Another newbie with a story to share!

I am yet another newbie, and thought I'd share my story in hopes that it might help someone..

Many hours of reflection have caused me to realize that I have probably had OSA for a VERY long time, maybe since childhood. I have always had sleep problems, and have had a running battle with myself over needing to go to sleep vs. wanting to go to sleep. About 10 years ago I was put on sleeping pills because it would take me a long time to go to sleep, then I would wake up constantly. I was told I had a 'sleep disorder' and it was left at that. I now understand what the problem was and wish (a.) that my Dr. at the time would have been better informed about sleep disorders and tried to find the cause rather than treat the symptom, and (b.) that I would have taken a more active role in my own health care.

What led me to the Dr. recently was a general feeling of fatigue and weakness, muscle soreness/stiffness, especially in my legs, tiredness during the day (I was taking 2 to 3 naps each day on weekends),memory problems, excessive weight gain, sore throat and headache in the morning and sore teeth, jaws, from grinding/clenching and night sweats Plus, my two dogs were starting to be very crabby at me in the morning. One of them just stopped sleeping with me, and the other one, normally a very sweet, loving dog, started to growl at me every morning when I tried to get him out of bed, then seriously bit me one morning.

Then I remembered that someone I shared a hotel room with several years ago said I stopped breathing when I slept. At the time I didn't think it was a big deal and forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago something triggered that memory and I started doing research on OSA. I also started sleeping propped up on the couch. (I haven't gotten growled at or bit since I started doing that!) Someone told me about a Dr. that was fresh out of medical school and was well aware of sleep disorders and OSA. When I went to see her, I was able to speak intelligently about OSA and my symptoms. She agreed that I probably had OSA and ordered a sleep study.

I had my sleep study two weeks ago Wednesday. I slept for about 3 hours before they put the mask on me. I was astounded to learn that I had NO REM sleep, had oxygen desat, averaged 43.3 AHI per hour and had over 20 episodes of period limb movement (PLMS) per hour, plus snoring and bruxism (teeth grinding). After the mask was put on, almost all of the remaining time (5 hours) was spent in REM, I didn't snore or grind my teeth, and my episodes of PLMS were greatly reduced.

I have no insurance, so I was able to choose my equipment. After much research on the web, including this forum, I chose the ResMed Autoset Spirit APAP with the heated humidifier. I have gone through several masks and have settled on the ComfortLite 2 with the simple cushion. I am very happy with what I have, and with the information this forum provided me. My pressures are set at 12 and 17 and I have the humidifier set at 3. I am still sleeping on the couch, sort of propped up, and seem to be sleeping well. I am not as tired during the day, although on weekends I take naps. I haven't had a headache since I started APAP, my teeth and jaws don't hurt, I don't have night sweats, and my muscles aren't as sore.

I suspect that it will take a long time to completely regenerate my body and muscles after years of PLMS, oxygen desat and no REM sleep, although I am very hopeful. I am 100% compliant, and no longer dread going to sleep - I look forward to it now, and actually find the air blowing into my nose soothing and comforting. For those of you who are also just starting, DON'T GIVE UP!! Keep at it and one day you will realize how much benefit you are receiving. I honestly believe that CPAP has saved my life. On a side note - my sister is a respiratory therapist in a hospital and claims to know all about OSA, yet, knowning about some of my symptoms, was not able to put the pieces together. It is up to those of us who suffer from OSA to educate those around us, including our Drs, if necessary. (My Dad is having a sleep test tomorrow night!!)

What has helped me more than anthing is reading the posts on this forum and learning from all of you very intelligent. very supportive people. I just hope that I can contribute and and provide as much support as you all do.

Sorry this was so long. I guess I was too enthusiastic about sharing!

I too am a newbie, and also very excited with the results of my CPAP so far.
I also grind me teeth, and now you've got me wondering whether the therapy will also solve this problem. I also was getting very little decent REM. Since I've been on the machine, my nocturia has almost completely stopped. I agree that this condition is not nearly diagnosed enough. I also have a question for all those great people out there in this forum- Do you still use the machine when you take a nap? Hopefully, I won't need many more naps, but I was wondering if anybody uses it for those occasions.

Thanks,

Steve

I use my machine for naps. I do not sleep at all without it anymore. I used to wake up from naps tired and irritated and wondering why I bothered. Now I wake up refreshed!! It's great!

[quote="steview"]I too am a newbie, and also very excited with the results of my CPAP so far.
I also grind me teeth, and now you've got me wondering whether the therapy will also solve this problem. I also was getting very little decent REM. Since I've been on the machine, my nocturia has almost completely stopped. I agree that this condition is not nearly diagnosed enough. I also have a question for all those great people out there in this forum- Do you still use the machine when you take a nap? Hopefully, I won't need many more naps, but I was wondering if anybody uses it for those occasions.

Thanks,

Steve

_________________



Steve, I used to grind my teeth. I found out it is due to a calcium/magnesium deficiency. I started taking a good cal/mag w/D supplement and the grinding went completely away in two days. I still supplement and it has never recurred. It has been a good number of years, so I know it works.

Just my .02

Dan

steview wrote:I also have a question for all those great people out there in this forum- Do you still use the machine when you take a nap? Hopefully, I won't need many more naps, but I was wondering if anybody uses it for those occasions.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve, my doctor told me that he wanted me to use the machine when I take a nap and that's what I'm doing. Since I retired, I've always enjoyed a short afternoon nap and that hasn't changed since I began therapy. The difference is that now I just feel like doing it instead of feeling like I have to do it. And for the first time in a long time, I wake up refreshed.

Don

Thanks for all the great advice! Guess I'll start using it for all my afternoon naps (may they be few and far between!!).
BTW, I registered with the site, but i never can seem to get logged in. Anyways, here's my favourite quote:"The longest journey begins with one step". I think this is very appropriate for all us xPAP rookies!!

Steve.

Do you still use the machine when you take a nap?

Yes.

O.

MadDogz: Your story sounds familiar. I had osa for 20 or 30 years. The last six years I was seeing doctors and they at first failed to diagnose my problem and then later misdiagnosed it. I had many of the same symptoms as you including bruxism which I believe has gone away since I started cpap.

Should you use cpap when napping? If I take a 30-minute nap without cpap I will stop breathing over and over and after 30-minutes I am more fatigued than when I started the nap.