My first night

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 10:03 am

Hi ALL! My first night was a success! I went to bed late (fiddling with the setup, making sure the mask was seated right, etc..) and finally was able to go sleep at 11:30. I woke up at 3:30, due to dryness in my throat and an overwhelming need to use the bathroom. I visited the oval office and then I changed the setting on the humidifier from 2 to 5

I put my mask back on, and went back to sleep, no problem. I woke up again at 6:20 (which is my wake up time on weekdays) and had to use the bathroom again (not uncommon for me, hoping it improves with continued APAP use). My throat felt better, had some condensation in the hose (need a cover for it), got wet when I took the mask off.

When I came back to bed, I put the mask back on, and decided to try it without the chinstrap - bad idea. The chinstrap seems to help hold the Aura headgear onto my head. Also, I started swallowing some air. I put the chinstrap back on, and fell back asleep. I woke up to my alarm at 8:30.

I could still sleep more (if I didn't have plans today that I need to get moving for), but I don't feel as groggy as I normally do. My jaw aches a little, I don't think those muscles like being held closed all night (feels like I was clenching my teeth all night, which is possible as I do have bruxism). My hubby didn't hear me snore at all and said he loves how quiet the machine is. The only thing you can hear is my breathing, which he says is SO much quieter than my snoring.

The APAP was set for 4 -20, I changed it before using it to 6 -11. The sleep report never gave a setting range for APAP, and titrated me at 8 for CPAP. I will have to wait a while before I can buy the smartcard reader, so I won't be able to analyze my estimated range.

Overall, I feel better. I am happy I didn't remove the mask in my sleep. My honey doesn't mind the machine and didn't laugh too loud when he first saw me in the mask/chinstrap (he didn't laugh, but I know he wanted to razz me...) My hands don't hurt as bad as they normally do (symptom of my fibro that I have just come to accept - hoping that disappears too), and my morning fog is reduced.

I will check in at the end of the day to let you know what my awake time is like.

Thanks for your good wishes and support, I KNOW I am on the right path, and really am grateful for this forum and the friends I've met here!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:39 am

newgal, what a great start!! And what a good time to get a more rested feeling...as you start into the busy holiday season!

Don't be surprised if there are minor setbacks some nights. For a first night, you really got it together. You did your homework well!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:43 am

SiriusBright · Post by **SiriusBright** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 12:37 pm

That's great news about your first night. I'm in my second week and am still trying to get adjusted, waking up in the middle of the night to use the oval office, etc.

Anyhow, about your comment on the Fibro and the hands hurting. I've had a burning sensation in my hands for months, visited several neurologists and other doctor's about it, and sometimes I wonder if it's related to the lack of sleep I've been getting b/c of the apnea. Is that the same sensations as to what you're feeling with the fibro?

Thanks,
SiriusBright

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 12:51 pm

Newgal, Congratulations You've made intelligent decisions regarding your health. Plus, your family is a great support group. You have it all, girl.

I think you set your Auto correctly, and your Smart card will ultimately give you the results. Yes, you do need to make or get a cover for your hose. I made mine out of fleece, plus I have "quilt batting" around the hose before sliding the cover over it. Great insulation - I've never had rain-out.

Your first night was excellent - one's approach and attitude are important to success in CPAP-World. Keep it up.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 1:28 pm

Newgal,

Sounds like you are off and running. Hope you have continued progress and success.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:26 pm

Way to go! It took me about 3 months before I decided that I had made peace with my setup. You're off to a great start! Welcome!

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:10 pm

Hi all! Today is a great day! I just took a 3 hour nap with my APAP, and am even less foggy. I am hoping someday to give up naps on the weekends, but they've pretty much mandatory for so long, I don't mind them.

Thanks for all of your great comments - I know I did my homework, but you all were my very knowledgable study partners, so the credit goes to you, too!

