[Treatment] How long it took you CPAP users to feel all the good benefits of the CPAP therapy?

[wishicansleep]

Dear Rousseau21

I have been on CPAP for 5 months. Whilst I do not snore or get poked in the back to start breathing while on CPAP, I do not think that I actually sleep any better and struggling with the mask leaking issues. So it does work but some sleep like a baby with CPAP and some don't (not yet anyway!).

Good luck.

[Luvmyzzz]

RE: How long it took you CPAP users to feel all the good benefits of the CPAP therapy?
Since I started my new CPAP, only 1 day & I am a NEW person!! I have so much more energy!
(I had my old CAP for 10 years before I was told it was supposed to be replaced 5 years ago!!)
Good thing I got a new doctor!

[Charlie Sue]

I have been using my xpap for 6 months now with no improvement in how I feel. I switched masks a couple of times to chase down leaks and have had that resolved for a couple of weeks now. Now I am trying to work on the humidification. At first, I was very dry with nose bleeds, but not congested. Now no dryness, but am congested and have a headache every morning--which was not a problem I had before. I think one of the hardest things for me is changing only one thing at a time (patience is not my strong suit). My doctor did tell me that 10% of people who begin therapy do not have an improvement in how they feel.

All the above aside, I know that using the xpap is helping to reduce my risk of heart problems, diabetes, etc. Thus, I will keep using it and hope that eventually I do start to sleep better, which will lead to feeling better. I have had sleep problems for 20+ years, so 6 months isn't so much time in the grand scheme of things.

Hang in there, let the folks here help you, and try to focus on the more intangible benefits. Just my 2 cents...

Charlie Sue

[Dawei]

I'm late in throwing in my 2 cents worth, but in my view the good benefits began right after starting therapy. In the first category of good benefits, I no longer had to fight from dozing off behind the wheel and I no longer awoke at night gasping for breath. Also, I no longer received spousal reports of struggling to breathe during sleep and loud snoring. In addition, my risk of all sorts of nasty health problems was reduced, since untreated apnea can lead to a number of serious health issues. To me, this first category of good benefits is paramount. The second category of good benefits is the feel good or better variety. This one is where almost every person has a different experience. I'd say, it took at least a couple months, as Sleepster mentioned, to truly feel better during the day. And this feel good variety can vary even from night to night, depending on things like nasal conjestion, number of needed potty trips and even my mental state that night.
A final note (if someone else hasn't already mentioned it), your reported AHI numbers have a way to go to reach what's considered effective therapy levels. This used to be an AHI under 5, but recently, some sources have switched to a goal of under 10 as reaching good therapy. I don't believe you will experience the best of the feel better category benefits until your AHI gets down into this range.

David

[holden4th]

I only had 6 hours sleep last night, 3.5 on CPAP until my nostrils got a bit blocked and the rest was dozing without it. Today I felt like crap and know I should have bothered to get out of bed, used the nasal spray I've got and waited for it's affects to let me get back to sleep. A night without CPAP is now very obvious. I also removed the soft cervical collar and in hindsight that was also a mistake. I suppose the flight back from Perth, a late arrival at home and a two hour time shift all contributed. I'm going to bed after this post and the mask will stay on all night.

So while my figures are good but not brilliant at this point in time, the progrees I've made is very noticable when I don't use my machine.

[toniko]

I'm in my 5th week now, AHI dropped from 72 during sleep study to average of 0.5-5.0, depending on the night.

The first morning I woke up after only 6 hours feeling like a chipmunk, ready to take over the world

Subsequent days I still felt pretty good in the morning, but now I don't know if I'm just getting used to getting sleep, but my necessary hours are now creeping upwards toward 8 per night, and I find myself yawning in the morning - but I haven't craved the afternoon naps that I always needed pre-CPAP.

I find I'm still having a difficult time trying to get my full face mask to stay on all night though (I alternate between the nasal pillow and full face mask), without waking me up around 3 AM trying to blow itself off my face

[Rousseau21]

I appreciate all the feedback from everyone !!!

I'm on CPAP for almost 3 months now and I'm more use to it.

I don't really see the benefits so far even if I have great numbers but my Inhalotherapist think I should probably go with a fixed pressure.

From what I see in this forum also fixed pressure is probably the way to go !

I have an appointment with my doctor in two weeks and we will see what will happen.

More to come

[sautee]

I felt better after the first night, and continue to improve daily. AHI dropped from 15 during sleep study, to 1.5 the first night on cpap. It is still averaging between 1 and 3, with three weeks of cpap use, gradually adjusting to the machine. I've tried several masks and have been patiently figuring out how to stop leaks and improve. Fatigue is 80% gone, no more need for naps, and I wake up without that foggy head feeling. I am not surprised that I occasionally still have a "bad" night with more leaks and AHI around 3 but most nights that is not the case. It takes time to adjust to sleeping in space cadet gear.

I am so grateful and loving my cpap, and this forum for all that I am learning.

Keep at it and you will find your way to improved sleep and overall better health!

Question: How did you go about trying different masks in a 3 week period? I'm only allowed one at a time. Thanks!

[bayrunner]

I have been using my CPAP machine for 12 months now. It has made no difference to my tiredness. I only get to sleep for 3-4 hours per night but keep the mask on for around 7 hours ( I usually go to bed around 11pm and am awake by 3.30am).

When I look at my Sleepyhead software it shows me having sleep apneas even when I know I am awake. I am averaging about 6 AHI's (my test results were from 16 to 28)
It does stop my snoring, but I do wake up with a sore chest every morning.

Have stopped using machine for over a week and only difference is no sore chest. Still have very little sleep and still tired during day.

Specialist has no idea what the problem is, but said it would make no difference to my health if I did not use it as I am mild to moderate.

Anyone else have any similar experiences? Is the specialist correct about no long term effects if I do not use machine?