One way to know when CPAP is working

I've been somewhat disappointed with my experiences with CPAP so far. I haven't had that "nirvana" moment when all of a sudden I feel wonderful. And so over time, I've often wondered, after 3+ months, how effective it is.

Well I found out today. I had a horrible night last night. Tried to use my Quattro with double moleskin and pad a cheek. And for whatever reason, I had a lousy night of sleep, my numbers were horrible, and I feel like crap today.

But I know this is one night out of months where I had trouble in my sleep. And just this horrible night of sleep gives me knowledge that my treatment in general is working well. No nirvana, but working well.

I'm not going to overanalyze it. (See C-man, I hear ya.). Just a word out there for those of us hosers out there. Hang in there, most nights will be good, and its a journey, with bumps along the road, but those bumps are just that bumps. And I know I will feel better tomorrow.

Most of us have been there. Our sleep is so fragile, it seem that just about anything can lead to having a bad night.
I've been at CPAP full time for about a year now and every once in a while, I wake up feeling that old dizzy, fatigued feeling. Sometimes it was congestion, sometimes stress that I carried home, sometimes - who knows?. When I get that feeling, I am often worried that the therapy is starting to fail me.

But as I get up and start to move around, I realize that this one bad day is still better than most my good days used to be. I can move on. I wash my mask, get some exercise and prepare myself for a better night tonight.

GaryG wrote:I'm not going to overanalyze it. (See C-man, I hear ya.).

....gosh...they grow up so fast.
Where does the time go??

I had an AHI of 6.7 last night.
For me, that is terrible...I should feel terrible today.

I feel great.
I dreamed and dreamed and dreamed.

Just a reminder that us "normal" people have our bad nights too for different reasons or for no reason, perfect sleep is just not something we can control.

DoriC wrote:Just a reminder that us "normal" people have our bad nights too for different reasons or for no reason, perfect sleep is just not something we can control.

I was thinking the same thing. Everyone has bad nights. I never had that "nirvana" moment either, sometimes it takes those bad nights to make us realise how good our other nights are.

I had moment like that the other day. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came on the radio and -- Ohhhhhh you mean a "nirvana" moment not a Nirvana moment.

See I still have humor even after a horrible night myself (AHI = 4.0, AI 0.6), which is bad for me. I also had one of the most intense nightmares I've ever had within two hours of falling asleep. Seriously, it was horrible. I was completely and utterly paranoid and enraged in my dream, and everything was just frightening and exaggerated. After I woke up, I tried to close my eyes again and all these bad acid trip type images flash in my head. After a few minutes of breathing/relaxation exercises, I fell back asleep for the rest of the night and had a nice dream. I think my body is/was fighting off something, and I WON!

Even after last night, I still feel "okay" tonight. Not great, but manageable. I also think whatever my body was fighting is gone or almost gone.

Relish the good nights! Acknowledge the bad ones and move along Douglas!

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Gary while I quit peeing 8-10 times a night on night 1 of CPAP, the other bennies came more slowly. It wasn't until I hit 9 months that I had enough energy to exercise more than a few mins. Sleep doc & cardio both said some folks take 12 months before they feel benefits...be glad you're not one of those poor folks!

I have to think that sometimes the first benefit you get is that you don't get worse. You know? Some of us are so far gone by the time we get diagnosed and treatment that just getting to a stable place is in itself a huge benefit.

Tattooyu, I have version of SLTS played on the marimba. Pretty cool!

I've been lazy off and on with cpap. But I've been compliant for 10 years now.

Indicators? Can't remember dreams.

Maybe had to get up and go to the washroom a number of times.

Perpaps I was mouth breathing....

My DME is no help. Goldilocks had similar luck with porridge....3 bowls full. DME has 1, 2, 3 cpap's. Only you can't get the basic ones covered by OHIP. And don't ask for a different mask. They have no stock. Wake up looking like scarface? They suggest relaxing the straps...no comfort cheeks there. Rainout? Turn it down. No hose bags. (Resisting calling my DME a hose bag is taking a toll on me.)

Write on the Board a hundred times. "I must find a new DME. I must find a new DME...."

DaveL
Sounding lke a cranky old guy. Rant's off.

GaryG wrote:Just a word out there for those of us hosers out there. Hang in there, most nights will be good, and its a journey, with bumps along the road, but those bumps are just that bumps. And I know I will feel better tomorrow.

So true Gary. I had a bad night on Nov 5, and was analyzing it to death. The good folks here talked me down.

MoneyGal, you're so right about the value of stabilizing instead of deteriorating. If I measure my nights as a success or failure I would live in constant yearning for something more. Ok, I do, but any night now is better than they once were. I may not get that classic 8 hours, but whatever time I do get I experience REAL sleep, and I'm so glad about that. The first time I experienced something beyond dozing I was in awe that sleep could be so good. I never want to lose touch with that sense of awe and appreciation, although the disappointing nights sure could threaten it.

The first time I had a bad night a few weeks into therapy (two back-to-back, actually) I absolutely panicked. Now I can take it in stride, particularly if there are potential factors completely outside OSA. What I've been thinking more about lately is recognizing a bad day that means I really should not get in a car and drive to work (my commute is more than an hour). If my head is in a fog bank, no worries--I will not drive. I'm also not adverse to pulling over for a nap if I recognize a problem, but I'd prefer not to get myself in that situation in the first place. Most worrisome to me is a marginal day where problems don't become evident until many miles are between me and home.

I've been fighting a cold all this week, but luckily have continued to do well despite a greater tendency to open my mouth.

Muse-Inc wrote:Gary while I quit peeing 8-10 times a night on night 1 of CPAP, the other bennies came more slowly. It wasn't until I hit 9 months that I had enough energy to exercise more than a few mins. Sleep doc & cardio both said some folks take 12 months before they feel benefits...be glad you're not one of those poor folks!

Good to hear. I can't tell you how much better I feel today after 8.5 hours of good sleep with CPAP. I'm a few weeks short of 4 months on CPAP, so I guess I can look forward to continuing improvement, as I "catch up" on sleep deficit I've built up. Like many here, I'm sure I had OSA for many years before I was diagnosed.

MoneyGal wrote:I have to think that sometimes the first benefit you get is that you don't get worse.

I forgot how lousy I used to feel until Thursday night. And even then on Friday, I know I didn't feel as bad as I used to.

I guess maybe I forgot how bad I felt, and almost take it for granted how much better I feel with CPAP. And now that I had a bad night, I will appreciate the good ones a whole lot more. Still, its not perfect as I still experience some fatigue but much better.