First night: not impressed. Does it get better?

I thought that I would write a follow-up to my posts. It's not quite a year later, but close enough that anyone who is interested in whatever happened to me, is about to find out.

I still think that I was led down a yellow-brick road by at least my audiologist who meant well, but then I extended this whole thing into a fantasy that I would get better sleep, which would equal a better life. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening!

I still wonder if the $60+ a month that I am paying the DME for what seems like forever is the worst medical money I've ever spent.

But I still put on the mask every night. Sometimes I sleep with it all the way through the night. Sometimes I take it off in the middle of the night, usually unconsciously. My quality of sleep is about the same as without, sometimes lesser quality. I still call the machine and the mask "Stupid".

I did get a better mask, a Resmed Mirage Quattro. Great improvement over the other stupid mask that didn't work at all.

So....why do I still use it, if I have such a dim view of this whole thing. A co-worker named "Mark". Mark called his CPAP "stupid." And he offered me his CPAP, because he didn't use it. Mark never got a chance to give it to me. He died of a heart attack a week later while on vacation.

So God sent me that message loud and clear. Whenever I'm tempted to stop using it, I think of Mark. Pretty good incentive to keep trying.

Funny thing, I've told my story to a few people who wondered if they had Apnea. I give them the whole story, the good, the bad and the ugly. And when I tell them about Mark, they tell me they've decided to get a sleep study and a CPAP if needed! Hey, at least I've not led them down a yellow brick road!

So for all you newbies out there reading this and were like me: Not impressed and wondering if it does get better.

I can tell you it does get better. Some people say they've never slept better. I honestly am happy for them. It's not my experience, but I did at least get to the point where my sleep quality is the same as without.

Keep trying masks until you find one that works for you. If your DME tech isn't helping you, fire them and find another either in the same shop, or a different company. And try to find one who actually uses a CPAP, for crying out loud.

And lastly, don't expect the CPAP to solve your problems for you, or make your life better. It won't by itself. Only you and God can do that. Don't let anyone including yourself lead you down a yellow brick road.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. You really did help me stick to this. Mark may have given me the incentive; but you gave me the means to do it.

Blessings to all, Videot.

PS: I came back to this forum because of an unusual episode I had last night. If you are interested in what happened and seeing the Sleepyhead data, it is at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=99763&p=928282#p928282

Glad to see you back.

I ignored my sleep apnea for about 10 years. I thought of it as lack of sleep and didn't realize how dangerous it was. And being in denial, I made no effort to actually look it up and find out. Then I saw a thing on the news about sleep apnea causing high blood pressure, which then causes heart attacks and strokes. My doctor had me warning me of stroke for over a year (starting at age 39). She never mentioned sleep apnea, so the story on the news was what made the connection. Shortly after that, a regular customer who shops where I work, came in. She looked like death warmed over. I never liked her before as she was a rude, irritating customer. But seeing her looks so grey, tired, and unable to speak. You can't help but feel sorry for her. I never want to be like that. I am way more scared of a stroke than a heart attack. I had a doctor appointment already scheduled, so I decided to confess and get serious about sleep apnea.

zoocrewphoto wrote:Glad to see you back.

I ignored my sleep apnea for about 10 years. I thought of it as lack of sleep and didn't realize how dangerous it was. And being in denial, I made no effort to actually look it up and find out. Then I saw a thing on the news about sleep apnea causing high blood pressure, which then causes heart attacks and strokes. My doctor had me warning me of stroke for over a year (starting at age 39). She never mentioned sleep apnea, so the story on the news was what made the connection. Shortly after that, a regular customer who shops where I work, came in. She looked like death warmed over. I never liked her before as she was a rude, irritating customer. But seeing her looks so grey, tired, and unable to speak. You can't help but feel sorry for her. I never want to be like that. I am way more scared of a stroke than a heart attack. I had a doctor appointment already scheduled, so I decided to confess and get serious about sleep apnea.

I'm glad you are going to give this the proper attention. Could you please keep us apprised of your progress? I, and a lot of other people on this forum care, and can help you through this transition in life.

Blessings,
Videot

I noticed on your other thread that you expressed a concern that turning the pressure up on your machine would make it noisier.

That has not been my experience with a similar make and model of machine. Are you sure that increased pressure=noisier machine?

Drowsy Dancer wrote:I noticed on your other thread that you expressed a concern that turning the pressure up on your machine would make it noisier.

That has not been my experience with a similar make and model of machine. Are you sure that increased pressure=noisier machine?

Both my wife and I have noticed that it makes more noise when the pressure increases. She says it sounds like a airplane taking off and it wakes her up.

So that is the basis on which I says that.

Thanks,
Fred

vidiot wrote:

Drowsy Dancer wrote:I noticed on your other thread that you expressed a concern that turning the pressure up on your machine would make it noisier.

That has not been my experience with a similar make and model of machine. Are you sure that increased pressure=noisier machine?

Both my wife and I have noticed that it makes more noise when the pressure increases. She says it sounds like a airplane taking off and it wakes her up.

So that is the basis on which I says that.

Thanks,
Fred

That doesn't sound right. To be clear: I am not distrusting your report of your wife's and your experience. What I mean is that it sounds like something (which could easily be quite minor) is amiss with your machine.

Neither of my PR System One APAPs has ever made more noise at a higher pressure (again, not a big data sample, but it's my experience). They are moreover both so quiet my husband has trouble telling if my machine is on or not. Maybe the DME can earn (!) their $60 a month by looking at your machine. It could easily be some small loose part or something that doesn't affect pressure levels.

vidiot wrote:

zoocrewphoto wrote:Glad to see you back.

I ignored my sleep apnea for about 10 years. I thought of it as lack of sleep and didn't realize how dangerous it was. And being in denial, I made no effort to actually look it up and find out. Then I saw a thing on the news about sleep apnea causing high blood pressure, which then causes heart attacks and strokes. My doctor had me warning me of stroke for over a year (starting at age 39). She never mentioned sleep apnea, so the story on the news was what made the connection. Shortly after that, a regular customer who shops where I work, came in. She looked like death warmed over. I never liked her before as she was a rude, irritating customer. But seeing her looks so grey, tired, and unable to speak. You can't help but feel sorry for her. I never want to be like that. I am way more scared of a stroke than a heart attack. I had a doctor appointment already scheduled, so I decided to confess and get serious about sleep apnea.

I'm glad you are going to give this the proper attention. Could you please keep us apprised of your progress? I, and a lot of other people on this forum care, and can help you through this transition in life.

Blessings,
Videot

I've actually been using cpap for over 2 years now. Major improvements. I wish I had not let it go untreated so long. I could felt a lot better a lo sooner.