Party time! Start the parade! It has taken me three weeks, but I have conquered the CPAP!
Part of my problem was getting the right fit with my nasal pillow. The respiratory therapist who had trained me to use the machine recommended that I use the "petite" nasal pillow, even though the technician who had administered the sleep test had recommended the "Medium" size. (Luckily, my particular CPAP model came with four different sizes of nasal pillows.) I had movement problems with the smallest size, so I moved to the "small" size. The problems persisted. Finally, after trying the medium size, I have found complete success.
Now, I can sleep all night! When I move, I do have to do a little "adjustment" sometimes, but it is nominal. I can't believe how good it feels to wake up refreshed! Alert! Awake! I can start my day immediately. This is quite a change from before when I never seemed to fully wake up until mid afternoon, after my nap. I still rest for a little while in the afternoons. Most of the time, I don't fall asleep. Once I'm up, I can keep going until 8 or 9 o'clock. What an immense improvement.
My problem now is getting to sleep--or staying asleep. This may be the residual result from the years of trouble I had with sleep. It could be connected to the dementia I have. I am working with it, though. Luckily, I have the ability to sleep later in the morning on those nights I am up...
So, my CPAP has helped the sleep apnea problem--now what do I do about the wakefulness, when my mind is whirring?
Leah
Hi Leah -
I am so happy for you! What a effort - you stuck it out. I think this could be one of those things that people try and then after a few nights just find it too hard to deal with the mask and give up. ANd then they just go through life with sleep issues! So be it they might say. You've proven it doesn't have to be that way.
It sounds like you had differing professional opinions on what size pillow would work best for you. This must have been a bit frustrating to say the least. In the end it took your own perseverance (ok trial and error) to get to the best equipment and I suspect process (setting the environment like lighting, temperature, music and creating a routine for your "shutdown") for a comfortable night sleep.
Thanks for sharing this with other posters. I am certain you are helping another CPAP users to keep trying. It is so important.
All the best, sue
Thanks, Sue, for responding to my blog. I write for two reasons: it is helping me in my struggle with dementia AND I want to help others. It is important to me that I make my life matter.
Thanks, again.
Leah