First Night in 7 Years w/o CPAP

[Slartybartfast]

I got home last night after driving my old 'Yota pickup truck 1100 miles from our home in Washington to Southern California, where I work, and am taking care of me elderly Mum. Long distance marriage. Two careers, one truck, needed at both homes.

Left Saturday morning after fixing the door spring on the dishwasher, hanging wind chimes, mowing the lawn, talking with a contractor about siding the house vs. painting, etc. About the time I was passing Portland, I got a call from my wife. "Hon (she always calls me "Hon"), did you mean to leave Pappy here?" Oops.

Wife offered to start driving South with my Intellipap and meet me halfway, but I figured I lasted 53 years without it, so I ought to be able to survive a single night breathing on my own. Made it to Grant's Pass, OR, about where the scenery begins to really get spectacular in the Spring, and I didn't want to drive through the mountains in the dark and miss the show, so I stopped for the night. I usually make the drive by leaving before dawn, drive all day, and get to my destination by around midnight. 20 hours nonstop, 'cept for $1 McDonald's unsweetened ice teas and the subsequent, and consequent, stops to water the bushes well off the highway.

So I checked in to a clean room at a Motel 6 in Grant's Pass, where I got my first Senior Discount since turning 60. Showered, chatted with my wife, watched a little TV, then turned out the lights. And lay there. Feeling the constriction in my throat trying to strangle me. I turned this way and that, adjusted the pillow to keep from touching my neck . . . it was surprising how tired I was, but how I couldn't get to sleep, feeling like I was breathing into a bag. I kept mentally kicking myself for forgetting the CPAP.

Finally I managed to nod off after propping myself up on two pillows, but I can't really call it sleep. I kept awakening, thinking it was morning, then looking at the clock and seeing I had only slept 45 minutes or so.

About 0500, I roused myself and hit the road again, swigging from a 1/2 gallon bottle of iced tea. The show I watched driving through southern Oregon and over Lake Shasta, which was full, and around the base of Mt. Shasta (big volcano) was worth the price I paid for not driving straight through. Waterfalls tumbling down roadcuts, cattle grazing belly-deep in green grass, flowers everywhere. I arrived in Southern California around 8:30 pm. Dog tired. I greeted my kids and Mom, showered, strapped on my S9 Autoset and don't recall a thing after hitting the pillow.

In retrospect, I am surprised how badly I slept without my CPAP. It was a really unpleasant night. I won't forget the machine again.

And, assuming the new ResMed AirMini travel CPAP doesn't come with a brick power supply bigger than it is, I think that's probably going to be my next purchase.

[Captain_Midnight]

SB, good story, and glad you decided "I won't forget the machine again".

I had an acquaintance who traveled without xpap on Christmas holiday to visit family. He did not survive. (I retell this story fairly often, hoping to underscore the potential seriousness of going "commando".

Regards all.

[Wulfman...]

SB, good story, and glad you decided "I won't forget the machine again".

I had an acquaintance who traveled without xpap on Christmas holiday to visit family. He did not survive. (I retell this story fairly often, hoping to underscore the potential seriousness of going "commando".

Regards all.

Reminded me of this one, too.

I told this story years ago.
To me, it was a stark reminder that trying to skip using this therapy is like playing Russian Roulette.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24363&p=261868&hili ... 7s#p261868

And, consequently, I question those who claim to be able to skip their therapy at will and whenever.


Den

.

[Slartybartfast]

Well, didn't want to get too dramatic about it, but actually I felt a little twinge of panic when I felt my throat closing up. I knew the only way I'd be able to get any sleep was if I was sitting propped up. But that's not very restful. And I had a heck of a time falling asleep. Contrast that to the next night. Strap on, turn light out, take a few breaths and suddenly the alarm goes off and it's time to go to work.

I'm a believer. That's the first night in 7 years that I haven't used the machine. And, frankly, it's a little scary thinking one night the 7 year old machine might not start up. So I've been thinking I might get a spare to have on hand. The new little travel machine from ResMed would give me a good reason to have a backup, because I hate lugging the S9, or the Intellipap when I travel.

[Virtualschip]

Beautifully written post with a telling conclusion, thanks for the reminder. Last close call i had was when i stayed over night at a hotel, I had my machine....but left the headgear straps at home. A bit of improvision lead me to use my shoe laces in the headgears place. It was better then nothing, hurt like heck....lesson learned.

[knothead]

Sounds like its time to get a second Pappy for travel or leave at 2nd home...i have a hard time sleeping without mine too....