Real success or placebo effect

hi everyone
I am a newbie and 6 days into cpap ( and cpaptalk - thank you) and have been feeling better everyday just about. I am wondering if This will continue, keep improving or fall flat. I know people have their issues but I was wondering how long it took to Really notice a difference In their quality of life.

I noticed a change in sleep quality immediately. It will level off buy you'll still have that "I haven't felt this good in years" feeling. Just stick with it!

Many people feel better and continue to do so, but others often experience the 'honeymoon' effect and start to feel less better after a time, but then if pressures, etc. are tweaked they again feel better, and stay that way. In other words almost any 'therapy' will feel great up front, but once the effect has worn off a bit, then you may want to find your ideal settings... but that doesn't mean it will apply to you and I wouldn't sit around waiting to feel worse!

Julie wrote: I wouldn't sit around waiting to feel worse!

Good one Julie!

Cpap stopped my nightmares and morning headaches immediately, but feeling "energized" took months.
Added stamina came on very gradually, and surprised me several times.
"OMG! I just chased a three year old a whole block, and I can still speak!"

If you're feeling better, does it really matter if you feel better because you expect to feel better or because the treatment is reducing your symptoms? As a practical matter it is probably both. Many studies of the expectancy effect (frequently referred to as the placebo effect) show that about 40% of the improvement from any sort of treatment comes about because the patient expects the treatment to work.

I've never met anyone with significant apnea who said being diagnosed and prescribed a CPAP machine was anything less than a lifechanging event.

We do adapt easily (as we all did to lack of sleep) and this amount of energy will become the new normal. It may not amaze you as much as it does right now, but that's a good thing. This should be how life is, not sleepy all the time.

(Full disclosure - this is based on my experience of quitting smoking, but from what I've learned talking to others, it is the same in terms of euphoria and increased energy)

Some people get an immediate, overnight, miracle cure. Some recover in a few days. Some have ups and downs. Some never feel better. Even if you don't feel better, untreated apena is probably killing you slowly.

Be careful not to get "apnea blindness." All your medical problems are not necessarily related to apnea. Even non-apneacs can have medical problems, including some of the things we tend to blame on apnea. Even doctors tend to suffer from apnea blindness.

If it works, a placebo can be the least expensive solution, as well as having the fewest side-effects.
In the case of cpap, it works while unconscious, so how could it be placebo-ish?

Congrats on getting off to a good start. Everyone can't say that. While placebo effect could be at play, I'm guessing quality sleep is the greater factor. Expect the best and enjoy it, knowing you have the tools in your toolbox to deal with any glitches that may arise.