cpap rhymes with crap

[figgo]

i can't believe with all the technology that exists in this world that there can't be a better way to manage apnoea than cpap

[mazzy]

A lot of people think the same way you do. If you listen to the meetings the big manufacturers have, everyone is looking for the next new thing in treatment. No one can seems to come up with anything better though. Surgery isn't effective and few people want to have stuff inserted into their airway.

[Tim_D]

I agree...

When I got my machine I asked what we did next to get rid of the machine. My therapist said that was it, get the machine and go.

I thought the machine was more of a band-aid than a permanent fix. I hope that something can befigured out. Hmmm, maybe if I cut a 2' piece of waterhose and then.......

Tim

[JudyAnn]

I agree too. This treatment for SA seems so pre-historic to me but, of course, I am pre-historic (65)

I hope that someone comes up with something better but in the meantime, from one hosehead to another, we have to keep inhaling. I try not to think about it because when I first found out, it was depressing and I can imagine how depressing it is for all the young people out there who have this. A BIG BUMMER! We just have to resign ourselves to the present way of treatment until something better comes along and it will...someday.

Hey, Tim, I have only been a "hosehead" since July 20, 2004 and I am from the Atlanta, GA area too.

Judy

[NightMonkey]

Any improvement in seven years?

[LinkC]

"cpap rhymes with crap" -- In the beginning, they wanted to call it "continuous respiratory air pressure", which describes it perfectly; but they didn't like the acronym. Doctors have no sense of humor...

Think about it. What does the "positive" add to the phrase? A "negative pressure" is a vacuum. "Pressure" implies that it's positive. They didn't want to call it "CAP" because that wouldn't be unique. So, they simply inserted a convenient word that didn't start with "R".

[BlackSpinner]

It is a hell of a lot better the a hole in your throat. It is simple, has almost no side effects, and you use it while you sleep. Stop bitching about something this simple and effective, take a look at the side effects of most drug, think about being a diabetic, about using a wheel chair about just about any other medical therapy out there! Now get down a kiss the thing and thank it for being so easy to use and lengthening your life and increasing the quality of your life.

[Wulfman]

Any improvement in seven years?

Some.......

"Data-capability" is probably somewhat more advanced. More manufacturers have gotten on the data-capable bandwagon.
The previous models didn't attempt to identify possible Central Apneas. (except the PB 420E)
Better software (maybe).
A (somewhat) larger and better mask selection.

Some "improvements" have been beneficial, some aren't all that much more.
We're still stuck with "planned obsolescence" and the useful life of these things is about five years or less.


Den

[Julie]

Absolutely agree with you Black S. (it must be something in the Mtl. air .

[vette76]

I agree with Black..... im new but to tell the truth wearing a mask is alot better than not breathing at night i had 47 apneas per hour and stoped breathing for 73 seconds the longest of the night my oxegen levels were down to 83%. So i want to focus on the positve side. Things could be alot worse.

[kempo]

I started using my s9 last July and never thought of it as a "ball and chain". Just happy to find something that improved my quality of life.

[smsfire2003]

I couldn't agree with everyone more about it being a machine that improves the quality of life and is a significant improvement over a trach, I couldn't live without my daily dose of hose at night
I think what the original poster was saying is it's 2011 with all the modern technology and advances in medicine that there will someday hopefully soon be an alternative to being a hose head perhaps some type of new surgery or tech that will control apnea 100% and allow the user to not worry any more about ahi, hi, leaks, finicky masks etc.

[Janknitz]

I totally and 100% agree!!!!!!!!!!

But if CPAP is Crap, how much worse is waking up every day with the effects of stroke or heart attack, or worse, not waking up at all???

Guess I'll suffer with crap!

[Wulfman]

I totally and 100% agree!!!!!!!!!!

But if CPAP is Crap, how much worse is waking up every day with the effects of stroke or heart attack, or worse, not waking up at all???

Guess I'll suffer with crap!

Yeah......waking up dead would really ruin your day........


Den

[TooGroggy]

everyone is looking for the next new thing in treatment

Well, they are not looking very hard.

Most people I've talked to who have given up on CPAP have done so because of the mask. Is it really that difficult to match a patient with a mask that works?

If manufacturers truly wanted to advance the state of the art, they could do any number of things. Make it simpler to return a mask that doesn't fit. Or provide mask kits to help new patients figure out what work and what doesn't. Or, use virtual modeling software to test-fit masks to a patient's face. Or use the same software to design and build custom-fitted masks.

Yes, I know one can buy mask "insurance" from cpap.com or borrow a mask from nation tv or trade masks with other CPAP patients. But all that shows is that manufacturers are failing to deliver products that work.

So it's say it isn't CPAP that's crap, it's Resmed, Respironics and every other manufacturer.