Comforts and gifts to yourself

[plr66]

Following up Carbonman's thread on the psychology of this journey we all share here, I have to say that I have been so completely committed to getting well and doing whatever it takes, that I never have allowed myself to dwell on the negative aspects. Someone here described viewing all the experiences with a sense of experimentation and curiosity, and that's how I tend to approach it all. Just actually look forward to going to bed every night and seeing how things work "this time." Every little step forward is great. No Pollyanna here. None of it is "fun" and all of it is pretty consuming right now after just a month. The support and help of this forum has been indespensible to me in terms of the support and the sense of community, in addition to the incredible wealth of information & education.

And as much as this has been said before on this forum, I just have to chime in about the little extras that can often work like comfort food as we struggle with all the mechanics of the process. This week I ordered and received a set of Karen's Pad a Cheeks for my Swift LT mask. I have to say that I purchased them for mostly for cosmetic reasons because I have to work with the public, and going in with serious mask imprints on my face was really a problem. But wow. The warm, cozy feeling of these things on my face totally took me by surprise. Don't laugh. I wasn't bothered by the feel of the plastic straps before, but now that I put these on, it is literally like night and day. Feels wonderful and...well yes. Absolutely comforting.

Same with Pur~Sleep scents. I am blown away. Never much cared for scents of any kind--hate perfumes and colognes anywhere around me. But I have been using samples sent by Bret, and feel like I am being wafted to sleep every night, and truly look forward to breathing through that mask.

Next will be the fleece tube covers, which I actually need for the rainout, but which I know will add to further decreasing the intrusive experience of all the mechanical stuff I now sleep with. Love giving myself these little presents as incentives to keep up the good work. Sorry if this sounds sappy...

[gasp]

Following up Carbonman's thread on the psychology of this journey we all share here, I have to say that I have been so completely committed to getting well and doing whatever it takes, that I never have allowed myself to dwell on the negative aspects. Someone here described viewing all the experiences with a sense of experimentation and curiosity, and that's how I tend to approach it all. Just actually look forward to going to bed every night and seeing how things work "this time." Every little step forward is great. No Pollyanna here. None of it is "fun" and all of it is pretty consuming right now after just a month. The support and help of this forum has been indespensible to me in terms of the support and the sense of community, in addition to the incredible wealth of information & education.

And as much as this has been said before on this forum, I just have to chime in about the little extras that can often work like comfort food as we struggle with all the mechanics of the process. This week I ordered and received a set of Karen's Pad a Cheeks for my Swift LT mask. I have to say that I purchased them for mostly for cosmetic reasons because I have to work with the public, and going in with serious mask imprints on my face was really a problem. But wow. The warm, cozy feeling of these things on my face totally took me by surprise. Don't laugh. I wasn't bothered by the feel of the plastic straps before, but now that I put these on, it is literally like night and day. Feels wonderful and...well yes. Absolutely comforting.

Same with Pur~Sleep scents. I am blown away. Never much cared for scents of any kind--hate perfumes and colognes anywhere around me. But I have been using samples sent by Bret, and feel like I am being wafted to sleep every night, and truly look forward to breathing through that mask.

Next will be the fleece tube covers, which I actually need for the rainout, but which I know will add to further decreasing the intrusive experience of all the mechanical stuff I now sleep with. Love giving myself these little presents as incentives to keep up the good work. Sorry if this sounds sappy...

Sappy? Hurumph - sap away. I'm glad you and others including me do these little things for ourselves. Human kindness, even when it's directed toward ones self is a wonderful thing! I made a post that surprisingly didn't get one response. I addressed the fact the the CL2 doesn't cause me to have wrinkles because it doesn't have headgear/mask like my old one that contacts my face and causes wrinkles. I also addressed how nice it is to wear moisturizer at night again. I believe in clean natural skin - I rarely wear makeup - but as I grow older I want my wrinkles to be earned, not impressed by my mask. Anyway, how's that for sappy?

[Paul56]

A little too much of that comfort food you spoke about has created another little issue for me to deal with... but that is another story.

Very much agreed with your other comments though. I will only add that attitude is everything.

