Persist with CPAP - DO MOT ABANDON IT!

As I've posted in other threads I was guilty of this 6 years ago. I just could not tolerate the machine and headgear so gave up after only a week. That was a mistake because if I had persisted I might have avoided the heart problems being now encountered. But it is only a "might", I'll never know now. Note that current research is indicating sleep apnea can cause heart problems and memory loss so it is not only a simple snoring problem. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, CPAP could be vital for your continued health.

But getting used to CPAP is not easy for some of us. After decades of sleeping the change with a mask attached to your face at night might not be easy to to tolerate. It was not easy for me but last year I did persist. Some nights it was only on for 4 hours, others not at all, but gradually the brain accepted it so now I can sleep with it on for 7 hours. However getting to this stage has not been simple or enjoyable.

The machines now are quiet so that should not be a deterrent, the biggest hurdle is finding a comfortable mask followed by constant fine tuning of the straps so it is comfortable but tight enough to seal. The sealing can be a challenge as a movement during the night can slightly dislodge the mask with the resulting noisy leak waking one up. This might indicate one of the straps needs to be slightly tightened.

We are all different so what suits one might not suit another but I have had great success and comfort using this mask - Mirage Activa™ Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear.

Bottom line - be persistent and do continue with CPAP use. Trust me, you will eventually find using it is not a problem.

And a footnote: With some, CPAP some produces a miraculous result of renewed vigor and alertness, but it might not do that with you - it did not with me. It has now evolved I have a heart problem as well and am about to have a pacemaker installed. But I'm being realistic and at 80 later this year cannot expect to have the energy of a teenager (who really wants that anyway). You might or might not have a lassitude cured by CPAP, but the point I'm hammering is that if you suffer from sleep apnea, you need CPAP. Without it your body is not getting enough oxygen as you sleep and that can only cause your health to worsen. CPAP is not just a simple "stop snoring" cure, it could be essential for your better health. There might also be other issues as has evolved with me, but CPAP could be essential as your first step to maintain or improve your health, so DO PERSIST.

Good luck.

Thank you.

I think that the right mask is probably the biggest hurdle for a lot of people. I got lucky with my first choice but I listened to my body and not the idiot tech at the sleep lab and I was right.

And for those people who are having problems of any kind...any time spent using the cpap machine is better than no time using it.
If the mask leaks really badly for 1 hour out of 7 hours...6 hours of good therapy is better than no hours of therapy and chances are that 1 hour isn't totally in the toilet anyway.

It's not about perfection..it's about progression.

Sometimes it's not about feeling like we are 30 years younger...sometimes it nothing but preventing that heart attack or stroke that comes up short and we end up being more of a vegetable than anything else.
Even if not one of my pre cpap symptoms was remedied with the therapy I would still use it as a preventative measure...just like I would take a little aspirin or my BP meds to prevent a stroke or heart attack.

Pugsy wrote:...sometimes it's nothing but preventing that heart attack or stroke... . Even if not one of my pre cpap symptoms was remedied with the therapy I would still use it as a preventative measure...

This is exactly my story -- no significant improvement, but I stick with this crazy therapy (and try to help others stick with it) to prevent more problems down the line.

It is almost a daily routine with me since four months I am using CPAP. Every night brings new challenges. Getting only 5 to 6 hours of sleep, anxiety, hyperventilation, mask leak ,bloating etc. However each time I come to this forum I find encouragement to keep using cpap. This has helped me till now.

Pugsy wrote:Thank you.

I think that the right mask is probably the biggest hurdle for a lot of people. I got lucky with my first choice.

Luckily, this hurdle has been removed for new converts to cpap by introduction of the P10.