New To The Hose

Thanks everyone for your positive feedback and support. I have a question for you all. Prior to being diagnosed and getting my CPAP my doc prescribed something to help me sleep since I was just not getting a good nights sleep. I am still taking it before bed but am now toying with the idea that I might possibly be able to give that up as well. For me, it would be a big plus to take one less med. Has anyone else had any experience in this area? Should I start a new thread on this?

I am almost on my first week. Despite having some issues with my mask, I can say that I have had several good nights. Usually, I wake-up and want to go to the bathroom and that has actually stopped. There also has been a slight improvement in my blood pressure during the day. My main problem is getting very tired in the late afternoon with my body wanting to shutdown. Luckily for me, I do manage to get away from work at 3pm after starting at 5.45am. Hopefully, I will get used to the CPAP and enjoy its long term health benefits. People at work wonder why I have sleep apnea and I look fit. They associate sleep apnea to older and overweight people. Well, I am 47 and skinny and fit and I still have it. It might run in our family since my father is using CPAP.

SleepyT wrote: well, mr. brown, you seem to be a member of the smart group! you are embracing your therapy...loving your machine...and understand instantly what a good thing CPAP is! this puts you miles ahead of many who find CPAP to be a pain the in the arse! your attitude is wonderful and it serves you well! you may also find that your blood pressure in normalizing...if it was high before. there are many benefits to be had! just keep on keeping on....and don't let any future bumps in the road sway you from your journey. if problems pop up...just come on back to the forum! and congrats for taking good care of yourself. best of luck to you!

My father has sleep apnea and a CPAP as well as my son-in-law. My dad was a good role model for me as he reported dramatic improvements. My son-in-law is a pharmacist and also a good model because of his intelligent approach to solving his problem. My own research indicated that apnea is a very treatable problem and the solution works. I will also admit to being a lover of gadgets. Thanks for your kind words though.

I am new to this site. But, I am hoping to get lots of info!
I have had my CPAP 2 weeks today. Have no hang-ups with wearing the mask. However, in the mornings after removing the mask (Swift LT For Her) I seem to have a very runny nose for a few hours.
I also, have noticed less wake-ups for BR breaks. I still am only down for about 4 - 6 hours a night.
Was having a slight reaction to the nose pillows (lots of itching & also air leakage around the pillows). I was told to try an anti-itch cream (I am using Anti-Itch Hydrocorisone Cream) with NO petroleum. It has helped!! Even seems to help with the leakage. Have not noticed any energy change!
I also get very sleepy mid-afternoon, but can read, etc to bypass that, BUT, by 7:30 PM I am drifting off!! Now, keep in mind, I get up around 4 - 5 AM. But, I will doze off & on for about 1 to 1 & 1/2 hours & then will get ready for bed. "Course, then, it takes longer to fall asleep for the night.
I do realize that there is a period of adjustment BUT~~~~~
Everyone kept telling me that I would feel so much better after I adjusted. I want instant gratifacation!! I want to feel better NOW!!! (Remember when we would take our little kids away in the car & it seemed like as soon as you started the car you heard "Are we there yet"??) That's about how I feel!!!

Just wanted to clarify~~I am the newbie that posted above (listed as guest) I must not have signed in.
Thanks!!!

MsPat wrote:Just wanted to clarify~~I am the newbie that posted above (listed as guest) I must not have signed in

MsPat it would help if you would go to the user account control in the upper left corner to your profile, then go to the equipment tab and add your equipment (text please) so that we can see what you are using.
Also might help if you start a new thread with your problems so that others can advise you with specifics and your problem won't get lost in this thread.

That said. Swift LT for Her, I use them. I had itchy, runny nose when I didn't have the humidifier turned up enough. So are you using a humidifier and if so, at what setting? One time I accidentally left the water go dry in the tank and the itchy runny nose was awful and I was miserable for 2 days because of it. Some people need more humidity in the air. Some people need less.

Oh yeah, on the instant gratification request???? So sorry, but those are what I call rare miracles. Most of the time it takes a good bit of time. I saw the reduction in bathroom breaks immediately but the other stuff is very slow and sporadic. But just let me nod off for a nap without the machine and I remember exactly how bad it was.

You may need to evaluate your results, lets hope your machine is data capable and will let you see what it going on. You may or may not need some minor tweaking. You may or may not be having leaks significant enough to impair therapy.

Thanks Pugsy~~Sorry I missed all that.
BTW, love your avatar!!!!