Thread for machine/computer Challenged among us

[ems]

We need a thread specifically aimed at the most machine/computer challenged people out there... like me for instance. I have so many questions and seldom ask because I'm embarrassed. So often I read things with people saying... so easy even a child can do it. While that's probably true, I'm afraid of my machine and I'm sure if I push the wrong button it will explode or something! Seriously, I'm sure I'll screw something up and not be able to fix it... or, I might not be able to use it that nite, etc. I've pushed a few things and it took me 10 minutes to get back to where I was... no, I don't usually have panic attacks.

If someone would chime in and tell me that I'm not alone, it would be so nice...!

[SleepyToo2]

ems, please don't be embarrassed. We all started in the same position as you. We all find ourselves "breaking" our computers sometimes. Very important to make sure you have backups. Please do ask - you are not going to learn if you don't ask! After all, the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. Start by telling us what machine/computer you have.

A tip for starting out. Make sure you write down any settings before you change them. And write down how you changed them. That way, you will know where to focus on to undo what went haywire.

Be brave!

[ems]

Thanks Sleepy... I've been on CPAP/BPAP for awhile now. My questions are mainly about reading and understanding the data so that I feel comfortable changing my settings and so forth. I'd like to be able to do this and not be concerned if I will wake up in the morning.

[archangle]

No if's and's or but's.

You CAN ruin your therapy by changing your pressure settings. You can certainly make it as bad as not doing CPAP at all. It might even be possible to make it worse.

It might even be possible to make it worse than no CPAP.

Keep this in mind before you decide to change your own CPAP settings.

For instance, if you need a pressure of 16 to stop your apnea, but you turn the pressure down to 4 because it's more comfortable, you might get no benefit at all from CPAP. We might laugh at this idea, but there are plenty of people who are dumb enough to do that. I know quite a few people who should not tinker with their CPAP.

Even a genius like me can get it wrong. I set mine wrong and was really miserable for a while. I didn't realize my symptoms were CPAP related and I suffered for many months with all kinds of problems. I sort of knew what I was doing in terms of pressure, but I didn't actually get my CPAP machine set the way I thought it was set.

[Starlette]

((Huggs)) ems
Like it was said, ask away

I have to think after all the questions I was asking, I have to believe some other peeps learned ALOT from me sticking my neck out.

I saved some of my recent posts for such a moment as this. When someone else needed some help along the way too. ems, I learned more about my apap/therapy in just the last few weeks than probably in the last four years. I did add one humor pill that I couldn't pass up, its so cute

So tomorrow morning, grab a cup of joe, relax and read some of my posts. Some REALLY great info. You know what ems?
As a result of asking so many questions and letting folks know when I was confused, I'm doing VERY nice on my therapy and sleep
It's awesome!

Forum won't hear much from me now. Only now and then if there is something that comes up on the forum that I have a question about.
I mainly post now to help others with what I know so far. I think its called "paying it forward". ems, I NEVER would have come this far in my sleep and therapy had I not stuck my neck out, put my pride aside and ask my questions. NOTE: It also helped me BIG TIME having a group of fellow cpapers to meet with on a monthly basis and meet each other face to face and discuss what's on our minds atm, love it!

Read away.

Starlette

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[Gaga58]

Hi Ems...I'm chiming in with Sleepy on this one...don't be afraid to ask about any of it! I'm only a little over 4 months in and still have a lot to learn, but am a whole lot farther than I was back when I started! If you could post some of your data, there are several on here who can point out what it all is and what it means and if you're not sure how to post, or even how to get it to where you can post don't be afraid to ask that either! Please don't feel embarrassed, we all had to start from the beginning with our cpap AND our computers before we got as comfortable with them as we are now...so ask away!!

[Gazhacks]

Learn something new every day thats my motto, Ive been at it for a few years now and Im still learning as for computers I turned my first one on about 1979 and have been tickering with them ever since. Do I know it all, not even close. Ive learnt most by asking. If your still unsure why not pm people I'm sure most will only be glad to help

[deltadave]

I have so many questions and seldom ask because I'm embarrassed.

