I found this hard to read. I have struggled with poor sleep for years (like, 10 years probably). It's not _that bad_, but, memory isn't great and definitely don't feel rested in the mornings. But I'm still reasonably functional, can hold down a job etc.
A while back I got tested for sleep apnea, had a 6 or a 7 on the scale (mild). I tried the CPAP machine for 6 weeks (inside the time I could return it). My number went down to 1 or something, but, I didn't feel any different, so I gave it up (this was about a year ago, maybe a bit longer).
I decided to try get to the bottom of my tiredness again and was recently at my doctors. He said it would take 3 to 6 months of using the CPAP machine before you'd know whether it would make a difference! I'm trying some other things first (giving up alcohol for 6 months as of yesterday!), taking nasal sprays and a device to stop me snoring.. Really hope something works out as it's just so annoying!
I'm very jealous in a way that the author found out the root cause of their issue. Well done keeping at it! For anyone who has successfully used CPAP, did it really take 3-6 months before you found it made a difference?
> For anyone who has successfully used CPAP, did it really take 3-6 months before you found it made a difference?
It took me a year of active effort. I was waking up multiple times a night choking, so I didn't feel like a had a choice but to stick with it. Some people don't fully wake up, so it may not seem like such an obvious thing to them. I never would have made it through without https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
We went away for the weekend recently and I forgot the power cable for my CPAP. It was a rough trip for me, and I remember thinking "I can't believe I used to just feel like this all the time".
It's not easy to sleep with something on your face. It's mentally upsetting to think you're reliant on a machine. Most people need to tweak their settings to get maximum benefit. And you're working with like 10 years of sleep debt. Why would it NOT take 3-6 months to see a difference?
It took me about six months to notice anything to be honest. I've been on it for almost two years now and I still don't feel 100% but I feel like it's a very very very slow gradual improvement.
A while back I got tested for sleep apnea, had a 6 or a 7 on the scale (mild). I tried the CPAP machine for 6 weeks (inside the time I could return it). My number went down to 1 or something, but, I didn't feel any different, so I gave it up (this was about a year ago, maybe a bit longer).
I decided to try get to the bottom of my tiredness again and was recently at my doctors. He said it would take 3 to 6 months of using the CPAP machine before you'd know whether it would make a difference! I'm trying some other things first (giving up alcohol for 6 months as of yesterday!), taking nasal sprays and a device to stop me snoring.. Really hope something works out as it's just so annoying!
I'm very jealous in a way that the author found out the root cause of their issue. Well done keeping at it! For anyone who has successfully used CPAP, did it really take 3-6 months before you found it made a difference?