my new years resolution

So I've had OSA my whole life. Diagnosed w/sleep study in "07. I call the thing (cpap) "harriet" and it's a true hate relationship. I finally decided that with the new year...that it was time for "harriet" to go. I have used it, and it's the most tumultous relationship I have ever had. So with the new year I decided that "harriet" needs to go away, so she did. I don't miss "her" and she will not be back.

Guest wrote:So I've had OSA my whole life. Diagnosed w/sleep study in "07. I call the thing (cpap) "harriet" and it's a true hate relationship. I finally decided that with the new year...that it was time for "harriet" to go. I have used it, and it's the most tumultous relationship I have ever had. So with the new year I decided that "harriet" needs to go away, so she did. I don't miss "her" and she will not be back.

My momma always used to say......."Stupid is as stupid does".

About the time you kill someone in an automobile accident, you'll wish you hadn't been such a moron and quitter.


Den

Wow, sure hope that could be filed under "humor". I thought you were going to say in 2009 you were going to do your part to make the relationship work, like get some help to figure out how to get the relationship on track. My guess is in time you'll realize she was the best bed partner for you. Even if it was tumultous, at least she was there for you and had your best interest at heart. She'd probably come back if you tell "her" you made a big mistake. Now, if she were a real woman, you wouldn't have a chance.

Hope being on your own is everything you dreamed it would be.

Your post to this forum proves how much you miss her. She is your very life and breath. Your life would be nothing without her in it; in fact, you know deep down inside yourself that you can't live without her. You may think that you hate her, but you do not. She is the very stuff of your dreams, and you can't simply cast her aside as if those years meant nothing--as if your future years mean nothing. You are good for each other, but you know in your swollen heart and lesioned brain that with every pulse of your over-pressurized, insulin-impaired blood in your cholesterol-clogged blood vessles that you need her much, much more than she needs you. Go to her. Feel her breathe new life into you. Renew what you know was meant to be a lifelong relationship, and live on. Yes, my blinded, confused, misguided friend, tell Harriet how much you love her, and have always loved her, and will always love her, and live on.

jnk wrote:Your post to this forum proves how much you miss her. She is your very life and breath. Your life would be nothing without her in it; in fact, you know deep down inside yourself that you can't live without her. You may think that you hate her, but you do not. She is the very stuff of your dreams, and you can't simply cast her aside as if those years meant nothing--as if your future years mean nothing. You are good for each other, but you know in your swollen heart and lesioned brain that with every pulse of your over-pressurized, insulin-impaired blood in your cholesterol-clogged blood vessles that you need her much, much more than she needs you. Go to her. Feel her breathe new life into you. Renew what you know was meant to be a lifelong relationship, and live on. Yes, my blinded, confused, misguided friend, tell Harriet how much you love her, and have always loved her, and will always love her, and live on.

JNK you are amazing. Thanks for the grins and your dead-on serious message.

Thanks, plr66. And you're welcome.

Let's all hope the message gets through!

Years ago, someone I knew was suicidal and said so. He didn't really want to kill himself; he felt cornered by life, he wanted help, and that was the only way he could ask for it. He did get help, and he didn't go through with it. A few years after that, though, life again looked too bleak to him, but that time, he went through with it. He said nothing beforehand; there was no "veiled" cry for help that time. Thankfully, he wasn't successful. He recovered physically, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, got the medication he needed, and he's doing okay now. This is my point:

Why did you post this note if you've already given up and given Harriet the boot?

I'm not trying to be nasty; I'm asking a serious question. I'm thinking that asking for help might be very difficult for you (it is for many, myself included), and that this might be the only way you can do it. If that's the case, that's fine. Whatever works.

I, too, was diagnosed with SA in '07, and yes, it's been a struggle. Still is. But what about life isn't a struggle? Dear Guest, whoever you may be, your life is worth that struggle, and there are many people here who would be delighted to work with you to help you work out whatever problems you've been having with your xpap therapy. You need Harriet. Without her, you'll be depriving your brain and the rest of your system of lifegiving oxygen. You'll be killing yourself; it's not as quick as a .44 magnum, but the outcome will be the same. And as Den said, if during that time you should happen to fall asleep at the wheel because of being so fatigued from sleep and oxygen deprivation, you'll probably kill others, too. You don't really want to do that, do you?