SiriusBright-
The pain in my hands feels like I have been out in the cold for too long, and they ache around the joints. It's worse in the mornings, and gets worse with cold weather (I can tell you if cold weather is coming by the pain in my hands). If I get worse, then the pain also starts in my feet, and when my body is all out of whack, it starts in my knees and my elbows. It all started in 1997 when I was rookie police officer, working swing shift, and working on patrol. My sleep was all messed up and I was totally stressed out. It got really bad, and I thought I would have to quit my job. I treated it with accupuncture and Chinese herbs, which took me from about 50% functioning with pain, to 80% and minimal pain. Ever since then, I have had to be very careful to get "enough" sleep, and really listen to my body. I have had it ever since, and had just decided to tolerate/ignore it.

I don't know if APAP will cure it (i.e., if it is related to SA), but I do know that the morning after my sleep study was the first morning I haven't had pain upon waking in my hands. I read somewhere that doctors thought the fibro pain was caused by too much cortisol in the persons symptoms, and cortisol is considered to be a hormone that is released when the body is stressed. I could make a non medical opinion leap of logic and say that if one's body was stressed from sleep deprivation, it is possible they have elevated levels of cortisol. You might also check the fibromyalgia forum. Someone also once told me that some researchers believe fibro is actually "undiagnosed sleep apnea".

Take care all, I will keep you all posted and can't say enough about grateful I am for everything you all share here.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): APAP

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:24 pm

Newgal,

Do your hands turn white in cold weather, if you go into a cold swimming pool or when you put them in cold water? My husbands suffers from RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) in his right hand, but also has something called Raynaud's Phenomenon where the vessels in the hand contract in cold and cut off/down the circulation to the hand. They turn white and hurt severely. Also, the hand has somewhat of a curl to it where if he wants to straighten out the fingers, he literally has to press the hand down against something. Just wondering if you have any of the same symptoms. I pray for your sake that you don't.

Also, regarding the cortisol levels, I was told that when you suffer from OSA, it's hard to lose weight because a lot of your levels are off, including the cortisol, and that's why it can seem impossible to drop the weight no matter how good you behave until you get treatment. How right this information is, I don't know but that was explained to me.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:23 am

newgal,
That's wonderful.
Great progress - what will you be called when you're a happy experienced user?

O.

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:39 am

Hi All! I am really excited, had another great night of sleep, mask stayed on, only one trip to the bathroom, more awake this morning. I feel so blessed that my first two nights have been fairly problem free, and am sure it is a result of the great information available here (like, my hose is up through my headboard, the machine is in a lower drawer of my nightstand, etc...)

Sleepless in LI,
I am grateful to report that I don't have any of those symptoms. I just wake with achey and stiff hands, wears off throughout the day. I am sorry to hear your hubby has that, it sounds terrible

As far as the levels of cortisol, that makes sense re: the weight loss. I have always been tempted to buy those weight loss pills, Cortislim (?), you see advertised on late night tv...never have tried it though.

Ozij,
You know, I have been pondering that... I still haven't come up with a good name for when I am no longer "new" -- I figure I have a while to figure it out. Unless something comes to me, I will probably go by "Tash", which is my nickname in real life

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:36 am

Newgal,

I'm so happy to read that you are adapting so well to the treatment. And I'm REALLY happy you don't have any of those symptoms I asked you about. I hope you continue to have such positive results from the treatment. It's so nice to read your posts. Best of luck.

allen · Post by **allen** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:39 pm

Newgal,
Congratulations!

You mentioned that the morning fog wasn't so bad. Could you describe "fog" for me? I see the term a lot here, but I'm not sure what sensation it refers to.

Thanks!
Allen

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:26 am

Allen,

For *me*, morning fog is like being in a groggy fog, where my reactions are delayed, my short term memory is even slower, and I need caffeine to feel awake. (I only drink two cups of coffee or Coke/day or I get the shakes....) Anyhow, that feeling slowly lifts as I "wake up", even though I will have been awake for hours....hope that helps.

Newgal

allen · Post by **allen** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:28 am

Newgal,
Your description of morning fog is perfect!

I "get it" and I thank you!

Allen

Mask

Mask

My first night

My first night

Hands Hurting