How long before you felt better?

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:22 am

no one seems to understand at the end of the day what its like to not be able to sleep.

josh, i hear ya..although my problem has always been that i can sleep, any time, anywhere for 12,13,14 hours at a time...trying to make people understand that though i slept 'round the clock i still felt profoundly tired has been one of the most frustrating parts of this journey

please continue to post here--as you already know, people here can and do relate to your struggle, and are able to empathize in the truest sense of the word

sharon1965

Shiny · Post by **Shiny** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:06 am

Right before my official diagnosis with OSA, I was almost literally sleeping around the clock. I would have dinner at 7 pm and go straight to bed, sleep until 5am, get up and drink coffee for two hours, go to work and sleep at the wheel of the pick up (not moving) until there was something to do, do it, and go back to sleep, repeat all day long until dinner time. What a life!

heartburn, excessive bathroom trips, fatigue, muscle pain and weakness etc, brain fog, word retrieval difficulty, memory loss, etc...then again, i can only speak for myself and this list partially describes me, in all my glory!

Me too! I get acid reflux so bad it goes up my nose and into my lungs and I have to add depression and irritibility.

I'm new on cpap (Apr 2 was my first night). I had one good night on the 5th and another one last night. I even had a dream. I love dreaming.

Reading you guy's posts along with my two good nights gives me hope that this will really change my life. I started feeling like a grumpy old man about the time I turned 40. In the days of my youth I have been called light-hearted, happy-go-lucky, easy going and I used to be very quick-witted. Lately I've been a grumpy old DUD!

josh · Post by **josh** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:58 am

ktleague

I have had 3 sleep studies so far, my next one will be after my surgery to see if there is any improvement. It said not to sleep on my back, its worse there (which I don't). I sleep on my stomach...which wasn't done during the tests. The reason I got the APAP was to monitor myself what was going on. I wish I could get the results when I wake up rather than having to wait till I get home...the anticipation is killing me!

I should clarify...its not that I can't sleep...I can sleep...anywhere, at any time. My son cries at night (1 year old) and I don't wake up, and hes right down the hall! I crave sleep soo much that it drives me. I too slept before I was diagnosed upwards of 14 hours a night...or more! And yet I never ever feel rested.

So for now, I sleep for 8 hours a night typically, which should be enough, its all I have time for, but I am still tired.

The two good things CPAP has done for me was that it got rid of my headaches, and I seem to never get sick anymore . Oh yeah, and I can't sleep without it...I mean I feel soo much worse than if I don't use it.

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:15 am

Wow Josh. I admire your fortitude. I am glad you notice a difference with CPAP, even if it hasn't solved all your sleep issues. I sincerely hope you get some answers soon.

I have structured my life around getting sleep, it is high among my priorities. I don't stay up late for anything, arrange appointments and errands so that I get a chance to lie down and always find ways to compensate when I have to get up early. I have always done this so I can't imagine not having to... The things I will accomplish

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:12 pm

I thought I'd bring this thread back to the forefront in hopes of getting some answers from the CPAP Veterans.

How long was it before you felt consistently better?

How long was it before you noticed a significant change in secondary complications from sleep apnea, including memory, depression, adrenal fatigue, and heart issues?

looking forward to your answers!

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:05 am

I felt 100% better the first day after treatment. No more falling asleep at my desk, no more confusion, no more severe pain and being soaking wet upon waking up. I was a totally new person. I was ALIVE again! I don't recall having any other issues, other then getting used to the mask and hose in my face. Treatment was kind of rough for the first few months until they came out with passive humidifier, then all was good.

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:47 pm

Wistful, one person's experience with relief of secondary symptoms is related in the second appendix of viewtopic.php?t=19155&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 in the light bulb/our collective wisdom section, article on recovery stages.

See the other 3 articles in How Long Until I Feel Better, too.

Other posters in 2006, reporting on heart conditions based on research and personal experience, said that the heart mends itself in 6 months to a year.

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:51 pm

oops, wrong link, try cpaptalk-articles/recovery-CPAP-adaptation-stages.html
and look for the diary, Early APAP Victories, at the end of the article.

The article has lots of links, too, in response to this theme.

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:27 pm

Thanks, I'll check them out!
W

lmmo · Post by **lmmo** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:39 am

Hi wistful!
I had a rough go of it for the first 2-3 weeks. My nose was sore. I was trying to fit my swift comfortably. I was embarrassed. All of a sudden, I was able to do things I had not done with energy for a while (house keeping, laundry, etc.) (about 3 weeks) My teens said they noticed a difference in how I awakened and did not move from the bed to the couch. At 11 months my BP was normal, I have gone off my GERD medication and asthma meds. I do NOT move at all when I sleep. I used to toss and turn...
I do have days where I feel tired, but I flip-flop nights and days.
In September, Ernesto (tropical storm) came thru and we did not have power. I felt I slept, but awakened felling like someone had clobbered my head. The night we had power restored I slept heavenly and will never look back. You do not know what you are missing until you don't have it
lmmo

Portia · Post by **Portia** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:57 pm

Hi:
I am new, here, but the comments have been fascinating.
After years of fatigue, my son prevailed on me to get tested. I get my CPAP tomorrow and I need to read more about equipment options.

I felt remakably well after my titration study, even though I only slept for 3 1/2 hours on the machine. So I am anticipating good results.
I am also curious to see my cat and dog's response, as they are alsways very interested in anything new!

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:19 pm

Good luck with it all, Portia!

Keep us posted.

regards

Di

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:00 pm

I felt ten years younger at first after starting treatment about 4 1/2 months ago more energy etc. but lately I have been feeling tired and sleepy (caught myself nodding off in a meeting today) in the afternoons again. Also forgetting things again and attention span not up to what it once was. I have not figured out yet what the problem is as my AHI's have been around 2.0 or less for quite some time and I average 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. It could be thats not enough sleep per night or it could be that it is going to take an awful long time to recover from ten years or more of untreated OSA before I started treatment.

Dale

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:25 pm

[quote="shippy"]I felt ten years younger at first after starting treatment about 4 1/2 months ago more energy etc. but lately I have been feeling tired and sleepy (caught myself nodding off in a meeting today) in the afternoons again. Also forgetting things again and attention span not up to what it once was. I have not figured out yet what the problem is as my AHI's have been around 2.0 or less for quite some time and I average 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. It could be thats not enough sleep per night or it could be that it is going to take an awful long time to recover from ten years or more of untreated OSA before I started treatment.

Dale

How long before you felt better?

Veterans needed!

how long until you feel better?

wrong link

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.