How soon should I expect results?

I just started using an auto cpap, three nights so far. A couple hours the first night then two full nights though somewhat restless. When should I expect to feel a difference? I'm sure this has been asked several times, but I'm on my iPhone now so navigating the search etc... is a pain. Anyway thanks for any input.

Steve

telest wrote:I just started using an auto cpap, three nights so far. A couple hours the first night then two full nights though somewhat restless. When should I expect to feel a difference? I'm sure this has been asked several times, but I'm on my iPhone now so navigating the search etc... is a pain. Anyway thanks for any input.

Steve

My improvement was dramatic and the next day after a dreamless, perfect night's sleep. The one night I had a home sleep study and went with a CPAP was yucky.... dreams, awakenings, etc.

Let's hear from others.

telest wrote:I just started using an auto cpap, three nights so far. A couple hours the first night then two full nights though somewhat restless. When should I expect to feel a difference? I'm sure this has been asked several times, but I'm on my iPhone now so navigating the search etc... is a pain. Anyway thanks for any input.

Steve

First of all, you haven't filled out your profile with what equipment you're using or what your machine settings are (pressure, Ramp, C-Flex/EPR settings, etc.). If you're using a nasal mask and leaking your therapy air out your mouth, you're never going to feel much improvement because your therapy is being compromised by the air/pressure loss. If your Auto is set for a wide range of pressures, the pressure changes are going to disturb your sleep and if the minimum pressure is too low, it's not going to be effective, either.

Any more questions?


Den

Hi,
Congrats on making it two nights, even though a bit restless.

Everyone is different, but a lot of people have to pay back a lot of lost sleep to their bodies before they notice a change.

Some folks start to feel better in a few days, some a few weeks, and some it takes several months.

You may notice symptoms which were caused by osa, such as high blood pressure, nocturia, daytime sleepiness, brain fog, resolve themselves
rather quickly.. Lets hope this is the case with you, and you will feel much better soon..

Its also helpful to keep a log or diary how you are feeling of each night and day for awhile, so you can notice slight improvements.

good luck!

elena

It took a few months for me. I think I had a huge sleep debt to catch up on, though. For a while there I was sleeping a lot and one day I just felt better.

From reading this forum it seems that cpap responses are like noses--most everybody has them and they are all different.

As for me it took about a week of auto-cpap (wide settings of 4-20) for the sleep changes to become really noticeable. And during that time I can't really say who was doing the greater learning--me or the machine. Then it took about 6 weeks for there to be a very significant positive shift in my overall health. Consistently using the auto-cpap has made a huge difference over time. Even now, seemingly small changes can make a big difference (good or bad) in terms of response. As an example, last night I made a seemingly minor change in my humidifier settings and that resulted in a very poor night's sleep.

You might want to edit your profile to include the equipment, especially device and mask, you are using as that can give others a better reference point as to what you are dealing with. if you don't already have one I highly recommend a detailed data (not just compliance date) capable machine. With the right software it can provide feedback to help you know how to adjust both yourself and the machine to get better sleep.

The key seems to be to hang in there and not give up.

Good luck!

Hi,
I started CPAP last year, and just the past month I have noticed a huge difference. I went back to a nasal mask which is what I had in titration. This is working for me very well, just now having to figure out what is amiss with my mask. It has been a great month, and now my mask is acting up! I am still getting great numbers and feeling good, just have to wear mask very tight. I posted on this topic this morning to see what and where I am messing up.
Don't give up! Hoping you will have better and faster improvement than I have because it is out there! It is so different for everyone, so just know it is achievable, just takes time.
Good luck
Susan

Steve, the short answer to your question is "it depends." Some people feel better right away, some take much longer. Three nights in a row is actually quite a good start, so try to practice patience. Just like you didn't fee the results of your sleep problem right away, you might not feel the results of effective therapy right away. And you might still be several nights away from "effective" therapy. Hang in there, though, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not an onrushing train!

Thanks all for the encouraging words. I will be sure to update my profile with equipment info.

Steve