First few days (or rather, nights)

[Nukkamtti]

I'm enjoying our "dialogue" Symmit, you are always encouraging and upbeat. I really envy your data facility. I'm sure I'd be up and analysing my data too if I had one - do you read it from the machine or have you hooked it up to your PC via a USB cable and are building all kinds of graphs and slideshows around the data?

[acebass]

I'm enjoying our "dialogue" Symmit, you are always encouraging and upbeat. I really envy your data facility. I'm sure I'd be up and analysing my data too if I had one - do you read it from the machine or have you hooked it up to your PC via a USB cable and are building all kinds of graphs and slideshows around the data?

All this data stuff, I put my mask on at about 12.15 am go to sleep, wake up and take it off at 06:30 am and as long as I don't feel like crap, io couldn't care less what my readings are!

[Nukkamtti]

If I were in that situation, I would feel the same, acebass. Instead though I am losing work more now than I was before I was diagnosed. At least then I got 12 hours "sleep", albeit disturbed. last night I got less that two hours (again) and it could hardly have been more disturbed.

[symmit]

I'm enjoying our "dialogue" Symmit, you are always encouraging and upbeat. I really envy your data facility. I'm sure I'd be up and analysing my data too if I had one - do you read it from the machine or have you hooked it up to your PC via a USB cable and are building all kinds of graphs and slideshows around the data?

Heh - it's the inner geek in me that loves numbers and graphs and things - but the interesting thing is that I can see that last night (night 6) is the first time I didn't wake from going to sleep until my alarm this morning. It did take me a while to get to sleep though.

I met with my friend who's been on CPAP for about 4 mths now and she's still finding it awkward but very much beneficial - having someone around who is a few months ahead of me is also giving me drive to persevere.

All I can really say is data or no data, don't give up, and if it's not working for you get advice here or from your doctor / care provider or whoever, but for me my sleep was so bad before therapy that I'm still buzzing from the first few nights of sleep no matter how broken, disturbed, disturbing or uncomfortable - after a while it'll become easy and second nature to just lie down, mask up and drop off, last night was an hour and a bit of lie down, mask up and stare at the ceiling...

[Sparticus]

........and sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I found out my data readings at my last visit and after going back and forwards to the hospital, switching machines (4 Times) and talking about my probs, I was stuck on 45 apneas an hour 8 weeks ago now Im 3, yes 3! last night I didnt even bother wearing my mask and it was bliss as I sleep on my front. have I been tired today, nope. I feel that once a week I need a treat and thats what I do, if someone else did it they may find it really hard as we are all totally different. At night I work the nightshift and during the day Im a full time carer for my mrs and daughter who are both disabled so sleep is really important to me were as before I use to just skip sleeping but its no fun nodding of while driving machinary or driving at 70 mph on the motorway well the grass verge anyway, my accident list was very long. I have just completed a month off work and return next week. It has made a huge difference to me having a break and concentrating on myself and my sleep patterns now I feel I can tackle the world. Sorry Im waffling again lol. My point is we are all so different and as you said whats good for the goose aint good for the gander. take it one step at a time as you can have a really good night and then a real bad one. Im now having more good than bad and my body is responding. Relax........and sleep..zzzzzzzzz

[ElleCee]

Thats all very well but only using the machine once a week does not make you compliant, therefore you cant drive.
How can you work?

Lorraine

[Sparticus]

Thats all very well but only using the machine once a week does not make you compliant, therefore you cant drive.
How can you work?

Lorraine

Its the other way round Lorraine I have a night off not one night on I use my machine all the time but when I have my weekend off then I give myself a 1 night break.

[ElleCee]

Ahh, that makes more sense.

[Nukkamtti]

All I can really say is data or no data, don't give up, and if it's not working for you get advice here or from your doctor / care provider or whoever, ...

I won't, thanks for the encouragement sorry (to everyone) if I moan some days but I am self-employed and cannot afford to lose work and yet I have had to - and much more so since I got the mask. This makes me grumpy!

On Tue and Thu I work evenings and get home c. 22:30 but don't sleep (ironic I know, until late after those shifts)....so I've given them up as Wednesday and Fridays have become impossible. Maybe that will make things better.

I am already worrying about next Friday which is an important workday for me and I have an early start....will I dare wear the mask the night before...? I guess I have to. Last night I was half-dead but started with the mask; slept for over an hour with it on. took it off to go to the loo and was asleep before putting it back on (cheating, I know), woke up 9 hours later. Was still tired so put it on and slept for another hour. So 2 hour 20 mins with mask on 9 with mask off.....which was about the total from the previous 3 nights!

But as we know it isn't real sleep without the mask and so half way through the afternoon I am totally tired again. I should have kept the mask on all night. i will tonight as I the work I have to do on Sunday is from home and doesn't need to be done in the morning.

My email to the DVLA has just been returned undeliverable as there server is unresponsive...so I still have my licence at least

[Tigers Fan]

So you think it is OK to risk killing and/or maiming people and yourself because you are having a problem informing the DVLA?

If you have been diagnosed with OSA you cannot drive lawfully until you have authority to do so from the DVLA. They give authority when you can demonstrate successful treatment.

Until that time, you risk people's lives at a level deemed unacceptable by the Law.

TF

[symmit]

So you think it is OK to risk killing and/or maiming people and yourself because you are having a problem informing the DVLA?

Bit harsh eh? People do that every day by having a glass of wine with their lunch. Or using a phone when driving, or anything else that detracts from the dexterity and attention required to drive.

If you have been diagnosed with OSA you cannot drive lawfully until you have authority to do so from the DVLA. They give authority when you can demonstrate successful treatment.

Please show us where your above quote is written in law. I think you'll find that the correct interpretation isn't about any particular affliction but whether or not it is causing excessive daytime sleepiness or lack of alertness. If it's not then there's nothing to declare. Unless you're looking at different documentation to what I am.

[Sparticus]

So you think it is OK to risk killing and/or maiming people and yourself because you are having a problem informing the DVLA?

If you have been diagnosed with OSA you cannot drive lawfully until you have authority to do so from the DVLA. They give authority when you can demonstrate successful treatment.

Until that time, you risk people's lives at a level deemed unacceptable by the Law.

TF

Thats a bit harsh, looks like Im breaking the law as well then cos I was diagnosed about 4 months ago and I still havent got round to it yet. I was told that when Im settles and me and my machine are working fine then contact them. As for risking peoples lives, no I disagree because if I was tired I wouldnt drive.

[Nukkamtti]

So you think it is OK to risk killing and/or maiming people and yourself because you are having a problem informing the DVLA?

If you have been diagnosed with OSA you cannot drive lawfully until you have authority to do so from the DVLA. They give authority when you can demonstrate successful treatment.

Until that time, you risk people's lives at a level deemed unacceptable by the Law.

TF

Oh calm down, the smiley meant it was a joke. I haven't driven for a year nor had I planned to. And that was before I got the diagnosis.

[BobMcL]

Letter from DVLA ...

When the letter arrives its like a burden off the soul and for me meant my job was safe for now ... as long as things don't get worse ....

I too, ashamedly, waited for 3 weeks before telling DVLA but luckily didn't have to drive during that time ... If I had needed to ... I think I would have done so but I know that wasn't the right thing to think.

The 3 weeks I waited were the weeks between diagnosis and confirmation of compliance (average over 4hours a night) and this was on the advice of my sleep clinic.

Only you can decide what is right for you.

[Sparticus]

My God!

I guess I will have to get my finger out and tell them but I dont think my emplyer will be happy as I drive at work