DC Area, Interested in a Support Group?

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:19 am

Ok, This is one just for the folks from DC (VIRGINIA, MD, and the DISTRICT)

There is talk of getting a group together in the DC METRO area. If you are interested, answer the poll....

snoozin' · Post by **snoozin'** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:17 am

Ok, I voted. I said I would prefer MD, because I live in MD and that would be easiest, but I am willing to travel if another location works for others.
Debbie

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:32 am

We need to try to keep this near the top for a bit so it doesn't get lost.

I have seen more than a few posters with VA and MD in their sig's so hopefully we might get some response to it!

Sleeping With The Enemy · Post by **Sleeping With The Enemy** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:53 am

Mike,

I just want you to know that I am totally jealous!! Here I am stuck in the midwest with nothing.

Oh, how I wish I could be out East, so I could come

Guess, I'll just have to keep coming to CPAPTALK.COM for support

Sleeping with the Enemy, the Beast, whatever you want to call it....

Post by **forumadmin** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:19 am

Howdy Mike,

I made this a sticky. Hopefully, it will be visible enough to gauge community interest.

Johnny

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:30 am

forumadmin wrote:Howdy Mike,

I made this a sticky. Hopefully, it will be visible enough to gauge community interest.

Johnny

Great! Thanks Johnny!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:33 pm

Sleeping With The Enemy wrote:Mike,

I just want you to know that I am totally jealous!! Here I am stuck in the midwest with nothing.

Oh, how I wish I could be out East, so I could come

Guess, I'll just have to keep coming to CPAPTALK.COM for support

Sleeping with the Enemy, the Beast, whatever you want to call it....

That's the beauty of this forum, being here for anyone, anywhere and at any time of the day, right?

But if you ever need a local support group, I might suggest that you try and start one yourself. Nothing fancy, and nothing formal is needed. Not even an AWAKE meeting is necessary (gosh, hope the ASAA isn't listening!). Nothing fancy, just a few folks getting together at some local restaurant or watering hole or someplace. And if you are far apart, you might consider starting a phone tree, where you can call each other when you can't meet.

I believe you live in a rural area. But regardless, you might consider (and this is only a half-baked suggestion) writing some article for your local newspaper or convince someone there to do so for you (reporters are always looking for good stories to write, and with the Reggie White thing not so long ago, they might be even more interested). And you could use that opportunity to tell folks you're trying to form an informal support group and are looking for anyone interested in doing so. ..... Again, only a suggestion.

Or, if you're anywhere near a fairly busy and successful sleep study lab, you might post some information there for people to read, about a possible support group.

In this day and age, with internet, telephones and some creative planning, there's no reason you couldn't do something. I have a hard time believing that there are too few apnea sufferers near any of you. So it could be worth the effort.

Linda

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:05 am

Wow, only 5 votes? where is the rest of the DC Metro Area?

Post by **forumadmin** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:50 pm

Howdy Mike,

I share your thoughts. You can't empower the people if there are no people to empower...

We'll keep this up for the weekend and see where we are Monday.

Johnny

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:56 pm

I suspect that you won't get too many responses.
Hard to imagine, but not everyone uses the computer or has internet. Also, the DC area is a highly transient place. People come and go here alot. Still, I hope you do get some responses, Mike. Just don't be upset if you don't. I don't think it's because there aren't any sleep apnea people out there. And I know for a fact that a couple of former forum members live in the area, but they just don't frequent our site anymore. We'll have to reach them some other way as well.

Linda

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:12 pm

Howdy Linda,

And I know for a fact that a couple of former forum members live in the area, but they just don't frequent our site anymore. We'll have to reach them some other way as well.

Any idea why they are former forum members? Something we did? Something we didn't do? Liam's bad breath?

Johnny

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:21 pm

johnnygoodman wrote:Howdy Linda,
Any idea why they are former forum members? Something we did? Something we didn't do? Liam's bad breath?

Johnny

Haha, good one on Liam!

One was a woman from Reston, a lawyer, who was moving to Fredericksburg. Still close enough, but I suspect life just got busy for her. Another woman was in a retirement community and was enjoying meeting people there. She had had mask problems, and I think once she resolved her problem, she might not have needed the forum any longer. It happens. And if you notice, for the most part, forum members seem to be those who have just started their treatment or nearly so, or have some problem they want resolved. Turnover is to be expected. Then there are those who continue to need or enjoy the forum, like myself.

Linda

awakeinva · Post by **awakeinva** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:14 pm

YES! I'm interested. I live in Burke but will travel anywhere. ANYWHERE. I just found you guys - this must be some karmic sign. I've been on CPAP therapy for almost two months and am having a VERY hard time adjusting. I dread bedtime, the mask is torture, and I throw a fit every night like a two year old. Logically I understand that it takes time to adjust and I firmly believe in the benefits of CPAP, but emotions take over at bedtime and I end up down here at the computer for hours and hours until I'm finally so sleepy that I wouldn't notice if you nailed the stupid thing to my head.

I know it's not true, but I almost think I got more sleep BEFORE CPAP.

(this has been a particularly difficult night - can you tell? )

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:27 pm

awakeinva wrote:YES! I'm interested. I live in Burke but will travel anywhere. ANYWHERE. I just found you guys - this must be some karmic sign. I've been on CPAP therapy for almost two months and am having a VERY hard time adjusting. I dread bedtime, the mask is torture, and I throw a fit every night like a two year old. Logically I understand that it takes time to adjust and I firmly believe in the benefits of CPAP, but emotions take over at bedtime and I end up down here at the computer for hours and hours until I'm finally so sleepy that I wouldn't notice if you nailed the stupid thing to my head.

I know it's not true, but I almost think I got more sleep BEFORE CPAP.

(this has been a particularly difficult night - can you tell? )

Welcome!

Feel free to send me a PM (private message) if you're still interested.
Just today I met with one person in Alexandria, discussing this need for an area support group. We are hoping to meet every couple of weeks or so, on weekends, most likely, but not certain. We hope to find ways of locating others with the same interest. We are hoping to arrange something held on a regular basis, but often enough for people to join or skip, depending on their schedules. We're also considering a kind of phone tree, a means of chatting locally when meeting isn't possible. I will keep you posted on this.

FYI, I live in Maryland but work in Alexandria, and live not far from northern Virginia. So far there are a few of us with this interest. So I'm encouraged.

Linda

DC Area, Interested in a Support Group?

Are you interested in attending a Support Group, and do you have a preference to location?

DC Area, Interested in a Support Group?

YES!

Re: YES!