How has cpap helped your health, and in what amount of time?

airhead · Post by **airhead** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:51 am

I dont know about feeling great, like you mentioned, but better than before for sure. Sounds like your slowly getting stronger. Some respond fast and others take longer. Hang in and Godspeed!

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:57 am

Hi Freddie,

I've found that the constant exhaustion caused me to have a sedentary lifestyle. With cpap I've shaken the exhaustion but I wouldn't say I'm "high energy." I'm doing all I can to get active and I've found the more I get out and "do" the more energy I have.

Try to get out and take a walk. Enjoy the fresh air. I think you will find your energy level rising and the results you are looking for. The key for me was this was not possible without cpap.

airhead · Post by **airhead** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:06 am

Less than 3 months and I've noticed that the back and neck pain that I've been treated for the last 11 years, is much better since cpap. Sounds like I'm trying to sell the machines, but I'm not. Can it be that my low oxygen saturation level made it impossible for the injury to heal? Any similar reports?

CpapResmed · Post by **CpapResmed** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:25 pm

I have been on the CPAP for about 4 months now, and I'll tell it probably saved My life. I was falling asleep behind the wheel on the way home from work, but when I started falling asleep on the way TO work I knew there was something very wrong. I only got thru 4 hours of My sleep study when they put the CPAP on Me, that day I felt more energetic than I had felt in years, and I'm only 34. After 4 hours of this I felt like a new person. It took a bit getting used to, but now I can tell Y'all that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep with out it. If You ain't CPAP'n, You ain't sleepin'!!

snamvar · Post by **snamvar** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:18 am

I have been TRYING to use my CPAP for the last 4 months and almost gave up due to my insomnia and not being to able to fall sleep. I have had depression and insomnia for ever and all the therapists would prescribe me medications for the depression and insomnia for the past 20 years
Finally a good therapist suggested for me to go for a sleep study last year and I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. When I am able to use the machine, I feel much better and more alert the next day. My sleep doctor told me to take this seriously since not treating the apnea can lead to other problems. I am now back on the CPAP religiously and thanks to this group, I have found out a great deal of information and support. I don't expect miracles, but will do all I can to treat my apnea. Good luck to all of you.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:46 am

airhead wrote: THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING TO PUT IN THE HEATED HUMIDIFIER TO HELP A STUFFY NOSE....ANYONE//????

When they did my sleep study they had me use a nasal saline gel (I think it was AYR brand) that you can get OTC at Wal-Mart....it worked excellent. 10 times better than saline drops...It's worth a try for $3.

Later

captcpap · Post by **captcpap** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:39 pm

I still don't feel better and like many even feel worse but I'm not going to give up. I'm wear my mask every night and keep trying to find the right answers to get over the hurdles. I can't change the fact that I have sleep apnea but I can treat it with cpap and this forum... even if it takes a year. I have had apnea (unknown to me) for most of my adult life I can't expect to make up for that over night. For some of us they were able For those of us that it isn't better yet... never give up ... never surrender.... have faith that with determination that it will !

RubyKat · Post by **RubyKat** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:53 pm

captcpap wrote:For those of us that it isn't better yet... never give up ... never surrender.... have faith that with determination that it will !

Oh yes, never give up, never surrender, we will fight them on the beaches...

I noticed an immediate improvement, no question: I no longer feel like one of the living dead. But I don't feel like a "morning person" either. 6 months, and I'm seeing my sleep specialist for a followup today.

RubyKat · Post by **RubyKat** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:28 am

Well, back from my sleep specialist, and much encouraged. We had a good long talk, I with my list of questions (lots of them thanks to you folk!) and she was very helpful.

We've scheduled another sleep study for a couple of weeks after I get back from the UK. She said that with someone like me, who has a moderate-ish (12) pressure need (most of my incidents were hypopneas, not apneas) then an auto-cpap may or may not help that much (it's more obviously helpful for people who need high pressures). When I do the sleep study we will know more; it would be stupid to go to the expense of borrowing money to get another machine if I don't actually need it. It makes sense to hold off; since the sleep study will be done with my own mask and it will be my third study, they are much more likely to get more accurate information this time around.

And I'm becoming more convinced that:

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

Especially for people with sleep disorders.

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:51 am

RubyKat,
It sounds like you're making progress with finding the right solutions for your treatment and your quote was my inspiration for the day. It had been awhile since I had heard it. Thanks!!!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Popinka · Post by **Popinka** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:07 am

I have been on CPAP for just over two weeks...notice a definite improvement (far less need to nap), not dying to go back to bed when I wake up (I used to take 3 mini-naps while my husband was in the shower, having his morning cigarette, and feeding the cats -- and during lunch and upon arriving home in the evening). Contributing around the house more and generally feeling better. Not terribly energetic still. Loke Wade I fear that years of sleep apnea have left me out of shape and very overweight -- still dealing with the fatigue associated with those factors along with a very stressful job. I need to tackle nutrition and exercize as well as stress management before I will get truely better in a wholistic sense. Still may need some tweaking with pressure and plan to purchase an auto-pap. Feel that CPAP may be the catalist I need and a very important piece of the puzzle for me though.

jean19540_0 · Post by **jean19540_0** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:10 am

wade you've realy set me thinking, you say your bunged up sinuses are due to blood pressure medication. well i have the same problem, & have for as long as i can remember, but then i have been on the medication since i was 21, im now 50, so it is a long time isnt it?
i'm now starting to feel small improvements with the use of my cpap. i feel more awake in the morming, i know i'm sleeping better, plus im told that i'm not nodding off quite so much. its a small improvement, but at least it is one, although still have a scabby nose. by the way which bp medication do you take? mines atenolol. thought you'd been on cpap a long while, you suprised me there! bye 4 now, jean

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:07 am

Hi Jean,

The BP med I take is Toprol XL which is a beta-blocker. Atenolol is also a beta-blocker. These drugs have a tendency to constrict the breathing passages. My Doc gives me some samples of Nasonex spray to use if I have a cold or feel congested. Prior to that if I got a cold the congestion and nagging cough would hang on forever.

As far as my time on cpap... I'm a quick study! Sharing the experiences of the great people on this forum is an education and then some.

jean19540_0 · Post by **jean19540_0** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:33 pm

wade you've realy set me thinking, you say your bunged up sinuses are due to blood pressure medication. well i have the same problem, & have for as long as i can remember, but then i have been on the medication since i was 21, im now 50, so it is a long time isnt it?
i'm now starting to feel small improvements with the use of my cpap. i feel more awake in the morming, i know i'm sleeping better, plus im told that i'm not nodding off quite so much. its a small improvement, but at least it is one, although still have a scabby nose. by the way which bp medication do you take? mines atenolol. thought you'd been on cpap a long while, you suprised me there! bye 4 now, jean

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:51 pm

Regarding nasal congestion: There is a procedure using radio waves to shrink the turbinates (tissues within the nose) to reduce congestion. These tend to swell during the night causing congestion. See an ENT to determine if you are a candidate.

Someone posted a link to a great site with a number of good sleep apnea articles including one about people that continue to have problems after treatment. Two of the most common causes were incorrect adjustment of the machine and PLMS:

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/4752/page3.html

How has cpap helped your health, and in what amount of time?

Welcome Freddie

Chronic Pain going away?

Re: THANKS 4 WADING THRU THE MUCK

Feeling Better?

Re: Feeling Better?

Much Truth

blood pressure medication!

blood pressure medication!

Mask