The ways my health has improved

Before getting the CPAP, I read a lot of these message boards. It seemed they were filled with struggles and people who felt that the CPAP wasn't helping or working for them. It was discouraging, but I understand. People reach out when they need help, not when they are doing well. But I know people who are thinking about investing time and money into helping their sleep apnea read these boards beforehand. It took me a long time before I was willing to spend a night away from my baby to get tested (ask for a home test if this is an issue for you). So if you are thinking about getting tested for sleep apnea or you have just tested positive, I want to share some of the benefits I have had with my CPAP. I average six hours a night with it.

My resting heart rate dropped ten beats per minute in the first week of use. Resting heart rate is a huge indicator of heart health. I was shocked to see this. Due to a foot injury, I've been less active but my heart is performing better than when I was more active. I hurt my foot before I got the CPAP and had already dropped my activity level.

Before the CPAP, I test positive for pre diabetes with a fasting blood sugar level of 101. This morning my fasting blood sugar was 89. I should change my diet, but I really haven't. I had cookies, candy and pasta yesterday.

I have only taken my blood pressure at home since I got the CPAP but it has dropped significantly. It was 123/82 when I took it shortly after getting the CPAP. I'm usually at least 140/100.

I have more energy to play with my son.

My memory is vastly improved. I play a game that sometimes involves remembering a series of random numbers and letters. For years, I had to write them down or I had to go back and check and do it in stages. Now I can remember 7-10 random numbers and letters with one try 99 percent of the time. I'm sure my memory and focus has improved in other ways, but that's the easiest to measure.

So if anyone is feeling discouraged about getting or using a CPAP, keep going!

Having been using CPAP religiously for seventeen years, I can't say for sure where I'd be without it, but I don't think I'd be living at this time!

The improvement in the way I felt was apparent after the second night (after the first night was ambiguous). Any thought of not taking it on vacation became unthinkable that day!

My blood pressure started responding to medication and my liver function tests improved within six months. My red blood cells dropped precipitously, but it was determined that this is the equivalent of what happens when a person living at a very high altitude moves to sea level (i.e. "normal"). Also, many years later, my previously enlarged heart was found to be normal size.

I'm on my fourth machine now. I keep one of my old ones as a backup "just in case."

Great post Millennia. My quality of life improved greatly when I started on CPAP 7 years ago and has improved again recently when I discovered that my treatment wasn't optimal. Now that you see all of the benefits, take it from me that over the years you need to make sure everything is set up as well as can be - don't be satisfied with the status quo. Your own clinical situation can change as you age, for one thing.

Make it a way of life!

Millennia wrote:I average six hours a night with it.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Just wonder if you sleep additional time without cpap, to get more than 6 hrs?
I've done that off and on but trying not to.
I've been going at it for over 5 mos but haven't yet reached a full 6 hrs sleep on the machine.
How long have you been on cpap?

Before the CPAP, I test positive for pre diabetes with a fasting blood sugar level of 101. This morning my fasting blood sugar was 89. I should change my diet, but I really haven't. I had cookies, candy and pasta yesterday.

Over 3 yrs ago when I was trying to get help for insomnia, my fasting blood sugar was 106, A1C was 5.8.
Since then, I've cut out fruit juice but not fruit, cut back carbs like pasta, bread, and cereal, instead eat more chicken, eggs and fish, beans and brown rice.
Fruits I eat are avocado, tomatoe, almonds (yeah those are considered fruit too), Granny Smith apples, and grapefruit.
Sweeter fruit like banana and grapes I get occasionally.
Special treat is a small square of very dark chocolate.
A year ago my blood sugar was 86 and A1C was 5.6, just below the pre diabetic category.
I have read that sleep apnea can cause insulin resistance which leads to diabetes.
Maybe mine will improve more with cpap therapy.

I have only taken my blood pressure at home since I got the CPAP but it has dropped significantly. It was 123/82 when I took it shortly after getting the CPAP. I'm usually at least 140/100.

My blood pressure was close to that at times, especially when I was repetitively jerking awake while falling asleep.
Jerking has almost stopped now, blood pressure 116/72

Very encouraging post. I'm still tweaking my pressure and finding the right balance. My AHI is still around 5, but that's a marked improvement from pre-CPAP. I am still groggy and tired most of the day but am at least getting more sleep with the mask on. I look forward to the time when "more" sleep also becomes "deeper" and better quality sleep. My pre-treatment symptoms weren't as bad as some that I've seen. My adjustment period has been much worse than the pre-treatment symptoms on a practical, daily basis but I'd rather contend with that than the ramifications of not getting the therapy.

Thanks for sharing. Gives me something to look forward to and hope for.

Alas, I didn't get any of your improvements Millennia, but that doesn't negate my cpap success. I went from taking 2 naps a day and complete fogginess to taking naps only a couple of times a week and much less fog. Now that my restless leg syndrome is FINALLY under control, no fogginess at all!! I wake maybe once a night and go right back to sleep - getting close to where I used to be. Unlike many others, I did not have apnea for years - I didn't start having problems until about 3 years ago and it was due to undiagnosed heart problem.

My only advice is to just keep regularly testing your blood sugar and keep up the good work with your cpap!

Great post, Millennia! It's always nice to hear from people who benefited from the advice here.

Please consider adding your post to the success stories thread as encouragement to new people. The advantage of posting in that thread is that it is pinned to the very top of the forum and doesn't scroll down like all the other threads, so newcomers are more likely to see it.

You can find the thread here: viewtopic/t14494/Newbie-would-like-to-h ... lease.html

I've woken up every day for 11 years, without XPAP I wouldn't have. Jim

I never expected a little box on the nightstand to push life and joy into me;
but that is just what it does.