Please give this forum a chance to help you. If you've already done that, give it another chance. Your life is worth that. And if you disagree with that statement, I know there are people who believe it's true. I'm not clairvoyant... I have no idea if there are any people in your life who care about you. But I know this.... there are many people HERE who care about you. Don't quit! Let us help. Your choice.

Marsha

i'm the original poster of this thread.
I went to bed last night and couldn't sleep. My wife noticed that "harriet" was gone. We talked about why I had put "harriet" away. All in All "Harriet" is back in her place on the night stand. Back in use.
I guess I had a momentary lack of reasoning about "harriet" and have realized that from the post replies here.
Thanks To All For Making Me Realize.

Guest wrote:i'm the original poster of this thread.
I went to bed last night and couldn't sleep. My wife noticed that "harriet" was gone. We talked about why I had put "harriet" away. All in All "Harriet" is back in her place on the night stand. Back in use.
I guess I had a momentary lack of reasoning about "harriet" and have realized that from the post replies here.
Thanks To All For Making Me Realize.

I'm glad you brought Harriet back into your life. You mention a wife - you obviously have people in your life who love you.

Now, is there any way the members of this forum can help smooth your future relationship with Harriet? This forum has been a tremendous help to me! If you have having specific problems, you can search for answers here, or post your problems and get advice from others who have been down the same road!

I hope 2009 is the year your relationship with Harriet improves so you can say you love her and don't ever want to live without her!

Original Guest,

Yes, please sign up to the forum, choose a name, list your equipment in text form, give some info, and let us all be of help. We live for that. Listing your specific difficulties may help you to crystalize in your mind what needs to be addressed, which will help you solve your problems with Harriet. I have found that whatever problem or question I have, either it has already been addressed somewhere in this forum (in the "our wisdom" section above or in the previous posts) or someone will have dealt with the exact issue I have and will have found an answer that they are willing to share with me if I post my question.

Many of us (including me) would already have given up completely on our PAP therapy if it weren't for help we received in this forum. So, many of us are here specifically to return the favor to other users. Make our day. Become one of us. Let us be of help!

jeff

Guest,
Welcome back. Your spell of quitting was much shorter than mine (months). Don't know if that makes you smarter or less stubborn, but it certainly means you exercised more wisdom in this situation. Hope 2009 proves better than your last ones with Harriet.
Kathy

Guest wrote:i'm the original poster of this thread.
I went to bed last night and couldn't sleep. My wife noticed that "harriet" was gone. We talked about why I had put "harriet" away. All in All "Harriet" is back in her place on the night stand. Back in use.
I guess I had a momentary lack of reasoning about "harriet" and have realized that from the post replies here.
Thanks To All For Making Me Realize.

I was under the impression from your original post that you had gotten rid of your machine......as in "sold" it or otherwise disposed of it in some way.

In any case, I'm glad to hear that you came to your senses......either from the responses you got here or from your wife or both.
Unfortunately, you're not alone in wanting (or trying) to quit this therapy. THAT is part of the problem.....far too many people don't take this therapy seriously enough and DO quit......and their health deteriorates significantly over the years. Oxygen deprivation during sleep will do terrible things to your body and CPAP therapy is the "gold standard" for keeping it from happening. The medical professionals do a very poor job of working with their patients.......and that's why these forums exist.......to help those who need help figuring this out. It's really not all that difficult, but there may be a number of things that the user needs to get figured out before they get to the point where it's working. The FIRST thing is "ACCEPTANCE".

Why not join us and "git r done!"

Den

Glad you came back to the realization that Harriet is there to help you. I love my Harriet, although she tends to whistle. Stick with it and you'll notice the difference. My first three weeks were rough, and occasionally I still have a time when I would like to take the mask off, but I recall how terrible I felt without it. Stick with it.

Here's a post that helped me a lot when I was struggling and it might help you, too. You can find it in Our Collective Wisdom.
cpaptalk-articles/CPAP-stages-feeling-good.html

Good luck to you.
Lynne