I hate CPAP.

[Insomniyak]

Seriously, you will get to the point and soon when CPAP is just second nature and you'll go back to hating more important things. I think about all the things using CPAP has given me back. I now enjoy being an avid cyclist again. I can hold a job, and accurately do it. I no long have bags under my eyes. My blood pressure is manageable, my weight, well I am working on that.

Find a mask that works for you, me, I prefer the SWIFT FX nasal pillows, very minimal and I hardly think of the CPAP anymore once I turn it on and fall asleep. It does get better, it is already working for you.

[Janknitz]

Once upon a time I HATED my CPAP, too. And I don't much like it when I strap it on at night--it feels tight and hard. I fall asleep quickly now. And when I wake I feelSO GREAT!!! Like I'm floating on a cloud of comfort. I hate having to reach over and turn off my machine. I don't know what changes overnight, but it feels so soothing in the morning that it would be illegal if the rest of the world knew.

It took a lot of work to get there, but every morning I reap the reward of a good, fully oxygenated night of sleep. It's bliss. Shhhh, don't tell or non OSA people will start using CPAP too !

[BlackSpinner]

And of course there is the biggest secret - using cpap works better then Viagra for many people - eventually.

[Captain_Midnight]

Dynodad writes...If more people were honest about the negatives of CPAP I wouldn't have had to write what I did.

Interesting. Why so determined to stay defensive and defiant? I won't argue with you, I'll just relate a story that a few days before Christmas 2011, I had lunch with an acquaintance who I knew used xpap.

Three days later I learned that he had died while on an out-of-town holiday visit; and, that he had chosen to not bring his xpap with him. I suspect that his widow would be able to contrast the positives v negatives of xpap much more eloquently than I.

On a slightly different note, I'm hoping that this thread might be valuable to new pappers having adjustment issues.

.

[Captain_Midnight]

Hi Dynodad.

So, I re-read my above post, and the more I think about it, the less that I like it. Sorry to be preachy.

Forget that, and just remember that we're all on the same side, and there is much to be offered by all members of this fine team (you included, of course).

I'll also mention, that even at 5 months into therapy it's highly likely that any apneic will have some residual affects from the destructive consequences of OSA. So, on top of everything else, one's mood will elevate as well. Stick with program, and go ahead and gripe a little if it keeps you focused on the therapeutic objectives.

.

[Lizistired]

I hate that I have to use cpap. It sucks. But I don't feel as bad as I did without it. Just another love-hate relationship.

[ekubaskie]

Before I started, I talked to a hoser friend. He called it the "Never ever get a SECOND sleepover date machine."

He hates it. I hate it.

He does it. I do it.

Mainly for me, I now sleep longer than 15 minutes at a time. I beat 8 the other night. Long enough that I dream properly.

And hey, I even remember what happened the day before! That's what dreams are - memory cells being programmed.

But the programming language uses some goofy symbology, which is also OK by me, as my brain seems to codify a lot of stuff in the form of interaction with pretty ladies.

Usually undressed pretty ladies, even while engaging in normal day-to-day activities.

I really missed that when I wasn't sleeping right.

Maybe I'd better hose up early tonight...

p.s. Psych majors out there - I'm not interested in Freudian interpretations or explanations. Don't spoil it for me. La la la la la-la la, not listening! La lala la!

[ems]

Dynodad... for what it's worth, I "hate" just about as much as you hate. But, I understand that I have to use the damn thing or suffer the consequences; hence the forced optimism and whatever else goes along with that. For me, the fear of what could happen if I don't use it outweighs how much I hate it. It's really that simple.

[Kody]

Yes none of us like to have to do this, but like others have said there are far worse things to deal with. Along these same lines I had a "different" kind of day today that kind of relates.

Woke up this morning after sleeping a full 8 hours for a change, and felt excellent. My AHI for last night was also very good for a change. Walked the Dogs 6 miles, came home and while the wife was gone, cleaned the whole house including the bathrooms, took all the garbage out, mowed the lawn, and fired up the BBQ and surprised her when she got home with a grilled chicken dinner. She was shocked and very happy when she got home, as normally I don't have this kind of energy. I was thinking to myself, wow I haven't been able to get this much done in a few years now. My xpap is finally starting to pay off, and bringing me slowly back to normal again. So in my case I feel the benefits out way the negatives by far, it's all in how you look at things.

[Papit]

"I've had CPAP for about 5 months, and I definitely feel the benefits (took 2-3 months). Less tired, fewer headaches, so I'd say it was relatively successful.
"But.
"I hate it. Really hate it.

" . . . I never sleep more than 3 hours without waking up . . .
" . . . I hate the feeling of bloatedness . . .
" . . . I hate the dry mouth . . .
"Sorry, just had to get that out. Am I the only one?"

OK, Dyno, lighten up a bit. I happen to think you're getting some over-reactions here, from one or two folks, to the honest venting you did. But you gotta understand that almost all of us have had to contend and deal with the very same difficulties and frustrations that you vented about in a way that frankly came across to them as whining. And nobody likes a whiner. So that's why you're taking some flak.

I'm going to offer a brief comment below that might be helpful. My thoughts have to do with your getting only 3 hours sleep at a time, bloatedness (a.k.a. aerophagia), and dry mouth. (All the rest, bemoaning having to wear a mask, hearing the forced air, snuggling with wife, etc. etc., I write off to "venting" -- and that's for you to address with yourself regarding your relations with family, fellow forum members, . . . .)

