given all the trial and error and troubleshooting and breakthroughs that i've gone through to become successful with CPAP, i figure that's the norm. but are there also large number of folks who sort of "get it and forget it" AND (this is important) are having good results as measured by objective data?
I would estimate that about 10 - 15 % of my patients fall into that category. I'm always pleasantly surprised when I don't hear from a patient at all, finally arrange a follow-up appointment, and then find they are 100% compliant, with low leaks, low AHI, and they feel better. Sometimes, no news really can be good news.
ok, then I'm not an oddball after all. kind of just scoping out how representative a sample we all are on a sleep apnea support group forum. one might think that this group would not be representative, but i'm not so sure. i think we're pretty typical. we have a small number of folks who seem to have picked it up right away, and a majority of patients trying different things to make it work. i agree with Duane though that as a rule, it boils down to attitude.