Super new...please tell me you get used to this

ChicagoGranny wrote:

AuSable River Rat wrote:The sleep doctor can't understand why I feel miserable since my numbers "are good".

What "numbers" is the doctor talking about?

Why aren't you generating the data and reports and doing your own analysis or asking for help in this forum? It's what all the senior members do, and most of the new members here learn to do.

We've seen hundreds of cases where doctors are little to no help in doing this. I have a great sleep doctor, but I would not trust her to analyze my "numbers". I do that important task myself.

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead

The doctor was only interested in AHI and hours of use for compliance purposes. She simply could not believe I could feel worse since I was "compliant". I have been generating the data and doing my own analysis. I haven't asked for help from this forum because honestly, I've seen how rudely some of the senior members have responded to new posters and don't want or need that type of "help". I have been reading posts on this forum every day since I was diagnosed and just felt that there was often a hostile response to people who are struggling. (Not always, just often.) I don't mean to offend anyone, but I've seen it many times. I had an at home sleep study - couldn't sleep at all that night though. No lab study, no lab titration. I was given a machine with prescribed pressure min 6, max 16. After analyzing sleepyhead since August, I have set the minimum pressure at 12.6 which has lowered the AHI more, it's usually less than 1 but I still feel miserable.

AuSable River Rat wrote: I've seen how rudely some of the senior members have responded to new posters

It's the internet. Ignore it.

AuSable River Rat wrote:After analyzing sleepyhead since August, I have set the minimum pressure at 12.6 which has lowered the AHI more, it's usually less than 1 but I still feel miserable.

That's good to hear. Glad you took the initiative.

Since you still feel "miserable", the next step is to review this -->

- Practice good sleep hygiene (Google it and read several sources)
- Eat a good diet
- Have a regular, moderate exercise program
- Try to avoid daytime naps.
- Practice total abstinence of caffeine including sources like chocolate (sigh)
- Review all medicines, vitamins and supplements you are taking to make sure none are interfering with sleep
- Optimize emotional stress in your life
- Use CPAP software to make sure your therapy is optimized
- If you still don't feel or sleep well, make sure you have regular medical checkups to confirm there are no other medical problems.

To the OP, I never intended to hijack your thread. I apologize if I did. I sincerely hope you have better luck with this than I have had.

In response to Chicago Granny's comment, I have changed nothing in my sleep hygiene since I started cpap. I felt good before cpap (wasn't tired, didn't wake with bad headaches, just none of the typical sleep apnea symptoms other than snoring). I had the home sleep study done because I've snored for years. (I always thought that was due to allergy problems and constant post nasal drip.) I was surprised to hear the sleep apnea diagnosis but accepted it and have tried for nearly 4 months to adjust to the equipment. I have changed nothing in how I sleep, with the exception of the cpap equipment. Where I was awake and energetic before cpap, I now constantly struggle to stay awake and have lost the ability to sit and read a book or watch tv without falling asleep. I struggle at work every day now, which I did not do before. I'm currently working with Pugsy to see if there is something that be changed that will allow me to get some relief from the exhaustion.

I still stand by my previous comment about some posters here being quite rude to others. Yes, it's the internet and I'm used to it but that doesn't make it right. People come here for help and advice, not to be treated poorly.

AuSable River Rat wrote:I still stand by my previous comment about some posters here being quite rude to others. Yes, it's the internet and I'm used to it but that doesn't make it right. People come here for help and advice, not to be treated poorly.

As I understand it, this has been going on about as long as the forum has existed. It never bothered me.

Some forums that are moderated to keep it out have not been very good forums and some withered away. This forum's freestyle has proven it has staying power and is effective. Changing it might destroy it. The owners will not change it anyway.

You can get most of the nonprofessional help you need here. Just ignore what you don't need and save yourself some worry.