Brand new to CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
mrrn
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:26 pm
Location: Larned, Kansas

Brand new to CPAP

Post by mrrn » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:36 pm

Hi, I am a new CPAP user; less than one month. I am getting used to my new equipment. Having no trouble with the mask anymore. Wife loves it. I don't feel "normal" yet. When am I going to see a change?
MRRN

thewetlizard
Posts: 160
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:32 pm
Location: florida

Re: Brand new to CPAP

Post by thewetlizard » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:51 pm

Welcome! I have been on my CPAP since August. I haven't seen any changes yet myself. My problem is that I sleep better without the CPAP.

sronsen
Posts: 105
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:08 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY

Re: Brand new to CPAP

Post by sronsen » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:58 pm

Well, guys, you both should be feeling better by now. mrrn, what is your machine reporting for your leak rate? Until that approaches zero, you won't be getting any benefit. thewetlizard (love the name), please post your equipment so that we can ask some intelligent questions.

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kteague
Posts: 7784
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: West and Midwest

Re: Brand new to CPAP

Post by kteague » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:14 pm

Hello and welcome! Sounds like you've made good progress in this short time. Here's a few things to consider as you wonder if your expectations are on track...

If you have a machine that records treatment data, are your apneas and hypopneas adequately resolved with acceptable leaks?
If you do not have a data capable machine, did your titration study capture you for a while in REM while supine? That should increase the liklihood of your titrated pressure being effective.
If not using a full face mask, make sure mouth leaking or breathing is not compromising your treatment.
Make sure your sleep time is adequate, and for a while, get even a little extra if you feel the need. Your body and mind needs time to heal from the trauma of living with untreated OSA.
Time spent getting used to this new way of sleeping probably won't contribute as much to improved well being compared to the gains that will be seen with consistent adequate effective treatment.

If all the above is in order for a while and you still don't feel well, talk to your doctor about checking you for other possible contributing health conditions. Some feel dramatic change almost immediately, others, it is a slower process. Hard to predict.

Kathy

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Gerryk
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Chicago suburbs

Re: Brand new to CPAP

Post by Gerryk » Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:05 pm

Welcome aboard and congrats on being so successful so far.
Don't worry you just started. You said less than one month. It took me a while to realize it was helping me and I was feeling better. I started to notice that I wasn't as forgetful, that I could remember some names of new people I had met. Then one day I realized that I wasn't tired after lunch or taking a nap (I should say falling asleep because that's what happened it wasn't a planned nap.) But I first noticed that I wasn't waking up with a terrible headache and I was waking up raring to go like I did when I was a kid.