Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

I'm happy to tell you that I have benefited massively from CPAP. I've used CPAP for about 8 years and am on my second machine having upgraded from an old Resmed S6 Light to a Resmed S9 Escape. I can't imagine sleeping without my machine and use it religiously every night without fail. I've been through a few masks and currently get on well with my Quattro FX, overall the new machine is quiet and the mask rarely leaks too much so the wife is happy too.

I think it takes a while to get used to and I had issues with having girlfriends stay over but actually that never seemed to be a problem. It scared my youngest but she is used to it now as well. I used to fall asleep almost at the wheel before diagnosis and now I rarely am so tired that my eyes droop. I'm awake and with it for the day where once I would fall asleep whenever I stopped for too long!

My experience was gradual - friends and coworkers saying I smiled more, was happier, didn't realize I was so grumpy.

I guess the biggest thing I noticed (after 10 month use now), is that on nights when I somehow remove the mask, or there is a power outage in my neighborhood, how BAD I feel the next day.

It's like a "new normal" - you don't realize how much it is helping you until you are somehow without it for a few hours. If I fall asleep reading and sleep for a half hour, I wake up feeling like I have been beat up. I seriously cannot sleep without the CPAP ever again.

I have lost 10 pounds and don't need constant naps. For me, it took a while to see the cumulative effect. Wishing you restful nights and peaceful naps!

I am a newbie too. I have only been using my cpap for a week and it has been amazing to me.
I think I am not a typical case, as I have not had any trouble with the nasal mask I am using yet.
I am using the machine more than 6 hours each night from the first night and not having major leaks either.
Within three days of good sleep I am no longer exhausted to my very core.
I also was having a lot of headaches and body aches, that I attribute to the sleep deprivation and getting a flu shot on top of it.
I think my body without sleep could not cope with the immune response to the flu shot and was having so much pain, I wanted to cry all day.
Now with the sleep, my pain and headaches are gone.
Also, I must have had allergies to dust and now that my air is being filtered by the cpap, I am not waking up in the morning congested either.
I have energy, my kids feel like they are getting their mom back. Wooohooo.

I went through 2 sleep studies as a result of a bicycle accident (along with a battery of tests) and was pronounced as having sleep apnea. The Apria trainer was not very helpful and my first two months of trying to get used to the machine were a disaster. I would wear the mask and stare at the ceiling for three hours then finally rip it off before falling asleep. I really hated it. I had in fact, made my mind up that I was never going to use it.

Several weeks went by when I had an appointment with my endocrinologist. I explained my reluctance and he told me - in a few minutes - how much I would like it once I could accept the machine. He also explained it was perfectly okay to take an over the counter sleep aid until I got used to it. So I tried it again. With the generic sleep aid from CVS I fell asleep quickly and saw immediately the benefit of using the machine. It's now several months later and have grown to truly accept the Cpap. The benefits are there as advertised. I sleep soundly, wake up much more prepared for the day and can work more effectively.

I think the medical equipment providers need a better system to introduce this to newbies (like me). The guy who explained my machine was more worried about how to clean the machine and what kind of distilled water to use then how to get used it using the machine in the first place.

I hope my experience is helpful to any newbies reading this, and sincerely appreciate this forum for the information I wish I had at the beginning.

CPAP therapy has given me back the life that I didn't even know that I was missing. Over time, the now obvious symptoms of my untreated SA/OSA, no matter how severe they were, became a normal part of my existence. That I was somehow able to make it through each day, only to be faced with the inescapable dread of another night, gasping, clawing, like an injured and dying animal, trying to somehow make it through alive, is still amazing to me! Believe it or not, though I can't for the life of me now explain why, being in complete denial was still easier in my sleep deprived brain then going to the Doctor to find out what was really going on. Living life, if I can even call it that now, life on the very edge of a tall and dangerous cliff, trying with my all might to not slip and fall into the depths below because of my many years of untreated severe SA/OSA, was somehow not as frightening as facing the real and honest truth.

So, why do I love my CPAP? Because it provides me with opportunity to wake up each morning and not die in the night! It gives me improved health and good, restorative sleep. It has given me another chance to live, really live! I am now able to be here for my family and my friends, sharing in their lives, experiencing a renewed purpose with a life that could have been tragically cut short, due to my own stupidity, denial and fear. That's why I love my CPAP!

John

In less than a month of him being on APAP, I have my husband back. He's no longer severely crabby and irritable all of the time unless he was depressed about how tired and irritable he was. He feels comfortable driving so I no longer have to drive him to work each day. He has time and energy to play with the kids and has lost 10 lbs. He doesn't misplace items so regularly. (He was so bad about socks. He would get out a pair of socks and set them down before he got them on his feet and then forget that he had them out and then get out another pair and continue the cycle until he got his shoes on. Then I would find 3 or 4 pairs of socks around the bedroom to put away. )

He is less like a teenage son with Alzheimer's and more like himself.

