1 year

[elader]

So this week is a year for me. I remember how depressed and uncomfortable I was when starting out. People here have been so helpful. Now I slam that mask on my face and go to sleep. I am riding my bike 100 miles a week, lost some weight, have my mind back (well mostly). I think my short term memory is damaged forever. I have not missed one single night of cpap, through head colds and allergies, and travel to several foreign countries. I have diagnosed two neighbors (with the help of my pulse oximeter). i have become quite the advocate.

again, thanks to the 'regulars' here.

Eric

[millich]

I wasn't here when you started your CPAP journey but it's great to hear you are doing so well!!! It's nice for us newbies to hear encouraging words.

A couple of questions... When you say you have your mind mostly back.. do you see a difference in your thinking and concentration? I'm a month and a half into treatment and haven't seen as much improvement in that as I'd have hoped. I am seeing other improvements though so I'm not complaining. Just curious.

Another question - were you cycling before beginning CPAP?

[jsmythe]

Congratulations Eric! You have came a long way, and crossed your first hurdle. The rest will come easy. Sounds like things are going well for you, that is wonderful! You have learned patience and perseverance, that is very important in your therapy. May you have many more peaceful nights of sleep

[carbonman]

Posted 12/4/08

.....NO, really, I'll send it......save you the trip to the store.

at the risk of elevating this to the hilarious -

Wife: "Hon, who is sending you partially used tubes of breast moisturizer in the mail?"
Me: "It's ok dear, its from som guy who wears a helmut during the day and a mask at night....

I guess you want to be more careful w/the company you keep.

....seems you resemble those remarks now.

Congrats! I'll see you on the road someday.

[5aces]

Another Grad from the class of '08.

Good to know you are doing so well.

Great to get the respiratory condition handled.

I'm still struggling but am hoping for a pass sometime soon...

[jnk]

Eric,

Congrats.

Miss yer posting around here, man.

Let's hang out more. The patented elader wit and humor are always welcome and needed.

jeff

[elader]

In terms of my mental state...

I was definitely half asleep when I was awake. In retrospect, t's hard to tell the difference between diminished mental acuity and extreme fatigue. I did cause an auto accident. Thankfully it wasn't too serious but it could have been. I was afraid to drive at night as I couldn't concentrate at night.

I do seem to still have a short term memory issue. I have to read a phone number three times, cant remember addresses, etc. So I email stuff to myself a lot. I don't know if this is caused by cpap or advanced age (48 ) I tell people at work if they need me to do something, they better email me. I make lists.

I had some bad weeks where it felt like i was nearly back to the beginning. Thankfully I don't have much of that anymore. This winter is 'diet like crazy' to try to keep up with carbonman on the climbs come spring.

The biggest thing for me besides finding the helpful folks here at cpap.com was finding stuff that worked and dumping stuff that didn't. That meant a big NO to nasal masks and nasal prongs - I spend half the night breathing through my mouth. - and finding a FF mask that fit me. It also meant taking charge of my therapy - retitrating myself from 8cm to 10cm and figuring out that cflex actually degraded my sleep quality and my AHI. Of course i would never had known about all this stuff without the help from the folks here.

[elader]

Eric,

Congrats.

Miss yer posting around here, man.

Let's hang out more. The patented elader wit and humor are always welcome and needed.

jeff

I am actually hanging out more at a road cycling forum, but I do miss you guys.

[jnk]

Eric,

Congrats.

Miss yer posting around here, man.

Let's hang out more. The patented elader wit and humor are always welcome and needed.

jeff

I am actually hanging out more at a road cycling forum, but I do miss you guys.

That's cool. But at least drop in once in a while to give me or carbonman a hard time about something. We need that.

[carbonman]

or advanced age (48 )

......you're a pup.

It also meant taking charge of my therapy -

You have become your own best therapist.
You're a great example.
You got'a want it.

This winter is 'diet like crazy' to try to keep up with carbonman on the climbs come spring.

Remember, the climbing let's you know you're alive.
The descents are the dessert that let you appreciate being alive.

Let's do it.

I am actually hanging out more at a road cycling forum, but I do miss you guys.

....wan'a share??

[DoriC]

Congratulations to an alumni of the Class of Sept, '08. I watched your progress with so much interest as you were always asking the same questions that I needed answers to as well. So now those baby steps have grown into long bike rides, good to hear. Keep us posted. Dori

[Spirit]

Congrats !! Thanks for sharing the wonderful news. Wish you continued success.

[rested gal]

WTG, Eric!

[tattooyu]

Very nice Eric! Cheers to one of my many new-found friends who showed me how to sleep with scuba gear on.

I'm half way to my first year. Battling terribly painful aerophagia (could be gastric insufflaton) right now…

Live well and live long!

[roster]

........
I am actually hanging out more at a road cycling forum, but I do miss you guys.

Now that is a transcendent example of CPAP success. Congratulations!