First Post; thanks everyone!

[barbed15]

I have been reading, reading, reading here! Finding lots of helpful stuff and am very grateful. Actually started 2 years ago; hated it so much I took the machine back & went on my own happy way. So I wind up at a pulmonary doc's office in March for asthma, & so happens he's a sleep doc too; he says you really need to be on cpap. Told him I hated it, & he says I don't blame you, you're nose is all stuffy and you can't breathe! So he recommended a full-face mask & lowered pressure to 7 with a ramp of 5. And this machine has c-flex which is so much better than the other one!
Still wasn't easy, but better than before! Getting used to having something on my face at night, even tho the mask doesn't leak and it's pretty comfortable. It would take a long time to fall asleep, & I would take it off in the middle of the night, sometimes not remembering that I did. Doc was pleased with results after 6 weeks even tho I didn't think so cos I wasn't wearing it all night. But I started noticing improvements; the first being not getting up 4 or 5 times a night to go to the bathroom!
I'm wearing it most nights all night. Most of my adjustments have been with the humidifier; mostly I keep it on 1, but there have been nights when I've had to turn it off completely.
Two years ago I was in denial; it took going to a seminar with my husband about hearing aids & listening to the speaker who has severe hearing loss say it took a long time for her to get used to the hearing aids, but it has made her life better.
Smack me upside the head!
So glad to have found you all! Blessings to you!

[rested gal]

Sounding good, barbed15!! And sounds like you've got a good doctor.

Hope everything keeps getting better and better for you. Do keep posting and let us know how it's going.

[Mary Z]

barbed15, Good for you! We all know how difficult it can be to get started on CPAP. There are a lot of different stages you go through in the process of admitting you have a chronic, dangerous illness which requires continuous care and a lot of effort on your part. I'm glad you're doing better, some CPAP is better than none, though all night every night is preferable. It can take awhile to get used to the settings comfortable for you, but it sounds like you're off to a good start. It's amazing what plants the seed- in your case a man talking about getting used to his hearing aides- I've heard that's tough. Both interventions require a big commitment from the person involved. Keep us posted.
Mary Z.

[DoriC]

Good news! Any chance you can get your machine switched to one that has data capabilities so you can track your progress. The one you have just records compliance(how many hours you used it). Keep us posted. Dori

[barbed15]

Good news! Any chance you can get your machine switched to one that has data capabilities so you can track your progress. The one you have just records compliance(how many hours you used it). Keep us posted. Dori

I think the ins. co. will let me have a new one every 12 months; I didn't even know I could get the machine as a rental instead of purchase till I talked to a guy at work! I just went with whatever the medical equipment supplier put in front of me! Yeah, I'm learning! I'll make sure I do my research by the time the year is up! Thanks! Barb

[DreamOn]

Welcome, Barb. We're glad you're here!

[SleepyT]

Welcome, Barb! Think of this place as your life line....and as your extended family. And if along the way you decide to quit or something else similarly crazy...we will smack you upside your head too!