Last night was my first night on CPAP. My coworker recommended the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. I have to admit, I could not imagine having to sleep with a hose connected to my nose. I procrastinated doing this for a few months. I have high blood pressure, Doctor had just added a second medication, my copay alone was running $80 a month. I was feeling like I was run over by a truck everyday. Not wanting to admit to anyone how bad I was feeling, I had become really nasty and it was affecting my kids and wife.

So last night I strapped on the hose and tried to get adjusted to the blow up my nose, I fell asleep at midnight and woke at 5:00AM, hose in my nose and breathing normally, but I noticed something right away, my eyes were open, I was alert and feeling good, I knew I was under compliance with the insurance company, need 4 hours a night, got that, so i took off the nose pillow and went back to a light sleep, got up around 7:30, what a difference, I felt good, my mind was clear, my body wasn't aching.

Great first day, didn't fall asleep, got a lot done and didn't walk through the day like a zombie, I was intentional and happy again. Looking forward to another night sleep, lets see if I can repeat last night.

2cd Night Update
Ok, I had to go mess with it. I googled around and discovered I could turn off the System One humidity control, and really crank it up without the heated tube. I now know what "rain out" is and only got to use CPAP machine for 3:30 hours. I was wide awake on second night, didn't even put on headgear until 12:30am, rained out at 3:30 or so, and spent till 4:30 messing with the tube and nose pillow, finally threw it on the nightstand and snored for a few hours. back to the System One setting.

3rd night
This was a Sunday night before work, so I took it a little more seriously, still didn't get to sleep until 12:00am, but slept straight thru till 5:00am. Wow, 5 hours sleep and I woke up without being nudged a dozen times. I know my wife must notice, I'm up and about before she is up. Feeling good!

4th Night Update
Early to bed, 11PM, slept straight thru, therapy hours showed 6:20. Not waking up to go to bathroom, that used to be 3 times a night. I don't even know the machine is on in the morning, I have to inhale/exhale to see if it is still working. Nose was a little irritated nothing big, rubbed a few times and it went away. Oh I discovered "Auto On", nice feature, no reaching for the button. It is amazing how much better my body feels, joint pain gone, no more feeling like I am going to spontaneously combust. Driving my daughter to school again, not angry. My wife and I had gotten into a habit of complaining at each other every morning, I guess I was being a jerk, well, I know I was being a jerk.

I've come to a conclusion, subconsciously I was avoiding going to bed, I would stay up late, and just avoid going to sleep, I guess it was due to me practically dying every night, now sleep as become a joy again, there is a reward to sleep, that I had forgotten for a long long time.

6 months of therapy down and here are my findings:
1. Oxygen is our friend! First night on therapy I woke up early, cleaned the house and built a piece of furniture just because I had energy and nothing to do with it. Didn't sleep again for 48 hours - really shocked my brain to not die, I guess.
2. DMEs SUCK! Went 4 months with an incorrectly-fit mask, no replacement supplies, wrong billing and inconsistent contact from them. Threatened to report them for fraud and magically they fix my problem. Ugh.
3. Now that I sleep, I SLEEP. Like in, I sleep like a log as opposed to saw one. Once down I am down for six hours. Body will not wake up earlier, alarms and report times for work notwithstanding. Sucks if I stay up late doing something and miss my cutoff time.
4. The machine is quiet but the mask on your face really does sound like a quiet Darth Vader. iPod helps. Either get some Gregorian chants or pull up a relaxation video on YouTube. Don't need more than 10 minutes of sound to get you down, frequently less.

Overall, xPAP works. People around me can tell very fast whether or not I was breathing the night before. I don't get foggy and nod off when sitting still and I'm not a raging ---hole. Speaking of that cutoff, It's still before 00:00 and I've got the yawns...

Catnapper wrote:So I have only had my nose to the hose since August 4 and I am still waiting for the burst of energy. I am committed to making this work for me even though it has been far from easy. I often read encouragement that says hang in there, it is worth it. I believe I will someday get there, and that it may take a good while because I have been sleep deprived for many years.

I believe it would help me, and maybe other newbies, to hear the success stories. Something along the lines of before and after would be great. I would particularly like to hear about the moment that made you realize that you were better.

I want to write my own success story one day soon.

This is such a great group. I have felt so welcome and accepted. Thanks.
I needed that. Nobody else understands what CPAP is like.

Joanie - Catnapper

I just joined today, and wanted to share my success story:

Around 1994 while living in Austin, Texas, my wife and I and young son decided to drive up to my parent's house in Northeast Texas for a visit. In Austin, we both were working 12 hour shifts and rarely saw our 12 month old son during the week. We were barely making ends meet and we were exhausted. I saw an ad in the newspaper for a Home Medical Equipment Technician. I applied and was hired almost on the spot. Over the next 12 years, I learned all about respiratory care from home oxygen therapy to CPAP and BIPAP therapy. I eventually managed multiple locations for a national DME company.

