Survey On How folks adapted to therapy

At the end of my split-study PSG, I knew I wanted that sleep again...the one wearing the equipment. The 10-day wait until I got my equipment was excruciatingly long! The first 4 nights, I only slept in my 45-mins ramps as every time it hit full pressure, I woke up; then, on the 5th night, magically, I slept 9 hrs straight! Hooray!!!

I agree with Muse-Inc. After I had my split study it was like a drug. I had to have that kind of sleep again. It took a bit, not because of pressure but because of mask problems. Once the mask problems were taken care of it has been great.

i had no trouble adapting to the cpap - i was so desperate for a decent nights sleep if you told me to stand on my head and whistle dixie i would have tried it - my challenge has been changes - had to go back a year ago for another study due to problems and found i needed a pressure adjustment. dud to problems this year i ended up doing another study to find out i had spent the last year with the wrong sized mask. i feel sometimes i just start to feel "normal" again and it is time for an adjustment. there are folks on here who talk about adjusting things themselves and i wish i had the savvy to try that - maybe after more time reading here

I've only had 5 nights on the machine, at 12. The pressure is not a problem for me. I had to replace the nose mask for nose pillows after two days of damage to the bridge of my nose, with bleeding when I washed my face before going to bed again. The nose pillows are much better, but they have shifted and leaked when I move around in my sleep. (I like to fall asleep on my side, then roll over on my back when I am asleep.) So far, I am doing well and feel better. So far, it has been not as hard as I expected. Still, I'm so new to this I feel it may be premature to answer the poll just yet.

The last couple of nights, when I have awoken to a leak and reseated the nasal pillows, I have been afraid the machine is not working. Everything shows it is, but I still have the fear I'm not getting enough air. Perhaps this is left over from the event causing me to arouse and awake.

My machine does not collect detailed data, so I wonder whether I am missing out on the full experience. Perhaps I should just focus on sleeping until I see my sleep doc after 6 weeks. Perhaps I should be pushier and send him a fax asking him whether he wants me on a machine with better data capabilities. Perhaps I am overthinking all this and just need to develop better sleep hygiene between now and my next appointment.

I am currently between jobs, so I have time to deal with the severe OSA and improve my health overall.

It's been a wild ride the last 32 days.

I began this as the the eternal optimist thinking I was going to be one of those who slap on a mask, wake up with an AHI of 2 and jump out of bed ready to rock-n-roll. Must have been the sleep deprivation.

Although I've worn my mask every night, I ripped it off and threw it on the floor about 4 a.m. (twice). So much for thinking that if those people really wanted to be compliant they would NEVER do that.

Fortunately, before I started sleeping with my machine, I decided this was going to work come hell or high water, and that really has been what got me through. Well, that and the advice and support from you guys and gals. Only now can I honestly say that things aren't too bad. I still fidget a lot when I first go to bed, trying to listen for leaks that don't seem to be there, trying to get the pillow just right, moving my head gear, etc., but it's getting better.

This morning I woke up to the alarm. There was a nice breeze coming in the window, and the sound of rain outside. I can't help but wonder how long I would have slept if that damn alarm didn't have to go off...

Linda

Well, PDDean44, I definitely vote that you and Rudy Giuliani (sp?) resemble each other, strictly non-political of course. Well, you do somewhat, I think. Not 100% sure but I am leaning the way I voted, I guess. Others will surely disagree, but I ask you-do you or do you not resemble each other. How is that for a definite maybe?

I voted "harder than I expected." I started in 1993 with three overnights, but the technology and knowledge and awareness wasn't there for CSA's and I went untreated until July 15 this year. In 1993, they were more interested in mental and other reasons for me not being able to sleep and for having excessive daytime drowsiness. Looking back I have no doubt if this forum had been available, I would have found a solution. But many sleepy days later, long struggles with concentration problems, increasing tendencies to forget, it's coming together. Looking at my usage, I actually see several days of 9 and 10 hours of sleep in a single night. In spite of all my problems, I thought finally, all I needed was a prescription.

And this year, after a local overnight clinic and two clinics at UAB (Birmingham, a long trip, two trips actually), quite a bit of frustration at getting the VPAP Adapt SV and sorting out the third party payor rules, I am down to the mask. I have the Mirage Quattro FF and it works-I'm not there yet, but it works. I look bruised and battered every morning with huge puffy bags under my eyes, but hey! I'm sleeping better, I require fewer naps during the day, I can take a complete, long beneficial breath and sense oxygen saturating my lungs. What a feeling!

When I learn how to post a picture of some graphs I have a couple of questions for the group. My mask renewal time comes up in the near future and I will cycle through another choice or two. The ideal mask is there it'll just take some time. Oldern

O

I have used a BiPAP ASV for 15 months. When I first put the mask on, I get my steady EPAP pressure of 10. If that was all I had to deal with, there would be no problems. My issues begin when the ASV starts to do its job and the pressure starts going up and down. Even after 15 months of 100% compliance I still have troubles sleeping through this in the early stages of sleep, when I'm just drifting off. That is the biggest xPAP challenge I have had.

Tony