Conclusive Proof - CPAP *IS* ADDICTIVE

[archangle]

I just looked. I have 5 CPAP machines, 12 or more masks, 12 or more spare cushions, 5 spare humidifier tanks, 8 hoses, 30 or so filters, and 1 DC cord.

And that's just what I can think of without actually looking.

Obviously collecting CPAP equipment is addictive.

What's your collection look like?

In my defense, there's one original CPAP, one I inhereted, two upgrades, and one spare machine that was too good a deal to pass up.

I'm not a hoarder. It's just that an uncluttered house is low on my personal list of priorities.

[Vader]

I still have every mask that I ever got, all the hoses, and 3 machines.

how sad...

[Breathe Jimbo]

After 11 months, I have only one machine, one humidifier for my machine, one mask, and one slimline hose. I have one regular hose as a backup. I have two spare nasal pillows, but I'm still using the original ones (they don't look so great, but they still work). It might be different if I were working and didn't have crappy COBRA coverage with a huge deductible. Oh, and I have one PapCap. It hope it all lasts until I find a new job.

[moresleep]

CPAP collections can build up over the years, especially if, like me, you are always hoping for something that will work a bit better One solution is to donate your old machines that still work to a local organization that can sanitize and recycle them. I did that some time back and got rid of several machines that I doubt I would ever have used again.

[WestCoastCdnGrl]

8 months in and I have

1 ResMed S9 Autoset compressor

1 Resmed S9 Autoset H5i humidifier

1 hose lift

2 masks (Mirage Quattro, which was my first mask and has been relegated to being my spare and a Quattro FX, which is my every night mask)

Assorted spare parts for spare masks (1 broken and crudely repaired forehead support and 2 spare forehead support dial knobs for the Mirage Q)

Assorted accessories for masks (Padacheek mask liner and anti leak strap, both in blue.... thank you, as always, to Karen for the strap!; a gecko anti leak nose guard which doesn't seem to w*rk for me but I'm keeping it anyway)

1 Slimline hose

2 Climate line hoses (the one that I ordered last Thursday night from our hosts which arrived this morning just south of the northern border with Canada and original one that I got last December and has a crudely patched hole that serves as an emergency back up)

12 cpap dot com house brand disposable hypoallergenic filters for Darth Vader, to be swapped out once a month because the thought of not using an air filter or a really dirty filter just grosses me out.

1 3.5oz/95mL local DME house brand mask cleaner that I use on occasion.

2 bottles of "Earth friendly" dish soap with which to clean my mask.

[carbonman]

Obviously collecting CPAP equipment is addictive.

4 complete machines
3 masks
misc mask replacement parts
2 heated hose
12v power converter
12v deep cell battery
5 papcaps
2 mask liners
plenty of filters

how sad...

....not sad at all.

It's my life.

[TalonNYC]

2 machines
1 complete spare mask
1 of each of the individual parts (2 of some)
1 complete mask I wear
2 spare hoses (plus 1 on the machine)
3 other masks I tried but don't regularly use
Assortments of filters, headgear, headgear covers, miscellaneous

And it's only been 6 months =)

[JayR_1945]

Addiction is just the wrong term. The original use is for the compulsive use of illegal drugs to get high. But now the term is used pejoratively for any behavior that is different. We have too many with an addiction to "addictions".

Yes it is compulsive. But breathing itself is highly compulsive. And especially for those with a pre-existing breathing problem (like apnea) anything we do to improve breathing is also compulsive. If the original CPAP improved our respiration from 50% to 80% we will use it compulsively. And because we made an improvement we will seek even better solutions. When we find something that improves breathing from 80% to 95%, we will use than over our old clunker.
And yes, my old clunker is at my sisters house in case a disaster happens.
Breathing is good.

I just don't have a problem in the world with this concept. We do not need therapy for compulsive CPAP use. The addiction therapists need therapy.

[AmIawake]

You have the basis for starting a new hobby, xPAP collecting. Wonder how long before they start publishing a price guide to help potential collectors

[nanwilson]

one M series auto with 2 hoses
one F&P 604 with heated hose
4 masks, a quattro, a comfortgel nasal and 2 hybrids
2 sets of hose covers and headgear covers
4 padacheek liners
one 12 volt deep cycle marine battery
one inverter
one trolly to cart the gear around from house to motorhome and vice versa

Crap, I didn't realize I had such a collection until I had to think to write all this down .

[BlackSpinner]

That is not addictive: When your collection start to look like this - then it is becoming a problem. One shelf of my mothers dwarf collection ONE - there are 2 other big bookcases full of dwarfs and dragons in the livingroom - and then there is the den.....


dwarves1 by lenabreijer, on Flickr

[JayR_1945]

Blackspinner,

I respectfully disagree. This is a hobby, not an addiction or a compulsion.
It is legal.

If you sniff them and get a high repeatedly it would be an addiction.
If your children do not eat because all your money is in dwarfs, then it is a compulsion.
But even that can be treated without an expensive addiction recovery program.

[archangle]

Blackspinner,

I respectfully disagree. This is a hobby, not an addiction or a compulsion.
It is legal.

If you sniff them and get a high repeatedly it would be an addiction.
If your children do not eat because all your money is in dwarfs, then it is a compulsion.
But even that can be treated without an expensive addiction recovery program.

Jay, I think you need a good night's sleep.

By the way, nothing says an addiction can't be legal. Cigarettes are very addictive, but legal. Some people are addicted to jogging.

[JayR_1945]

Jay, I think you need a good night's sleep.

Yep, that is why most of us are here.

By the way, nothing says an addiction can't be legal. Cigarettes are very addictive, but legal. Some people are addicted to jogging.

Using illegal substances to get high is the classical definition of "addiction". But that has been broadened to include things that are compulsive that some people don't like. The more pejorative term "addiction" raises the guilt factor, creating vulnerability. This also creates jobs for people with a compulsive tendency to correct behavior in others. You need therapy. But, which compulsion really needs treatment? And, is this "disease" contagious?

[pollyanna40]

Worzel Gumage comes to mind!! with his many Heads!! LOL...i have one apap,1 humidifer,1 hose and one mask!! lol..i have only 1 face!! x x x