Dyno, try to regain your sense of perspective, on what the purpose of xpap is, and how it has genuine potential to make your health, your mood, and your outlook much better, even happier. See your doc asap and focus with him on the aerophagia, the dry mouth and the fragmented 3-hour sleeping. Deal with those things purposefully and effectively with your doc, regain a measure of confidence that your condition will indeed improve, and things will get better. Much better. Hang in there, buddy.

--papit

[dragon_dreams]

I only started using a CPAP machine 10 days ago. That very first morning, I woke up more AWAKE than I have been in years. Plus, I no longer get up every hour or two all night to use the washroom. My husband is no longer kept awake by my snoring. I am thrilled.

Is it comfortable? No, not particularly. I don't like that I can't even say a few words while the thing is on. In fact, I find the whole hose thing a bit embarrassing. It's difficult to take a drink of water with the thing on when I wake up with a dry mouth. My biggest problem is that all my front teeth hurt in the morning, both top and bottom. It seems that I'm pushing with my tongue or something. But waking up RESTED is just so amazing that I'm willing to put up with all the rest. I'm reasonably optimistic that the few kinks will get ironed out. I'm seeing the guy at the sleep clinic tomorrow, and I'm supposed to bring the machine. I gather that he's going to harvest the data from it.

And I just realized that I haven't woken up with a headache in the last 10 days. Amazing!

I recognize the need to vent. But right now, I'm deeply in the gratitude phase.

[DynoDad]

Dynodad writes...If more people were honest about the negatives of CPAP I wouldn't have had to write what I did.

Interesting. Why so determined to stay defensive and defiant?

Because about half of the posters it seems can't bear to see anything other than gushing enthusiasm written about CPAP, which means they're missing my point and, as I said earlier, all that positivity wears thin when it doesn't match your own experience.

Let me rebalance slightly for those of you who think I'm just another whiny Brit ...

I love that I'm not dying of oxygen starvation and CO2 poisoning every night
I love that I'm much less likely to have a stroke or MI
I love that I don't have a headache every morning when I wake up
I love that I have more energy to play with my kids

I love the results of CPAP, but I still hate CPAP for all the reasons stated previously.

I have plenty of perspective thanks, I see people in my job with far worse health problems than me. Some of them are nearly dead. Some of them are actually dead. Some of the latter might still be alive if they'd had CPAP. I'm glad I'm not them. I love life and being alive, which is why I use CPAP even when I'm away overnight because, despite the hassle of transporting the kit and the discomfort of using it I still know that the positives outweigh the negatives.

But I still hate it.

I realise that some people find the word "hate" offensive, but I make no apologies. There is a different between hating gays / blacks / Muslims / The French / etc and hating a piece of technology, sadly it's one of the subtleties of the English language that Americans often miss. For the record I find the spelling of words like 'color' and 'organize' offensive, it's called 'English' for a reason, we invented it you know.

On a slightly different note, I'm hoping that this thread might be valuable to new pappers having adjustment issues.

Believe it or not - that was my actual point for posting this thread. And to have a bit of a vent.

[Bluecat]

Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyy, who hates the French?!

[xenablue]

I only started using a CPAP machine 10 days ago. That very first morning, I woke up more AWAKE than I have been in years. Plus, I no longer get up every hour or two all night to use the washroom. My husband is no longer kept awake by my snoring. I am thrilled.

Is it comfortable? No, not particularly. I don't like that I can't even say a few words while the thing is on. In fact, I find the whole hose thing a bit embarrassing. It's difficult to take a drink of water with the thing on when I wake up with a dry mouth. My biggest problem is that all my front teeth hurt in the morning, both top and bottom. It seems that I'm pushing with my tongue or something. But waking up RESTED is just so amazing that I'm willing to put up with all the rest. I'm reasonably optimistic that the few kinks will get ironed out. I'm seeing the guy at the sleep clinic tomorrow, and I'm supposed to bring the machine. I gather that he's going to harvest the data from it.

And I just realized that I haven't woken up with a headache in the last 10 days. Amazing!

I recognize the need to vent. But right now, I'm deeply in the gratitude phase.

Don't worry dragon-dreams! It won't be long and you'll be able to have a conversation with your mask on - just takes a little practice!

Cheers,
xena

[Matty332]

You will get more used to it Dynodad. I am 33 and for some reason CPAP doesn't bother me that much, sure I'd like to lay on my front and side and nap without it at times but I was stranded in the country a couple of weeks without my powerpack and I was reminded why I need it. Man, the minor inconvenience of having it on FAR outway waking up 10 times throughout the night choking with headaches. I am surprised you say you wake up many times with the CPAP on?? For me it is the opposite. I stick it on, close my eyes and wake up 8 hours later without fail every night. Except of course when my mask starts to leak which wakes me up but I think that is because the silicon is failing and I need a new mask. I do know what your saying about it not feeling too natural and an engineered solution - it is basically a sophisticated vacuum cleaner set to blow and jammed down your mouth (or that's how the first prototype was developed anyway). But choking due to apneas is not that natural in my book either and the CPAP is way more natural than that.

So I hope you hang in there dynoDAD, it gets better and more natural you just need to stick with it.

edited because: I am the master of inappropriate banter that I think is funny but I am the only one who thinks so.