Is this a normal adjustment period?

metsdada · Post by **metsdada** » Mon May 29, 2006 6:01 am

Newbie here...

I tried CPAP - could not do it. Now am on BIPAP.

First week was hell - Back to doctor - Doctor said to 'try it for 6 weeks'. OK, I committed to putting up with this for 6 months, so be it.

Well, I found that after a month, I was doing very well. I found that I would use it for an hour one night, 3 hours another night, 1 hour, etc. Finally using it all night - where I am now.

I did initially feel 'different'. Not better - different. I NEVER woke up and said "WOW ........I feel rested!"

Now it's 2 weeks later.......... I am now worse off than before. VERY tired. I feel like the machine is making me worse. What makes it worse is that if I do not use the mask, I feel even worse!

So, the question is..... is this a "normal" adjustment period? Should I 'hang in there', or get back to the doctor?

Thanks.

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon May 29, 2006 6:55 am

CPAP helped me with a few things in the first two months and then I had a "setback" and got in bad shape again. Only after four months was I fairly well adjusted to sleeping with the system and starting to see significant improvement.

I was fortunate that my sleep clinic had a "CPAP Director" who counseled me over the phone. She even had the doctor call me back one day and he talked to me for twenty minutes. That seemed unusual!

I also made a trip to the doctor to discuss sleeping medications. He prescribed 200 mg trazodone nightly. I ended up taking 25 mg (50 mg tablet cut in half) nightly for about two months and it really helped me sleep and adjust to the system.

Your experience seems like what many of us have gone through. Keep at it and keep posting your experience on this forum - you will get lots of advice. See your doctor again if you want to. If you think you can no longer be compliant then you must see your doctor.

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:14 am

Which machine and mask are you using?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue May 30, 2006 6:18 am

Without posting your equiptment and settings and how you do things, we are at a loss for the correct ideas to pass on. Jim

metsdada · Post by **metsdada** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:23 pm

I think I'll hang in there for a while. Rooster, your input was great.

I do not know the type of machine..... and sure do not know my 'settings'. I did not receive any data from my doctor. I do know that the settings are low.

Equipment? I'm not sure of the make, but it looks like DME_guy's setup.

I'll be back with some additional info in about month.

Thanks for the feedback!