with in the first week but obviously thats not the case. I got my hopes up because iim so ready to start feeling better and now I'm a little frustrated and disappointed. I've checked for leaks and now have a chin strap to help keep my mouth closed. I don't know what else to do besides keep on wearing it and hope and pray it starts working for me. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated, even letting me know how long it took for you to start feeling better. That way i'll know if other people felt the same as me. I'm not going to give up!!

hope4me,

Welcome!

Hmm, doctors need to stop making those types of promises which unfortunately happen way too often. Most people can take up to 6 months to start feeling better so be patient.

And there has been a suggestion to keep a log of changes because they might be so subtle you won't notice unless you are keeping track. That might be a good morale booster.

And Bill44133's advice about installing software is excellent as looking those reports can help you improve you therapy if necessary.

Hang in there.

49er

I do not post very often...but I understand your situation!!!

Reading many posts here helped me to realize that keeping up on your usage of CPAP and mostly being patient will bring great results!

After 3 months of usage I was still complaining to my RT that I was still exhausted during the day...as with people here...she reminded me to keep using the machine and be patient. About the 4th month it hit me!!! no longer tired during the day...my sleep time settled in at about 7.5 hours a night -- regardless of what time I go to sleep!!!

So...keep using the machine and be patient...it will happen and you will begin to fell the benefits!

Good luck!!!

hope4me,

The first step is to install the software (Sleepyhead recommended) and make sure that the therapy is working - leaks under control, AHI ideally less than 5, etc. Once you are assured of that you will know if you need to look elsewhere to explain how you feel. Cpap does not fix everything, unfortunately.

Two common conditions that many people with OSA suffer from are low vitamin D and inflammation in the body. Symptoms are similar to OSA (tiredness, lethargy, etc) and can be tested for with simple blood tests ordered by your GP; that is where I would look next if everything looks great with your machine data. I suffered from both when I started cpap therapy.

A less common condition is food sensitivities. For example, if you have a sensitivity to gluten or dairy but don't know it and are eating it every day, you can feel lethargic, like you are tired all the time and carrying around 2 big heavy suitcases with you when you walk. Not everyone with food sensitivities experiences obvious gastric symptoms. Also can be tested for with blood tests; if your GP doesn't work in this area, a naturopath doctor would be what you need.

It's a process of elimination, starting with the machine data.

Good luck!!

I agree with RandyJ. I have been on CPAP since October 1, 2013 and still tired all the time. I just saw my PCP on Tuesday and he said my SleepyHead numbers look good, my B12 and D are excellent so he suggested I try eliminating gluten from my diet to see if that helps. But, I see a difference in my hair, it's gotten it's body back and my blood pressure is down (128/70 yay!) . So, although I have been disappointed because I haven't seen a change in my energy level (at least I'm not falling asleep at stop lights anymore), this forum has helped me to be patient. Especially when I read that for some it took 6 months to a year.

So, just stick with it, you're better off with it than without. I don't dare go to sleep without it.

Can you tell us your pressure settings and your titration pressure? Sometimes these auto machines are set "wide open"to 4-20cms which is usually not optimal therapy. You've come to the right place so do a lot of reading here and ask questions. Here is the Sleepyhead software...http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/files/

Good luck and keep us posted!