Update - 3 weeks with CPAP

For those who are confused, tired, and about to get their CPAP. I wanted to relay my first three weeks experience. Some background, although I was being impacted in my daily life especially when sitting still to work, the irresistible urge to sleep, and continual crankiness - I am rated MILD on the Apnea Scale (Only 6.5). I rarely stop breathing but have many episodes (35+) of hypopnea (shallow breathing). I'm guessing this is why I am already feeling results although not 100% better yet.

The good news, is I seem to have gotten used to the mask relatively quickly. The first week got better each night, and by the end of the week I stopped waking up to fiddle with it and figured out how to lay on my side without causing a leak. So, here are some observations.

It's concentrated sleep.
One of the unique problems I had was waking up at 3am going - "I'm wide awake! Time to get up". The only thing I can figure is that my body was getting what it was used to in 4 hours instead of 7-8. It took a while to train myself to stay asleep. Matter of fact, after a solid 8 hours I feel like I slept to much.

They say it takes 3mo to see a difference.
I can see why. I see improvements, and its a little more each day. By the end of the first week I could fight through naps and not take them. By the second week I am wide awake and alert as soon as I get up and am that way until lunch or so. I start to get tired after that but nothing like it used to be. I haven't napped in three weeks now and the more I use my CPAP I see that "energy burst" in the morning seem to stretch a little more and a little more. (i.e. I am slowing down at 11:30, then Noon, then 12:30). I noticed that if I go to bed an hour earlier and get a full 9 hours sleep my "energy" level seems to build. If I do 1-2 nights in a row of pushing hard and late nights, I take 3 steps backwards. Consistency seems to matter.

The best thing I can give as an analogy is driving a car and being stuck in the mud. Before I was hopelessly stuck and couldn't move at all, now I have two guys in the back helping push and I am moving forward slowly. It takes my effort, but I am not alone anymore and have a fighting chance.

You get used to the pressure.
The first time I was on a setting of 4 with nose pillows I thought my head would explode clean off from the pressure. (Disclosure, I switched to a nasal mask). Now it doesn't bother me at all. Matter of fact, I can feel when the pressure starts to ramp and the change in my nasal passages and throat as it does. It is almost soothing now and I fall asleep much faster.

Use only distilled water, Bottle water in a pinch.
I never travel but by complete coincidence I traveled three weekends in a row right after getting this. In hotels I used tap water and I would see sediment at the bottom of my humidifier in the morning. I switched to bottled water when I can't get to distilled.

Its not Sexy.
You will look like an idiot. Matter of fact I am still self conscious to put it on in front of my wife while she is awake. But as I said to a friend of mine - "I'll let a starfish make love to my face if it means I get some sleep".


I hope this provides some hope to those about to start. I know you feel like crap now, but it does get better. I'm not "cured" to say the least but I see progress and that is at least something.

Hi,

Great post.

I just wanted to ask about your AHI. You've mentioned your apnea and hypopnea numbers, but do you know what your AHI was?

You say "mild on the apnea scale" - is this your AHI? (Apnea hypopnea index)

I also want to add that even if you are mild, you definitely can feel very crappy and sleepy! And you can be very severe, and not feel sleepy. Although a higher number is more likely to be associated with sleepiness, it's not a direct link. Your sleepiness can be very real even if you "only" have mild sleep apnea!

Do you know if on your sleep study they reported whether you slept on your back or not? Or how long you were on your back for?

Thanks for sharing your experience, I have only finished my 2nd night so enjoy reading hopeful experiences.