DIMINISHED CAPACITY

SUBJECT: DIMINISHED CAPACITY

I am 54 (a CPAP Talk newbie) and have obstructive sleep apnea. I was diagnosed when I was 46; however, my ex-wife had mentioned my apneas, years before my diagnosis. I tried a CPAP device 6 years ago but couldn’t sleep while using it. It was too invasive. I am desperate now. My only means of mitigating my OSA right now is a mandible repositioning device my orthodontist made for me. Along with being chronically fatigued the past 10 years, I have been experiencing the following mental degradation: loss of short term memory, disjointed/convoluted thinking, poor judgment, difficulty calculating numbers or equations, difficulty making simple decisions; disorganized methods of processing & manipulating information… I could go on.

I would like to try a PAP machine one more time. If that doesn’t work I will opt for a surgery to remove excess tissue in soft palette area of my mouth.

My question is this… Has anyone who has had OSA for years and experienced similar mental erosion (see above) experienced a true reversal of these same symptoms after being successfully treated for OSA? By “successfully treated” you are now experiencing a higher state of mental functioning (acuity), a real, tangible improvement in your brain functioning (better memory, more efficient processing of information, more organized thinking)?

Thank you from California

Hi - the answer is absolutely yes! Many, many people have been where you are (including having trouble with masks and machines) and come all the way back to happy, functional, healthy life.

You can help us to help you by going to the user control panel below the cpap logo, then click on Profile and enter (in text please, not icons) the full name and model #'s of all your equipment and that will automatically appear under all your posts from now on so everyone has that much to start with when they want to advise you. Also include your prescribed pressure(s) at least in your next note as that's pretty basic as well. Do you use the ramp feature? What problems have you had with which masks? How much help do you get from the dealer, the doctors, insurance co., etc.? How do you sleep (front, back, etc.?) and what might be issues around getting to sleep or otherwise?

In other words, the more you can tell us, the faster someone will post. Go to the lightbulb at the top of the page and start reading as well - there's a ton of good links to learn... and remember that things have changed technically since you began so you'll be surprised at what's out there now.

My mental improvement is significant enough so that my BOSS mentioned it.
My mood has changed, too.--I hardly ever get all weepy, or blow my stack over nothing.
Previously, I was a basket case.
I also feel sexier, and have way more energy.
If you are planning to get a new machine, (they have improved vastly)
the folks on this forum will guide you to what machines offer more in the way of comfort and flexibility.
Please note the machine listed at the bottom of my post--many recommend it--but there are more!

deleted post

Before xPAP, I couldn't function, do my work, hold down a decent conversation, remember what I was doing, concentrate, or just about anything. At one point I thought I had early onset Alzheimers. At another point I considered if I needed to be put on disability. Thank God it was sleep apnea.

Almost immediately, I got most of my congnitive function back and I am still getting more and more of it back every day. My wife noticed an immediate difference both physically and mentally.

If you're asking if being on CPAP is worth it, the answer is a million times, YES!

There is no doubt about it. I encourage you to try it and stick with it because even with the surgery I've heard there is a chance you'll end up on XPAP anyway, so there is good reason to try and make it work. It's doesn't necessarily mean it will be easy because for some folks it take a while to acclimate to the mask and machine, but if you stick around this forum an do some research, post your problems and questions, you'll get the information and support you need to achieve success.

After many years of successful XPAP treatment, I can almost walk and chew gum at the same time. Jim

Only two months for me. What I've noticed... haven't had an early morning headache in over a month, have stopped getting up 3-4 times a nite to pee. All good. However, some days are better and I feel more awake and alert. Other days, not so much. I think I have to give it more time. Have an appointment with my sleep specialist in a few weeks. Looking forward to hearing what she has to say.