ready to give up

[daveutah]

Halfway through the night..or sometimes a hour it seems to just blow out ..dunno whats up but I am so out of it I just take the damn thing off..ready to give up...dont feel better either way. and I am so foggy I may not be able to tell how to get ant replies but if you have helpful advice maybe you can email me ...I can figure out email. y e l o o c d @ y a h o o . c o m

[same dude]

I had to put spaces in my email ... man this is getting to me...cant sleep well and if this dont work I have no options.

[jules]

what is the ONE biggest reason why you want to give up?

what one thing can someone do to allow you to continue in treatment?

[elg5cats]

I had to put spaces in my email ... man this is getting to me...cant sleep well and if this dont work I have no options.

In the midst of frustration, there is one definite option left.............the option to work on sorting out the bugs and making it work for you!!!! May want to give some more details like machine you are using, pressure machine is set at, what you think may be going on around the time you are taking mask off!!!! Opt in verses Opting Out!!!!

elg5cats

[jweeks]

I had to put spaces in my email ... man this is getting to me...cant sleep well and if this dont work I have no options.

Dave,

I was in the same spot you are about a year ago. I was out of options. I wasn't able to work because I couldn't stay awake long enough to do anything useful in front of a computer, nor was I able to safely drive more than a mile or two without risking falling asleep. I am lucky that I have an excellent sleep doctor located only 3/4 mile from my house. CPAP hasn't been a cakewalk, but results speak for themselves. Since I started on CPAP, I have put 20,000 miles on my car traveling as part of my work and my hobbies, and I haven't even so much as yawned when driving. That would have been unthinkable 18 months ago.

I had problem after problem over the first 4 months. Folks in this group had to talk me out of giving up more than once. The fog of OSA, the lack of sleep, and the effects on your brain due to low oxygen levels can make this seem overwhelming. The key for me was to treat it like an engineering project. Break it down into smaller problems, and work to solve each one. Smaller problems are sometimes easier to deal with, and with each one you solve, you can get a little more sleep each night. The more sleep you get, the easier it is to deal with the remaining issues.

Please take a little time, and write about each issue that you are having. I really don't know what it means when you say "it blows out". How about phrasing it as "I did A, then B happened, resulting in C". That is the kind of detail that folks can work with. I have heard that 50% of CPAP'ers give up. OSA can lead to having a stroke and all kinds of heart damage. You don't want to be in that category. Please don't give up.

-john-

[samedude]

ResMed S8 Escape II CPAP with Easy-Breathe and H4i Heated Humidifier with the regular sized looking hose not clear as to what its set on or who brought it or how to change it. A while after I fall asleep air blows out the side of the mask, not sue why, so I take it off...I dont do anything it just happens...it took a while to figure out that it was just not me thinking "eek ther is something on my face! " and pulling it off, I guess its not for me...I almost dont care what happens ..I cant seem to make it work.

[again...]

The one thing that would make me continue is to see some kind of improvment, I guess the 1 hor to 2 seems to help but not enough keep trying..I got to see the dr or the people who brought it...whoever they are, I cant seem to remember their name...

[BlackSpinner]

Well don't take it off, just wiggle it, turn over and go back to sleep. The important part is to get through the night wearing the mask. When you learn to ride a bike the first thing to focus on is staying up right, nothing else counts, especially not straight lines on narrow lanes or wheelies.

Otherwise make sure your insurance is up to date.

[TerryB]

I can absolutely relate. During my first month of treatment, I felt like hammered doggy doo. The mask leaks were the first problem to be solved, because the noise and vibration were impossible to ignore. I was much more bothered by the treatment than I had ever been by the sleep apnea. However, after changing from a nasal mask (triangular shape on the nose only) to nasal pillows (two oval shaped nozzles to fit into the nostrils) I was able to get some rest and beginning to deal with mouth breathing, sleep hygiene etc. Now I never have bad nights and couldn't begin to think of sleeping without my CPAP.

You need to do whatever it takes to get enough rest to be conscious and able trouble shoot the problems. Get a friend to help find the leaks. FIX the PROBLEMS!

Good Luck!

TerryB

[elg5cats]

ResMed S8 Escape II CPAP with Easy-Breathe and H4i Heated Humidifier with the regular sized looking hose not clear as to what its set on or who brought it or how to change it. A while after I fall asleep air blows out the side of the mask, not sue why, so I take it off...I dont do anything it just happens...it took a while to figure out that it was just not me thinking "eek ther is something on my face! " and pulling it off, I guess its not for me...I almost dont care what happens ..I cant seem to make it work.

Is it possible you are changing sleep position, like from back to side, or stomach or changing position of your head dislodging the seal of the mask. What kind of mask do you have?

elg5cats

[daveutah]

Hi mask is a Resmed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask is not too uncomfortable...just rode home on the bus I get more out of a 20 min bus ride than sleeping at night... I am not fully aware or alert to either (usually) to realize I have pulled it off ... dunn I cant be unique ...

[elg5cats]

Hi mask is a Resmed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask is not too uncomfortable...just rode home on the bus I get more out of a 20 min bus ride than sleeping at night... I am not fully aware or alert to either (usually) to realize I have pulled it off ... dunn I cant be unique ...

You are not unique, your are adjusting to a change. Maybe you can spend some time this evening before bed time to see if you can adjust your headgear while in the position you are lying when you are getting leaks (air coming out of the side). You are likely dislodging the mask seal with position change of your head or body. Practice before going to bed, check you pillow to see if is a factor in the leaks.......if the bus ride is giving your more than a "night's sleep" there's a great incentive to make the night's sleep better!!! Keep at it.

elg5cats

[DME_RT]

Try adjusting the mask while laying down in bed, and you CPAP machine on full pressure.
It helps to adjust the straps on both sides at the same time, as it helps to pull the mask in directly to your face, whereas tightening just one strap at a time can cause the mask to get lopsided, and also can result in over tightening. The top two straps are only there as a support point, and don't accomplish anything towards fixing leaks on your mask. There is an adjustment between the body of the mask and the forehead pad that adjust angle to face, this is the one you adjust if air is blowing into your eyes. Bottom straps should be adjusted to take care of leaks at the bottom or sides of the mask. I hope this helps!

[tattooyu]

It takes a LOT of practice to adjust to your therapy
Obstacles (like leaks) will SEEM insurmountable

After sticking with it, you'll look back fondly at that time
When you were tearing out your hair
Feeling almost WORSE than before.

(I am BECOMING Carbonman!)

It happens to most of us. If you really care about yourself, and don't want to have horrible health problem or die in the process, keep at it.

IT DOES GET BETTER WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND WORK.

The first thing I think we would all like you to do, if you can find the energy (I know it's hard), is register for this board. It's free. Then, click on User Control Panel > Profile tab > Edit Equipment (on the left). Add in your machine, mask AND pressure (if you know what it is) as TEXT not images.

Thanks. We'll be here for you if you need us!

[BlackSpinner]

You may also want to bring the piece of crap - ur um cpap machine that they sold you and get an S8 elite so you can see what effect your therapy is having. You have the TRS80 of personal computers as your machine tell them you want the latest efficiency data capable machine and don't let them push you around - your insurance WILL pay for it.