I have been browsing other msg boards and could not believe how absolutly how bland they are.

Most of them give no real help like ours does. No mention of changing settings or help with that. No suggestions on data capable machines, no real help on anything. Almost every post I read was a "newbie" post and the answers that were given were mostly about how long it might take to get used to them. It was just plain boring. There were no postings of AHI numbers or mask leak problems. I was surprised as I though that all of them would be informative and that wasn't the case.

I did see one plug for PUR-SlEEP, so it seems that is making the rounds and that is good for many people to know about.

Now I can say for sure how glad I am that I found this board pretty fast and it also tells me that this is the BEST. We seem to have the most information and help around, along with so many good people who like to help others. Thanks to you all.

Shhh . . ., you'll get 'em riled up again.

Brooke, the other boards are boring by design. They have implemented draconian controls to ensure that nothing contrary to prevailing medical dogma is posted.

Not too long ago, but perhaps before you found CPAPtalk, attempts were made to implement some of those same draconian controls here. A search through the archives will reveal some of the ensuing battles. No doubt the battle still goes on, but is mostly out of sight to those of us who post here.

Rest assured though that Johnny has earned the thanks he gets for operating this board. Don't take the board for granted, either. We all benefit if it survives.

Regards,
Bill

Sorry about that. I did not know it is an ongoing issue. I have only been here a few months now.... don't want to rile up anyone. I was curious about how other boards were compared to this one and found the difference to be a huge one and am so grateful that our board is so open and gives so much help for anyones problems.

bap40 wrote:Sorry about that. I did not know it is an ongoing issue. I have only been here a few months now.... don't want to rile up anyone. I was curious about how other boards were compared to this one and found the difference to be a huge one and am so grateful that our board is so open and gives so much help for anyones problems.

No need to be "sorry" for being HONEST!

It's amazing, isn't it? The differences are like night and day.
I don't think it's an "ongoing" issue. It's just that every once in awhile, some (uninformed) user thinks that this forum should be divided up into categories and that "guest" posting should not be allowed. They sometimes put up a poll to see the feelings one way or the other.......and then discover the errors in their way of thinking.

The heavily moderated forums are subsidized by the manufacturers and consequently they don't want to rock the financial boat they're rowing.

Some of the members of the forums have at one time or another have posted on most of them (some still do). They're usually the first ones to proclaim THIS forum as the VERY BEST one. (I'll protect their identities)

Glad you like it here.

Den

When I was first sent for a sleep study I started looking at boards. This one was the most helpful by far, IMHO, so when I was diagnosed I joined here.
Have *never* regretted that choice!

Mindy

I do love this board. They have given me so much help all along the way, even with questions that have or had been answered before. This is the only board I would ever use.

Wulfman wrote: ... Some of the members of the forums have at one time or another have posted on most of them (some still do). They're usually the first ones to proclaim THIS forum as the VERY BEST one. (I'll protect their identities)

No need to protect my identity, Den. I go to two other forums on a "fairly" regular basis and I post at both of them on occasion, including some PMs, and I'm DELIGHTED to say LOUD AND CLEAR that cpaptalk is THE best sleep apnea support forum on the net - BAR NON that I've found!

God bless you, and THANK YOU, Johnny! (even if you do seem to prefer the Respironics over the Resmeds )

Slinky wrote:

Wulfman wrote: ... Some of the members of the forums have at one time or another have posted on most of them (some still do). They're usually the first ones to proclaim THIS forum as the VERY BEST one. (I'll protect their identities)

No need to protect my identity, Den. I go to two other forums on a "fairly" regular basis and I post at both of them on occasion, including some PMs, and I'm DELIGHTED to say LOUD AND CLEAR that cpaptalk is THE best sleep apnea support forum on the net - BAR NON that I've found!

God bless you, and THANK YOU, Johnny! (even if you do seem to prefer the Respironics over the Resmeds )

I know......there are OTHERS, too.
Maybe they'll come "out of the closet" if they read this thread. Some use different user names, some don't......and SOME are Anonymous/Guests and whom we may never know who they are.

Some people just need HELP......regardless of which forum they happen to post on. Sometimes they get it and sometimes they're just as frustrated from the answers as when they arrived. It's really sad, IMO, when the majority of the answers that are given are to "Go back and see your doctor" (or DME.....the ones that probably messed things up to begin with)

I think one of the MOST prevalent issues brought up by users on ALL the forums is that of "mouth-breathing/leaking" with nasal masks. They've been on therapy for X or XX months and don't see/feel any progress with their therapy. When these types of posts show up......if their equipment isn't listed.....ASK THEM. Odds are, that's their problem.


Den ("Anonymous/guest" getting off of soapbox now)

I started my CPAP adventure on another board. One of the draconian style "You must not post clinician info", "No commercial links", "Don't even THINK of discussing pressure changes" sites.