Well "IMHO", just about everyone patrols the threads looking for a question to answer to give them a chance to "strut their stuff", "show 'em what they're workin' with", or often simply to "look for spots that they can use quotation marks".

IOW, what might be classified as an "easy" question is really giving virtually the entire group an opportunity to score some points. And posing "easy" questions encourage new visitors that it's OK to pose "easy" questions, and that it's not necessary to be ready to debate the role of Poissoulle's Equation in interpreting the SysOne Resistance Control.

[deltadave]

I have so many questions and seldom ask because I'm embarrassed.

REAL embarrassment is all those people who couldn't figure out who "'Nother Crappy pharmaTROLL" is.

[robysue]

And posing "easy" questions encourage new visitors that it's OK to pose "easy" questions, and that it's not necessary to be ready to debate the role of Poissoulle's Equation in interpreting the SysOne Resistance Control.

The math geek in me loves this

I have so many questions and seldom ask because I'm embarrassed.

REAL embarrassment is all those people who couldn't figure out who "'Nother Crappy pharmaTROLL" is.

And now I'm laughing out loud.

Note to ems and other computer/machine challenged folks: The only truly stupid thing is NOT to ask the questions you have. We've all been there and done that: We were not born talking CPAP and computerese. Like anything, some of us pick it up faster than others, but we still learn by asking questions.

About 25 years ago my hubby the computer scientist made me take a course called "Computer Algebra Systems" since he thought (correctly) that any new math PHD-to-be needed some computer skills and I had none. A good friend of mine was also talked into taking the same course by her computer-nerd hubby for the exact same reason. We were using Sun workstations ($$$$) and I was absolutely terrified I'd do something wrong to kill one of the computers. And I was also naive and curious. One day I asked my hubby: "Where does the Unix go when you turn the machine off?" Hubby burst out laughing, and yes, my feelings were hurt.

My friend, Julie, had an equally oddball conversation with her hubby that also resulted in hurt feelings.

All four of us learned that it was better for both Julie and me to ask the other's hubby our naive, newbie questions since they wouldn't laugh at friends, but would at spouses. Eventually, my hubby did admit he couldn't control the laughter simply because no-one he worked with ever even remotely thought about that question in that particular way: They all understood what's called the bootstrap process and had never considered the "boot up process" in the sense of the operating system simply taking a vacation or something when the machine was turned off. Julie's hubby was the one who gave me just enough information about the bootstrap process to satisfy my curiosity and rest my mind at ease that I couldn't somehow make the machine loose its brain just by turning it off.

[DoriC]

Ems, great thread! I'm over 3yrs into this and I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten many of the things I've learned along the way and should have remembered, so whenever someone asks an "easy" question, it's a good review for me or else a chance for me to jump in and help with whatever little knowledge I've retained!

[ems]

Just returned from a few days away to find all these responses to my thread. Thanks to all of you for your kind and caring responses (including the PMs, of course). And, Starlette, I will check out those sites.

[portiemom]

I am so with you on the computer stuff and data, I agree some of us chicks don't want to mess with the buttons, keys etc. must be from all those vacuums just turn em on and push!

[Starlette]

I am so with you on the computer stuff and data, I agree some of us chicks don't want to mess with the buttons, keys etc. must be from all those vacuums just turn em on and push!

*Nods* So totally agree. However, my husband is the type of guy who doesn't mind helping me with my computer question(s). HOWEVER, there comes a time where he expects me to grow my own set of wings and start flying on my own. I'm here to tell you I felt so AWESOME and PROUD of self when for the first time ever I retrieved a file to use on the forum from an external backup drive (right term? or hardware?) this past week. Hubbs say's, "I don't know how to either." I do now! I can now back-up and retrieve, yay!!!

NOTE: Years ago, I did manage to bring down the family computer Needless to say, I never got a standing ovation from DH for that action.

Starlette