Am I Being Too Impatient?

How long should it take before I start feeling more rested after going on a CPAP machine? I have used my machine for two weeks now, and I don't think I feel any different then I did before?

I have been through sleep studies, and I was diagonosed as having "mild" sleep apnea. The technicians in the sleep lab told be they thought I would have very good results after going on CPAP machine, and my friends who use them swear they are the greatest thing ever and that they felt results immediately. I have a very nice machine, and my nasal pillow I use is what I was tested with in the sleep lab. I have very little comfort issues, and I do not believe I am breathing through my mouth as I do not wake up with cotton mouth. So, everything would point to this CPAP treatment working for me, but I am feeling no change at all.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

foo,
see if you can provide more info...type of machine, mask, pressure.....and eventually, try to get the software so you can tell how you are progressing. 2 weeks is early...but not too soon to be feeling better......for some, it just takes longer. how long do you think you've had OSA? you may have a sleep debt to repay.

sleepyt

I am certainly no expert and am still learning, but from what I read on this forum it takes time to pay back your sleep debt. Not everyone feels better right away. It took me some time before I started to feel nearly normal. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all feel better right away but it doesn't always work that way. Do you have a machine that lets you monitor your data? This is helpful to your progress. Hang in there and give it some more time.

SleepyT and Rosiefrosie - Thanks a lot for your replies. I have a Remstar Plus M series machine with heated humidifier. I use Swift LT nasal pillows. I think I have has OSA for at least 15 years, if not longer, as I have been chronically tired for at least that long. I need to take the card in my machine in for a reading at the sleep lab to see what the data looks like. Gotta be honest, I am pretty bummed out that I have not felt any improvement. I need to keep working at this, I suppose. Thanks, again!

a plus isn't going to give you any data but hours spent each night and pressure used --- no AHI, no leaks, no snores

I had one week of use before I got my software that showed me why I wasn't seeing any improvement.
Yes, there may be just a "sleep debt" to pay back but without any information you don't even know if you are getting proper and adequate therapy to start paying back that debt.

Try to get a real data capable machine or you won't ever know anything except hours and days of usage which is all your machine will tell you.

pstone_foo wrote:SleepyT and Rosiefrosie - Thanks a lot for your replies. I have a Remstar Plus M series machine with heated humidifier. I use Swift LT nasal pillows. I think I have has OSA for at least 15 years, if not longer, as I have been chronically tired for at least that long. I need to take the card in my machine in for a reading at the sleep lab to see what the data looks like. Gotta be honest, I am pretty bummed out that I have not felt any improvement. I need to keep working at this, I suppose. Thanks, again!

If you're not sealing your mouth shut, your therapy air could be leaking out during the night. If that's that case, you won't see much improvement anytime soon.
Are you taping your mouth shut when you go to bed?

Typically, it takes at least a good 6 weeks (maybe less) to 6 months to "feel" improvement. This is a gradual process for most of us. The daytime sleepiness going away and fewer nighttime visits to the bathroom should be the first noticeable improvements.

This therapy is "baby steps"........one night at a time.


Den

If your DME has a 30-day exchange policy, try to get that M Series Plus upgraded to an M Series Pro now. The pro will allow you to get efficacy data that can help you manage your therapy.

pstone_foo wrote: ......... I need to keep working at this, I suppose. .....

Without equipment to measure apneas, hypopneas, snores and mask leaks you will have a tough time knowing what "to keep working at".

Well the first thing to work at is getting equipment to monitor your therapy. While you are working on that, fill out your equipment profile (text not images).