[plr66]

A little too much of that comfort food you spoke about has created another little issue for me to deal with... but that is another story.

Whoops--didn't mean that "comfort food" reference literally!

[Paul56]

A little too much of that comfort food you spoke about has created another little issue for me to deal with... but that is another story.

Whoops--didn't mean that "comfort food" reference literally!

It is all good.

Comfort food is a gift I still give to myself, only now in moderation.

[gasp]

A little too much of that comfort food you spoke about has created another little issue for me to deal with... but that is another story.

Whoops--didn't mean that "comfort food" reference literally!

It is all good.

Comfort food is a gift I still give to myself, only now in moderation.

I agree with moderation. I have heard some comments on the internet about food is for nourishment, not for pleasure. I think a guest on Oprah, that I seldom watch anymore, said this too. Anyway, I totally disagree with that notion. I think food is here for us to enjoy and take comfort in - but like you I use it in moderation. I keep in mind that I can have anything I want as long as I do it in such a way that it doesn't harm me. I used to deprive myself of food when I trained for cycling events to get body fat low. Then I'd crave everything in sight and after a race I'd pig out! Now I enjoy all foods but don't deprive myself or crave/pig out.

[plr66]

One more update to this earlier post, FWIW. I have just finally given in to the awful price, and bought a PAPillow. I had a $12 "Shapeable Pillow" from Target and found it comfy and pretty effective; but I seemed to be waking up fully every time I switched sides all night, conscious when having to punch it into position to get the exhale vent into an unobstructed position. Ugh. So although the price does seem way out there to me, I got the PAPillow (all the usual disclaimers...no interest in the company, and no kickbacks ).

This pillow is amazing to me. I am a stomach sleeper who was told I must now sleep on my side with the CPAP. The pillow is perfect. At least for me. Right height for side-sleeping, right firmness, and the the shape allowed me to sleep all night, with just a second or so of wake-up upon rolling over. I'm impressed, and just really love this thing, so thought it was worth a note to the forum. Think I may now have all the goodies I need for this journey.

[boston]

I had gotten the 6ft hose huggie for my hose, I just now 5 minutes ago got in the mail the 12 inch for the swift LT mask. I havent had any rainout, and I'd much rather touch the fleece instead of plastic in the middle of the night. I got a memory foam pillow, and I may do the padacheeks next.

I say we deserve these little gifts to make us as comfortable as possible.

[carbonman]

Love giving myself these little presents as incentives to keep up the good work. Sorry if this sounds sappy...

........geez, what a SAP!

naner, naner, naner, takes one to know one.

I'm right there w/you.
I have all that stuff and it all helps.
I have my bright blue/stars forehead pads from PadaCheeks.
I have my two new Vger PapCap2's. .....they are very cool and
they work.......go figure.

.....and last night, put in my order w/PadaCheeks to get my
bright blue/stars hose cover........no rainout problem,
just because now that it's finally getting colder, I don't like to feel
that cold hose.

Grace is becoming a vision of starry night beauty.

If you're a sap, then I'm a sap, too.

What else can we reward ourselves with????

[plr66]

What else can we reward ourselves with????

Well as an avid bicyclist some years ago, I'd say you're doing it with your weekly rides!

[carbonman]

Well as an avid bicyclist some years ago, I'd say you're doing it with your weekly rides!

........no, that's just life.

Cycling is life, the rest is just details.

[2girlsmom]

I've been meaning to order some Pur-sleep. I loved those samples! The Spice one really smelled strongly at first but it ended up being my favorite. I can still catch a slight whiff of it now and then so I kept the pad by my machine until I could remember to order. I'm pretty frustrated with how my treatment is going so maybe I'll do a little shopping tonight.

[congahands]

What else can we reward ourselves with????

As a fellow cyclist with winter on the way, I can't believe you even said that!!!!!

A new pair of long legged gel cycling tights.
A nicely broken in leather seat.
Some arm warmers and a sweet wind jacket with a windproof front and a slightly open back, for those winter rides.
A pair of those toe covers.
Some thin but warm thermal socks.

I haven't even pulled out my Performance or REI catalogs yet.

[echo]

What my cyclist sister wants for xmas http://www.bicycleposters.com/main.html