Fast forward to last year. At 43, I had been working for a power plant for the past 8 years and I was exhausted. My doctor had found that my testosterone level was in the single digits so I had been taking injections for almost a year. In that time, my wife of 24 years had stated my snoring had become much worse and I would often stop breathing and she would bump me and I would begin breathing again. I finally decided to ask my PCP and ask him to order a sleep study. I knew enough to bring a sleeping pill with me. I still did not sleep very well, but they were able to get enough information to show I have severe OSA. The funny thing was, I knew that usually, the sleep technician would usually place a CPAP on you to set levels, however that never happened. I had my first appointment with my pulmonologist. He confirmed that I had severe sleep apnea and I needed another sleep study to get my levels set. I went back to the sleep lab and the same technician prepped me. I was pretty sure that I could not tolerate a full face mask because when I was just 5, I had my tonsils out. Back then, the doctors and nurses did not explain to kids ANYTHING. When I was taking into the operating room, I got up on the table and all of these people were around me with surgical masks on. Then they came over to me and had this huge mask and placed it over my face. I remember the smell of was burning my eyes and nose and throat. I was terrified and I fought for my life. It took 3 men and about 4 women to hold me down. Since then, I had problems with things over my nose and mouth. Even when in the military, it took a long time to get used to putting a gas mask on. Anyway the night of my second study, I tried nasal pillows. I tried going to sleep for 4-5 hours and just could not sleep. I finally signed out without getting anything accomplished. I then remembered when I had left the DME industry, they had just developed an auto CPAP. I asked my physician to order that. About a week later, I was called by a local DME company, they stated they had my order. My wife and I stopped by and I was setup on a Resmed Auto Escape Auto and the H5i humidifier on nasal pillows. The first night, was great. After a couple of days though, my wife said that in the middle of the night, I would begin opening my mouth, so I eventually agreed to try the full Mirage face mask. After about a month, I found that my pressures were maxing out at 20 and my apnea index was at 2.5 at the highest. I was waking after 4 hours and taking my mask off without knowing I was doing it. I found that I was having a hard time exhaling at that high of pressure. I went by the DME company with my SD card and the therapist agreed with me that I really needed to be on a BiPAP. She had one in stock and put it on my while I saw in a chair and immediately, I felt like I could go to sleep right there. I decided that is what I needed. She stated I needed another sleep study with the BiPAP. After 3-4 weeks, the study still had not been scheduled. I began getting very frustrated and called my insurance company to see if they required a study for moving to the BiPAP. Luckily I was speaking with a former nurse and RT who now worked for BC/BS. I told her all that had been happening and she said no, all they would require was a letter from the physician explaining what I was telling her. I scheduled an appointment with the senior most pulmonologist in the group that began the group of 6 doctors. He took my SD card and came back and totally agreed with me. He knew that I had about 12-13 years experience as a tech and manager. I explained that I wanted an AUTO BiPAP since my levels were so different and he agreed that I was a perfect candidate for the AUTO BiPAP. I had explained the day before to the RT at the DME company that I would be asking for the AUTO BiPAP. When I left the doctor's office, I called the DME and explained I had the prescription in my hand and wanted to know if they had one in stock and if not, how long would it take to get. Well the RT was not there, and she did not call my back for 3 days. She finally stated it would take 2-3 days to get the machine. After the 5th day, I was begining to get upset. She stated that my doctor hardly ever ordered AUTO BiPAPs. I asked her if she had even ordered my machine. She had gotten really snotty about it and told me that "you can go elsewhere if you do not like the way I am going business." I could not believe what I was hearing. Now it had been almost 10 days since my doctor's appointment. Funny enough, the corporate office of the DME company happened to call me about supplies and I let loose on them about what was happening. Finally after another 3 days, I got my machine, although the RT chose NOT to set me up. They basically just handed me the machine and I turned in my CPAP and that was it.

Now, I will say that I have been sleeping like a baby and my apnea index is below 2 every night. I also found that the RT did not set the machine up to utilize ANY of the features like mask leak check or auto start or anything like that. I found out how to get into the settings and was able to change them to where I control my humidity, temperature, and other comfort controls.

Sorry this response is so long, but the lesson is it is YOUR treatment. I have worked for, with and had many different RT's work for me. Most are really good and have a lot of knowledge, however, there are some that feel they know more than the doctors and when they do not agree, they will almost refuse to do what the order says. Do NOT allow this to happen to you. Get involved in your treatment and take control of it. Learn as much as you can about your condition, your treatment, your machine, after all, it is YOUR body, your life, and you deserve to be treated appropriately.