It was refreshing to finds this forum as I tend to be outspoken and would have probably been banned eventually for speaking my mind at the "other" site anyway.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

I think it needs to be pointed out that somewhere in the past cpap.com made a business decision to start an UNCENCORED forum. I'm sure that every year at budget time the conversation comes up "is this paying off for us." Remember that whenever you refer someone to cpap.com. That support is what altimately supports this forum.

Johnny and company do a great job as moderators and deserve our thanks. We have several strong will members and they have allow us to think of this forum as home.

I was recently banned from one of the big ones because I became fed up with people looking for help and being told that they should not take matters into their own hands.. I then offered some software up for anyone who wanted it, banned.

I came back under a different name just to browse, got caught up in a thread where someone was looking for help but insisted on talking about what a "Freak, Failure, and Loser" he was because of sleep apnea, after I read the third post about how he felt like such a "Freak", I finally let him have it... Venting is one thing, bashing and insensitivity is another. banned again..

I am always on the hunt for new sources and different points of view, but as far as useful information, a supportive cast, and actual solutions, this is the final destination.

Wulfman wrote:I know......there are OTHERS, too. .... Maybe they'll come "out of the closet" if they read this thread. .... It's really sad, IMO, when the majority of the answers that are given are to "Go back and see your doctor" (or DME.....the ones that probably messed things up to begin with) ....

You got me, Den. No more closets to hide in. I admit with pride that I'm one of the dastardly proponents of "go back and see your doctor." I agree that there may be too much of that on other boards. Just think that there's sometimes too LITTLE of that here. So I hope you'll tolerate my occasionally bringing up that recommendation. The one difference is that, having been on this board, newcomers will be able to go back to their "professionals" with new ideas (some accurate, some not) and a range of options (some good, some not), and be prepared to initiate discussion of issues they think are important. It's the omission of the "go back and see your doctor AND DISCUSS" which I think may put our weakest community members at risk. I fear that too often here they are encouraged to conclude that reading a few posts and chatting a bit endows them with everything they need to know.

Velbor, formerly of the closet.

Velbor wrote:

Wulfman wrote: [..]So I hope you'll tolerate my occasionally bringing up that recommendation. [...]

Ah, Velbor, don't you know: toleration is one of the many nice things about this forum!

By the time they created the "other" other forum I was a registered member on two, and did not like their division into subjects, nor the "thou shalt not post links" policy at all.

And eventually I found two forums take too much of my time -(actually even one does ... )... so I stayed here. By the way, TAS (Talk About Sleep) was my first - and I learned a lot there too. Some of it from same people I was overjoyed to discover posting here.

O.

Velbor wrote:It's the omission of the "go back and see your doctor AND DISCUSS" which I think may put our weakest community members at risk. I fear that too often here they are encouraged to conclude that reading a few posts and chatting a bit endows them with everything they need to know.

I'm always wary when someone speaks up to champion the "little" people. History teaches that is usually very bad news for everybody, especially the "little" people.

The "go to the all-knowing doc" dogma is disingenuous, at best. It developed during the 20th century as a legal disclaimer. It may sound good. Who wouldn't want to see a doc who could take care of all their health concerns. Reality teaches that physicians, however well intentioned they may be as individuals, have extremely narrow areas of knowledge, which all-too-often is shallow as well.

Velbor wrote:

Wulfman wrote:I know......there are OTHERS, too. .... Maybe they'll come "out of the closet" if they read this thread. .... It's really sad, IMO, when the majority of the answers that are given are to "Go back and see your doctor" (or DME.....the ones that probably messed things up to begin with) ....

You got me, Den. No more closets to hide in. I admit with pride that I'm one of the dastardly proponents of "go back and see your doctor." I agree that there may be too much of that on other boards. Just think that there's sometimes too LITTLE of that here. So I hope you'll tolerate my occasionally bringing up that recommendation. The one difference is that, having been on this board, newcomers will be able to go back to their "professionals" with new ideas (some accurate, some not) and a range of options (some good, some not), and be prepared to initiate discussion of issues they think are important. It's the omission of the "go back and see your doctor AND DISCUSS" which I think may put our weakest community members at risk. I fear that too often here they are encouraged to conclude that reading a few posts and chatting a bit endows them with everything they need to know.

Velbor, formerly of the closet.

HA!

I think it all depends on what kind of a doctor the person is dealing with. In many cases, the reason the person sought out the forums is to get information that the "medical professionals" weren't giving them. We've seen too many mis-titrated people who usually can adjust their own therapy, given the proper tools.......but it's the ones with additional complications or other ailments that are complicating their therapy.....stuff like GERD for one.....and those people will probably need additional medical help.
When these circumstances arise, I/WE have no hesitation to refer them back to their physcians for help.
It's the "garden variety" OSA therapy that SHOULD BE pretty simple......when given the proper tools......like a data-capable machine and software. Like I've said before, this therapy is nothing.....compared to trying to control one's blood glucose levels.

I don't know why THIS therapy seems to be so shrouded in such secrecy. It's just air blowing through a glorified leaf blower.....through a hose to a mask strapped to your face. You tweak your pressure for optimum results and try to keep your mask from leaking. THATS IT!

Den