Feeling refreshed--a gradual process?

I received my ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet three weeks ago and have been happy with the results so far. I had two AHI's of 0.0 within the last week and most days I score under 1.0. I have days where I wake up feeling about the same as before starting therapy, but I also have days where I wake up feeling somewhat refreshed. Unfortunately, that feeling seems to dissipate after two or three hours and the urge to take a nap returns. I realize that it's very early in the game and that I shouldn't expect miracles so soon, but for the others out there who feel refreshed throughout the day, did your feeling of refreshment initially last a little while and then expand over time?

Welcome DWalsh! Everyone responds to therapy a little differently. In my case, my SPO2 dropped into the low 70s for extended periods. I was falling asleep during the day constantly and didn't sleep through the night soundly; was getting up 2-3 times during a 5-6 sleep. Once on therapy, my SPO2 was in the mid-to upper 90s and I no longer dozed during the day and I NEVER wake at night. I also didn't feel some miracle perkiness upon awakening; just lost the negatives although I do feel fine (as I did before) upon awakening. Some folks have different experiences.

In my case, I link the low oxygenation as the cause for the daytime drowsiness and having to get up during the night. I bought a Pulse Oxymeter to check my SPO2 and that gives me confidence that therapy is working well. Your Resmed machine pumps stats that you can monitor via the Myair tool and that is likely how you are checking your AHI so you are on the right track; just don't expect things to be perfect initially and if your SPO2 needs monitoring, perhaps pick up a Pulse Oxymeter; they can be had on eBay and Amazon... I bought the wrist watch type that allow for all-night recording of data.

Thanks, wiredgeorge. I sleep soundly throughout the night. The only exceptions are things like the dog waking me up or mouth leaks, but I'm in the process of seeing what works best for me – – chinstrap, mouthguard, etc.

I'm a computer nerd and I use Sleepyhead to analyze my statistics. I also have MyAir but it's too simplistic for me. I've been seriously considering buying a pulse oximeter. If my SPO2 gets too low, should I talk to my sleep tech, or are there adjustments I can safely make myself?

In my case, the SPO2 at low levels was because I had quit breathing for extended periods due to apnea events. Therapy fixed that and it was confirmed with the Pulse Oxymeter. If you have low oxygenation and you have low AHI, then there is more going on that the sleep medicos won't be able to fix and a trip to your primary care doc is in order I suspect. I hesitate to give medical advice as I am just a patient but I would first check to see if that (low SPO2 levels) is the cause of daytime drowsiness. As far as waking from the dog barking, foam ear plugs help that issues. We are currently at 11 dogs (my wife is a rescuer) and some of them can get noisy when the coyotes are singing.

11 dogs! You're the champ! At our peak my wife and I had five dogs and two cats! FYI, our dog doesn't bark at night, but she does come over to my side of the bed and nudges my hand with her nose asking for a scratch.

I just mentioned to my wife my interest in buying a pulse oximeter. She just confirmed what I already know – – I'm a nerd.

When I married my missus many years ago, she accepted I am a bike nut. If she hadn't accepted my motorcycle addiction, we probably would not have hit it off. I, in turn had to accept she was a dog loving gal. Now that we have the means and property, she rescues all she can deal with. She has about two more years till full retirement and I suspect it will get... well more doggish. I have spent many dollars fixing the property so that the dogs can run safely by fencing in about an acre with chain link fence embedded in concrete and fixing the hosue so we limit dog access in the back of the house and have three pet doors based on dog size. Presley is about 125 lbs and is a big St. Bernard. I can crawl though his pet door. She also feeds the outside cats and birds (and squirrels by default).

Hi DWalsh. There are many things that can contribute to feeling tired (other health conditions, medications, etc.). Taking a short nap in the afternoon is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you keep it to 20 to 30 minutes. When I first started using CPAP, I felt very refreshed upon awakening and noticed I had more energy throughout the day. Over time, I noticed that feeling less and less. I think some of it has to do with age and some it has to do with pets and other things that wake me during the night. While I know the best thing is to close pets out of the bedroom, I just don't have the heart to do it. Back to my CPAP experience... I have now been on CPAP for more than 15 years. Even though I notice the refreshed feeling less than I once did, I do notice that I feel much worse if I accidentally fall asleep without my mask on and manage to sleep through the night. Yes...it happens, but not often. The experience is usually different for everyone, and one important thing to remember is that sleep apnea can contribute to other health conditions. If you are concerned or think you should be feeling better than you do, you might consider talking to your physician about other things that can be causing the feelings of tiredness. Best wishes and please keep us posted!

I have found my experience to be very disappointing. Started on CPAP a few years ago, then got 3 bouts of pneumonia. Actually wondered if CPAP didn't cause one of them. Didn't use it for a couple of years, then had another study and eventually got BiPAP. I have a friend who says CPAP changed his life -- he never slept so well, and wakes up feeling great and energized every day. Not me! For a short while it seemed to help (in that I didn't feel I needed to go back to bed as soon as I got up), but after a number of months, it hardly works at all. Never feel refreshed or well-rested, even tho the Dreamapper software makes is appear that I sleep well (low AHI and no real mask leak). My fitbit gives better information and tells me how often I am "restless" and awake -- not the most accurate information, but closer to the truth. I wonder if others have had this frustrating experience. I would LOVE to get a good night's sleep one of these days. Even Ambien no longer works. Thanks!

I've only been doing this for a couple weeks now, but I feel like I have a "sleep deficit" if you will. I've been snoring for at least 30 years (according to my husband) and I don't think a couple weeks is going to make up for all that. But I have been sleepy during the day at times lately to the point I want to take a nap, which is unusual for me. I don't take a nap, I just get up and walk around some.

This discussion is making me wonder if I don't breathe deeply enough during the day or something. Do those of you who get the O2 monitor wear it during the day, too?

I have mentioned using the PULSE OXYMETER during sleep but it won't work during the day as it doesn't like movement which disrupts its ability to make accurate readings.

How quickly, and to what extent, people feel results varies greatly from one patient to the next. Some people feel better the first night (or half night) they use CPAP. Other people still don't feel hat different 6 - 12 months down the track. For the latter category it is often the case that they miss using CPAP for one night and are surprised at how much worse things are without it, despite feeling that their sleep had not improved. It is always important to remember that subjective improvement in tiredness, while greatly desirable, is only part of the picture. Assuming that the appropriate processes were followed, you can trust in the fact that someone verified that CPAP does improve your respiration and oxygenation, and therefore it is doing its job to aid your body physically. Don't be too concerned if it takes a while for you to feel the benefits, that's quite normal.