Best of luck to you!!!

I have been on CPap for 8 days now. I didnt have any problems sleeping with the mask or any of the other commonly described problems. The main perk for me is I used to get up in the morning and feel like a truck just ran over me, stopped, threw it in reverse and hit me full boar again. Now when I wake up I feel what I think people would consider "normal tired when you first wake up". Im actually able to function in the morning instead of going through the first couple hours of the day as a zombie.

I'm a 56 yo woman about 50 lbs overweight! Have been diagnose wth moderate OSA. Have had my CPAP 2 weeks, worn it dilegently every night and feel NO BETTER!! Everyone I've talked to said it was an overnight revelation ! I'm so frustrated I'm about to through this cone of shame out the window!!' So very tired of bring tired all of the time. It's beginning to wear on me.

If low oxygen blood levels and repeated arousal's during the night were responsible for your general tired feeling, xPAP therapy would produce nearly immediate results. But, if there are other things going on in your body, it will only go so far.

Now that you have your night time breathing taken care of, it is time to move on to the next thing on your list of things that can result in you feeling tired. The continued use of your machine will help you with your sleep breathing, but it may not help with other things.

You need to work with your "health care team" to figure out why you are tired and deal with those problems. You have the sleep disorder breathing taken care of so now you just have to figure out what is next.

Minskirkl wrote:I'm a 56 yo woman about 50 lbs overweight! Have been diagnose wth moderate OSA. Have had my CPAP 2 weeks, worn it dilegently every night and feel NO BETTER!! Everyone I've talked to said it was an overnight revelation ! I'm so frustrated I'm about to through this cone of shame out the window!!' So very tired of bring tired all of the time. It's beginning to wear on me.

Minskirkl,
Give it some time and hopefully you will see some results. Mine treatment has taken a month to see my AHI numbers to go down. There was no change in my first two weeks. Third week better and then fourth week 3.2 avg. Make sure your mask is working for you with few leaks.

Don't give up just yet!

Just started using CPAP in the last week. I had gone to a local sleep specialist due to severe insomnia which I felt was mostly related to my night shift work. I had started needing more sleep medication than I was comfortable taking.

I referred to my first sleep study as the worst medical experience of my life. A few weeks later, my specialist and I were still going around and around about his treatment plan and he was pushing for me to go back for another sleep study to try CPAP (I had shown REM-related sleep apnea in the first one). I finally agreed to it just to show that it wasn't for me and there was no way this invasive therapy (my take on it at the time) would help me and we could move onto really treating my serious insomnia. I felt CPAP would only further aggravate my insomnia.

I was shocked at how well I was able to sleep in the lab though the apparatus was a little bothersome. After reviewing my second study I went home with a brand new CPAP and a sense of defeat. I viewed OSA as a personal failure as I have let my weight creep up and could stand to lose about 40 pounds. I can't say I'm totally over that yet. I have only slept with it 4 times but have experienced only mild difficulty getting the gear on and I have actually slept relatively well. I have even started to cut back a little on the sleep meds.

Another major problem was my husband probably has restless legs or periodic limb movement and he had started sleeping separately as he would keep me up and waken me frequently. I've convinced him I'm really sleeping better and even though he is still kicking I don't notice it after I fall asleep.

As I've read this forum, I've started to realize that OSA has probably been the real source of a couple of problems I've had. The persistent fogginess after awakening that I attributed to ambien is probably somewhat attributable to sleep apnea. I have had persitant elevated heart rate and on medications for it when a thorough cardiac work up revealed no underlying cause. This condition also made it very difficult to work out without my heart rate spiking extremely high (like 180+). I will be interested to observe if CPAP therapy affects my heart rate.

I owe my sleep specialist a big thank you and a bit of an apology for my stubbornness.

I look forward to getting on this board and exploring its information. I have some knowledge of CPAP from its extensive use in neonatal ICU where I work but it's used for very different reasons in infants and the setups are extremely low tech.

Hello. I'm new to the forum. In fact, this is my first post. I was diagnosed with central sleep apnea about three weeks ago and have been on a bipap for that long. Before this treatment I used to have a lot of (what I call) 'noise' in my head. incomplete thoughts, mind racing, unable to concentrate or focus. After the first night on the bipap my head was 'quiet' the next day. I was finally able to focus on work, my hobbies, etc. I did notice that the back of my throat and sinuses were a bit raw feeling, but that went away after the third night.

I think I'm still in a stage of healing, since I've not noticed any huge increase in energy. There is some increase but not a lot yet. I can tell you that it's been years since I've slept as well as I am now. I thought I'd have problems adjusting to something on my face, but I took to it with no trouble at all.

I'm still far from a complete success story, but even if I get no further benefit from this treatment, it's been worth while.


Great forum. Lots of information here.