I really JUST HATE CPAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:17 pm

Hi. I just want to say that I have sleep apnea. I have a cpap
and I just HATE IT!!!!!!!!
I have not used it for quite some time. I just cannot stand the thought of the machine. The whole idea. I just simply hate it!!!!!!!!!!
I fight with myself every night about using it. I just cannot do it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:22 pm

Im sorry youve had such a rough time Im glad to hear you havent totally quit the concept. I hope youll share with us your problems with it so maybe we can help and give advice to make it more bearable. I hated it at first too but the more I learn the more I have tweaked my treatment and now I am thankful for it - I feel like a new personand continue to improve all the time. Im glad I stuck it out and hope you do to. HUGS

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:27 pm

if you really have sleep apnea, and have lived with it and its effects for years, you would, or will learn to love CPAP. For the first time in YEARS, I look forward to sleep. Try defining the problem. What do you hate, exactly? Is it the noise? Try a quieter machine. Is it the mask? there are lots of different options. Do you wake up dry/ Try a humidifier. Please define the problem, and I guarentee someone on this site has experiance with it and can help you.

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:58 pm

Yeah, there are nights when I hate it too.

But then, there are days when I feel whole and healthy again and I know it is due to this therapy.

I wish there was an easier, more comfortable treatment, but until there is, I grit my teeth, put on the mask and hit the switch. And try to just get through this one night.

Susan

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:45 pm

Is CPAP treatment worse than feeling bad, ruining your health more, being planted in the ground early, but not before running up unnecessary bills for your family, not to mention the add grief in their lives? For me, I don't think it is. It's about making life better for yourself and those around you. Jim

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:04 am

Hi. Glad you stopped by here to vent. It's understandable to hate it. I quit trying to use it after a few months. But my health kept going downhill and I ended up here looking for solutions to help me try again. Turns out some pressure adjustments and mask changes made it tolerable enough to persist the second time around. Do I love it now? No. But the knowledge I have gained about the effects of OSA has caused me to develop the habit of using it just because I should. Kinda like my seat belt - it's a hassle, confining, not comfortable, etc. but I've made peace with using it for my own good.

I have used the machine and mask long enough now that it feels odd to lay down without it. Funny what we can get used to when we believe we have to to survive. I now take comfort in going to sleep all geared up because if something happens during the night, it won't be because apnea has caused a heart attack or stroke.

Hope you can find the support here to help you do what you need to do. Maybe one day you won't hate it so bad. Till then, sleep on your side and elevate the head of your bed.

Kathy

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:47 am

While as I don't LOVE cpap.... I'd rather don the hose and LIVE a longer life.... not to mention a more restful sleep.

I hope you find away to tolerate treatment.

yamdigger · Post by **yamdigger** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:37 am

I'm sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with cpap therepy.

I just started therepy myself about a month now, and I have to admit, the mask I use (Respironics ComfortFULL 2 FF mask) isn't the most comfortable thing you'll put on your face. But the goal is to feel better when you wake up, and in my case, a significant decrease in depression.

I'm going to assume that you're not reaping the benefits of cpap therepy, thus your dissatisfaction with it. If you have one of the cheaper machines that simply deliver a straight pressure all the time, you might want to upgrade to a machine with C-Flex that drops the pressure when you exhale. Better yet, if you can get your sleep doctor to give you a prescribtion for it, get an AUTO pap machine that automatically adjusts your inhaling pressure as needed.

As for masks, there's a myriad of choices out there. I started out with a nasal pillow mask for about a week, and I didn't really like it. I tend to open my mouth when I sleep and pressure would escape through my mouth. So I took it back to my home care provider and got a full face mask. It's definitely better, but it tends to leak air around the sides a bit, so I'll be getting a Resmed Mirage FF mask, which word-on-the-street has it as being better than the ComfortFULL 2. So you might have to try different masks until you find the one that's right for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:57 am

I'm with the original poster. I have tried to don the mask, but throw it off after a few hours, due to sore throat , weirdness with the mask etc etc. If I GO to sleep,, then I wake up an hour or 2 later and TRY to put the mask on again, because I know I NEED to!. However with the 1/2 sleep/awake feeling, I have trouble getting the mask on AGAIN. I feel as if I'm claustrophobic and that the mask (nasal pillows) are restricting my breathing. So I go back to 'sleep'. Ha bloody ha. I wake up exhausted, again!
Just had a days work where I have tried to be with it , during important meetings. Had people say "are you really tired?" " What's wrong?" Not sure how how I can cope with this!

