Fear of being "addicted" to cpap

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:51 pm

Geocom wrote:Your husband just plain 'ol does not understand addiction. He does not understand what the word means, what it implies, or how addictions manifests themselves.

There is a good primer on addiction here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction

If your husband even hints that you should not use your machine as prescribed by your doctor, you should find yourself another husband!

Geocom,

Let me first say, I understand that this topic can bring out the emotion in people who are educated and understand the risks of not staying on their therapy, but I think it's probably the case that gulfpearl's husband does not fall into that category. When you say find another husband, I understand it upsets you to think that someone who is supposed to love someone, such as a spouse, should never suggest to their loved one that they shouldn't use their machine. But I can only guess that it comes from being uninformed about the illness and the therapy. Maybe the best suggestion to gulfpearl would be to get her husband involved and educate him so that he understands just how wonderful an "addiction," as I think he may mean it, would be in a case of dependence on CPAP as that is what will help keep you healthy and feeling well. Hopefully another husband it not the answer, but to educate the one she has is. But you are so sweet to care so much that it got you upset.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:01 pm

"addicted" and leading a high-energy, productive, long life...

...or dead.

I think its a moot point.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:53 am

ozij wrote:Bill, to use one of RG's favorite terms: you're a good'un.

And your Wilma is very fortunate.... correction, you both are.

Great advice.

I owe it all to Willemina. She didn't tell me what to say (I'm 1,000 miles away from home at the moment); I just thought "What what She say?"

Wonderful woman I share my life with. Among other things she's a facilitator for the local GriefShare group, so she is well trained in what to say and what not to say.

Me, I usually blunder along putting my foot in everything. Except when I stop and think about what She would do .

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:28 am

Ask him is he's 'addicted' to wearing a seat belt? looking both ways before he crosses the street? locking the front door? brushing his teeth? etc- I bet he just needs a little help understanding why you need it and how it works- its not that its breathing for you or anything, but just holding your airway open to let you breath. Compare it to a garden hose- what would he do if there was something crushing the hose so water couldn't get through? would he try to prevent it? is the garden hose 'addicted' to his intervention to prevent it from being crushed? If it helps, there is no way CPAP can force air into your lungs unless you let it- I have CSA and as much as my BiPAP ST tries to get me to breath, if I don't inhale, no air is getting in...I really wish it could someways...

Another issue people don't always think about is if he had a family member who was on life support after a major accident or illness- especially if the person died. A lot of people view any type of breathing support- CPAP included- as something only someone who was very sick-ie: possibly dieing- needs, which puts a whole different spin on where he coming from. Its better that you are at least talking about it instead of ignoring the issue so you can both try to understand were the other one is coming from. For many people, OSA is the first life long diagnosis that they have to actively treat, which is hard for some people to adjust to...we don't like to realize we are not invincible. I bet he cares a lot for you- and he is just worried.

Geocom · Post by **Geocom** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:27 am

Sleepless,

Thanks for the comment. Rest assured, when suggesting gulfpearl find a new husband, my tongue was implanted firmly in cheek.

However, it is true that my wife has made it clear that if I ever sleep next to her WITHOUT my CPAP, I'd better start looking for a new wife.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:29 am

[quote="Geocom"]Sleepless,

Thanks for the comment. Rest assured, when suggesting gulfpearl find a new husband, my tongue was implanted firmly in cheek.

However, it is true that my wife has made it clear that if I ever sleep next to her WITHOUT my CPAP, I'd better start looking for a new wife.

gulfpearl · Post by **gulfpearl** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:25 pm

Thanks for your suggestions.I know I don't have to find a new husband, he is a great man. We did talk and we ironned out his fears. He knows I'm much more lively using the cpap than I was before. He just thought surgery was a better option than the cpap. He now understands why I chose the cpap. We all have to educate our spouses so misunderstandings don't arise.

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Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:13 am

It's good to hear you talked things out, it would be awful to have to break in a new husband.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 6:13 am

It's good to hear you talked things out, it would be awful to have to break in a new husband.

And I'm happy to hear you talked and worked it out, gulfpearl.
O.