CPAP can't sleep

[zippozeppo]

I have sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. My doctor order a CPAP which I started 3 days ago. I don't the find the machine uncomfortable, But I can't get into a deep sleep. I wake up feeling like a slept on a bus, sure I've got the sleep. But I'm so tired and grumpy. I have a couple who responded positively right away the machine. - How long should I keep trying?

[Bertha de Blues]

I have sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. My doctor order a CPAP which I started 3 days ago. I don't the find the machine uncomfortable, But I can't get into a deep sleep. I wake up feeling like a slept on a bus, sure I've got the sleep. But I'm so tired and grumpy. I have a couple who responded positively right away the machine. - How long should I keep trying?

Three days is nothing. Some people take to it right away, others take weeks or even months. Some knowledgeable folks here can help you, but I can tell you that you just have to keep at it, keep a positive attitude, and be willing to accept even small improvements as you go along.

[Pugsy]

Which brand and model machine are you using?
What are your pressure settings?
Do you wake often during the night? If so, any idea why?
How many hours of sleep are you getting?
Do you take any medications of any kind? If so, what?

It's entirely possible that your therapy isn't yet optimal for any number of reasons and even if it is ...most people don't see immediate marked improvement. Those that you read about that do...very small minority.
It can takes weeks and months to really notice any changes even with optimal therapy.

So first of all...let's see if your therapy is even optimal. Hopefully your machine is a full data machine and available software can be used to evaluate the therapy itself.

[jweeks]

How long should I keep trying?

Hi,

Your body has spent years adapting to trying to sleep with apnea. It isn't going to be able to suddenly start sleeping normal again in just a few days. You essentially have to learn how to sleep all over again, sort of like how a newborn child has to learn to sleep through the night. Even if all the settings on the machine are right, it can take weeks or months for some people. I noticed a dramatic improvement right away, but that was because things were so awful before I started on CPAP. It took about 90 days to really clear up the brain fog and become fully functional again. If you don't notice much in the first few weeks, then you probably want to talk to your doctor or respiratory tech again. They can look at the data from your machine and see if there are issues or if they need to change the settings. Some of the more advanced users here read and monitor their own data.

Thanks,

-john-

[Cowboyup]

All it takes, is all you got.

Give it 90 days....

You got this

[Guest]

I gave it a month; hated it.
Gave it up for two weeks.
Pulled up my big girl panties and tried it again.
Settled right in.

I don't know if it's doing me any good but it's no longer doing me any harm.

[AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru]

Hey, zippo. I'm 3 weeks into my journey with PAP therapy, and also felt like it was going to do me in for the first several days. I'm still not bounding out of bed in the morning with a spring in my step and a song in my heart, but there have been some days where I felt noticeably better over the course of the day. There have also been some nights where I've struggled to fall/stay asleep, remove the mask in my sleep, wake up with a headache, and so forth. My AHI numbers have been up and down. I've simply resigned myself to make it work. And it does seem to be getting better, more than it seems to be getting worse. We're all rooting for you.

-Russ

[lliann]

I am 45 days into using my mask and machine almost faithfully.(I did not use it the night I was still doped up from the cardiac cauterization) I too went hunting for my big girl panties. Grumbling most of the way but determined.

Some nights I feel like I am trying to train an elephant. Some nights I feel...I just go to sleep. I wake up mostly for dry mouths now and I am even figuring them out. (roll over, hit button, sip water, hit button, roll over)
It's getting easier. I am still not running marathons yet (but my bucket list is alive and well so who knows?) but I don't need naps anymore. It's incredible to not need naps anymore. I can actually plan some things now.