British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Just been to the sleep clinic today 12 weeks after my sleep study for them to say i had apnea and needed a cpap machine. They have told me that a nurse will call me over the next few days and make arrangements to go to the ward were the sleep clinic is to receive the mask... Is this normal as it seems to have been ages since the sleep night in and i am so fed up with being this tired. I have a severe underactive thyroid and have been fighting the system for at least 3 years now to get some help.

slightly scared off this all not sure why but releived that i might eventually feel better. Can anyone say how long after starting to use the machine that they noticed the benifit.

Cheers

Lavinia

Hi Lavinia,
Everyone is different when it comes round to the time it take to feel more energetic.
Some notice it right away, others a month, so it is not a one fits all.
When you go to the clinic to pick up your machine discuss the options for masks as the mask is where most people have problems. Ask to see a range of masks and if you breath through your nose ask to see Nasal Pillows also. If you breath through your mouth you will need a fullface mask, these cover your mouth and nose. Nasal Masks cover your nose and Nadal Pillows just sit on the end of your nose and slightly into them nostrels. Pillows can cause a little irritation inside the nostrels for a few days until your nose gets used to them, but if you can use them they are worth a few days irritation, they are lighter and easier to use. They are not for everyone, but do ask to see them if you breath through your nose.
Good luck with everything and let us know how you get on.Ooooo

Sometimes I wonder why I post using a phone! The Ooooo was added by the phone predictive text. It also does not always put in what you select or type. Sometimes I read what I posted and think OMG! thats not what I typed sometimes I can edit it and sometimes I can't.

Anyway, welcome to them Hoseheads

Hi Lavinia

I am just a week into my CPAP machine and I also felt it was taking forever to get the machine etc. Now I have it, it is amazing....they said because I have around 53 episodes and hour that it will take time for me to feel much better, but I have to say that getting any sleep at all has already made a difference. I am tired still, but not exhausted...that is a big, big difference

Good luck with it all

I am three weeks into my therapy and am seeing a nice difference. I don't sleep long enough in any night, usually 5 or 6 hours because I stay up too late. However, the quality of my sleep began to get better the first couple of nights. I had to get used to sleeping with the hose tucked under my arm and make sure the pillow didn't push the mask out of the way, but it feels more natural now and I sometimes forget the machine is working.

I no longer get out of bed planning how soon I can get back into it. Most days I sleep all the way through with the mask on, but the first couple of nights I gave myself permission to remove it an hour before I had to get up. Immediately my husband noticed me snoring again. This forum has helped me fram my expectations, so keep reading!

Hi Deb
I'm around three weeks into my therapy now and experiencing much the same as you. I have slept every night with the CPAP since I was given it and I would go without it now.
At first I felt worse, I was so tired, it was hard to believe that I was actually sleeping better. I took the mask off for the last hour a couple of morning in the first week, mainly because I was a bit worried about marks from the mask on my face but my husband said that I was snoring straight away and the mars don't last long.
I have noticed subtle changes over the past three weeks, at this point, three weeks on I'm feeling so much better. I've had a cold for the past week but despite this I now have so much more energy.

I'm just sorry that I've had to wait for so long for the treatment. The machine has turned my life around. I hope it does the same for you.