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:58 am

I understand every feeling that you have expressed Guest! I've often said that I came to this treatment with the proper motivation,complete respiratory failure, 21 days intensive care plus another 4 weeks regular hospital. I came home on a walker,trachea tube in place. Now five months into treatment I've lost 130 pounds,walk 5 miles every day, O2 sats 98%,no longer prediabetic. Perchancetodream(Susan) said it right, find out what works for you and drive on. If, we can do it with the help of our friends on this forum, you can too! Regards

barb_z · Post by **barb_z** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:03 am

For me it is not an option of coping... it is reality. Something I have to do no matter how I feel if I want any sort of life in the future. If our kids tell us they don't like the medicine, the rules of life... we tell them "You will do it!" That is what I tell myself. Why should I have different standards for myself then those I gave to my kids.

I am having a 'hell of a time' right now, but I will figure out a way to make it work... I do not have a choice as far as my health is concerned.

It is a matter of ATTITUDE. I am not trying to brow beat those who HATE CPAP, but to try an put it in the proper perspective.

You have to put it on a list of priority and need. At what level do you put your heath, your need for quality of life?

All those above speak validly... give great examples of coping and learning to cope as well as their reasons for doing so.
Barb

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tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:11 am

If at first, you do not succeed, QUIT!!

Get your insurance paid up so your widow can be safe.

The graveyard is full of people with your attitude.

We have all been there and know too well what you are going thru.
Persistence and a positive attitude works.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:07 am

When I see these kinds of posts, I usually suspect....."Troll".

Otherwise, why wouldn't they just act like an adult and ASK for some help after explaining their problems?
These types seem to show up more frequently on the ASAA forum, too.
(maybe this one got lost or couldn't get enough attention over there)

If this person really does feel this way about this therapy, why don't they go back to the "VALUABLE" services of their sleep doctors and DMEs and explain their problems? After all, that's why those folks are making the BIG BUCKS!

Den

FreeLancer74 · Post by **FreeLancer74** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:45 am

I guess I'm a lucky one. I'm 33 and just got diagnosed. I got pretty good equipment to start out with and I'm not clausterphobic, so I am pretty comfortable with my nasal pillow system. I have already trained myself to stay on my back or only roll on one side to prevent dislodging my mask at night. The only problem I have is the first night adjusting to a higher pressure (as I'm trying to find a good pressure to lower my AHI events). Well, and the A-flex adjustment, but that is a machine setting that can be turned off.

I'm sorry you are having problems, Guest. I know it is inconvienient to have to don an uncomfortable mask, esp if you are clausterphobic, but it IS a treatment for a real problem that you should try your hardest to work through and coexist with. Your other options are surgery, which may not work, or a steady decline to worsening health problems.

Continue to post your problems (and create an account so we can interact with you as someone other than GUEST) and let us help you adjust better to the treatment to have some success with this.

sleeplessinaz · Post by **sleeplessinaz** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:53 am

I am so sorry to hear that you cannot use your CPAP. I know how you feel!!! I have been doing CPAP for a few months and there are nights that I put on "the gear" under protest!!! It is liek that other person put it quite nicely-----"Kinda like my seat belt - it's a hassle, confining, not comfortable, etc. but I've made peace with using it for my own good".

You wonder what happened to just brushign your teeth and slipping under the covers? Life used to be so simply--now we all get our Bottled Water jugs out from hiding to fill up the humidifier, don our MASKs and strap on the straps and our hair gets all messed up and plastered to our faces. We flop around and punch down our pillows to find a good stop so our mask will not leak-----SHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEESH! YAY ---we are all there with you!!! Please keep hanging the hose!!!
Cheers,
Carrie

I really JUST HATE CPAP

I really JUST HATE CPAP

Hate cpap

WHY????

coping with CPAP

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Additional Comments: new Airsense auto set 12/08/14. Cpap pressure is