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
