Hiding cpap a from family members

[eeckel]

Do you hide cpap from any of your family? Perhaps you just don't mention it?

This upcoming memorial day weekend I'm taking my frail elderly aunt on an extended weekend getaway. She is a worrier, has poor hearing and has experienced several deaths of people she loved. I know it will be hard to explain pap without alarming her so I'll be using Provent. But this doesn't feel right either. But I want to show her a good time and not cause her any stress.

Have any of you had similar experiences and how did you make he decision about revealing your use of pap?

[Sir NoddinOff]

Sorry, I don't think hiding CPAP from anybody makes any sense at all.

[Stormynights]

Do you hide cpap from any of your family? Perhaps you just don't mention it?

This upcoming memorial day weekend I'm taking my frail elderly aunt on an extended weekend getaway. She is a worrier, has poor hearing and has experienced several deaths of people she loved. I know it will be hard to explain pap without alarming her so I'll be using Provent. But this doesn't feel right either. But I want to show her a good time and not cause her any stress.

Have any of you had similar experiences and how did you make he decision about revealing your use of pap?

Little old ladies are tougher than you think. Just show it to her and let her see what it does.

It is very kind of you to take her on a getaway. Have fun.

[Goofproof]

Does your aunt hide her meds? Its a no brainer, you are worrying about something that doesnt mean anything to anyone. If you are worrying about hiding cpap, how much worry is involved in hiding a coffin. Wake up! Jim

We all have lives and little problems, live the life and deal with the small problems, and pray we arent given bigger problems.

[chunkyfrog]

Since OSA tends to run in families, it actually might reassure her to know you are taking care of yourself.
For all you know, she might be hiding HERS.

[grapeshly]

My aunt and and mother were like this. ANYTHING at all would set them worrying, and worse yet, they would obsess about it ceaselessly. If I so much as coughed, or sniffed, I'd get an earful, and for days! If your aunt is like this, I know exactly what you mean. And NO science based explanation would shake them out of it.

I think with my mom and my aunt, it was almost as if they got some kind of kick out of being so worried. In the end, it was useless trying to walk on eggshells around them. I dealt with it by repeating that there was no medical basis for their claims, and then if they continued obsessing, I'd make a little wisecrack (but a light one, and admittedly not something everyone can do), and change the topic. They were who they were and I couldn't change them, nor would I want to.

Not sure how much this helps, but I would say that if you want to carry out this deception, think carefully if this is truly to protect her, and not to just save yourself the bother of dealing with her possible reaction. I'm not judging. Your aunt really could get worried and obsessed to the point of mental anguish. Only you know your aunt, and I don't think there's a wrong answer.

[Goofproof]

Or you could drop a stray cat on their porch until the fotget the cpap. Jim

[quietmorning]

Living honestly means that you be yourself in the fullest capacity you are capable of - and letting those who are around you choose for themselves how they will respond. The fact that you are on cpap is not going to change whether your aunt knows it or not. What WILL change is the respect you have for yourself in being true to who you are. When you compromise the truth of who you are to someone, then you cease to be the real true you.

Let the chips fall where they may. No, you can't control her reaction, but you can make choice as to what you want to do in response to her reactions. Choose to control the situation instead of letting it control you.

[ughwhatname]

Do you hide cpap from any of your family? Perhaps you just don't mention it?

This upcoming memorial day weekend I'm taking my frail elderly aunt on an extended weekend getaway. She is a worrier, has poor hearing and has experienced several deaths of people she loved. I know it will be hard to explain pap without alarming her so I'll be using Provent. But this doesn't feel right either. But I want to show her a good time and not cause her any stress.

Have any of you had similar experiences and how did you make he decision about revealing your use of pap?

I wouldn't try to hide it. Its no good for you to do so. Instead, I think I would explain it in very light terms. "Yep, I do this to protect my health... and I feel so much better since I started." Something along those lines.

[BrandonB]

Living honestly means that you be yourself in the fullest capacity you are capable of - and letting those who are around you choose for themselves how they will respond. The fact that you are on cpap is not going to change whether your aunt knows it or not. What WILL change is the respect you have for yourself in being true to who you are. When you compromise the truth of who you are to someone, then you cease to be the real true you.

Let the chips fall where they may. No, you can't control her reaction, but you can make choice as to what you want to do in response to her reactions. Choose to control the situation instead of letting it control you.

This is a great way to put it. And these words can apply to so many more things in life than simply being a hose head. My mom worried about it, but I simply said "as long as I wear this each night, I'm healthy and you don't have to worry about me." Not a peep since!

[kteague]

How much and what we say is naturally going to be catered to the listener and the relationship. Your aunt's limited hearing makes it a bit more difficult to have a full conversation about it. If it were me, I think I'd keep it simple and tell her she will be glad to know you won't be keeping her awake with your loud snoring since you've got a machine that helps you with that. Then just give her whatever other information she wants to know. Maybe you'll get lucky and that litlle bit will suffice. It is very considerate of you to not want to worry her. Just would hope you don't have to compromise your own well being to accomplish that. She's blessed to have you.

[John from Brookston]

I'd just say "It helps me sleep better" and leave it at that.

[ChicagoGranny]

CPAP not scary,

I'll be using Provent

but THAT IS scary.

[archangle]

Tell them it's a high tech hookah.

Or maybe tell them it's some sort of holistic crystal homeopathic kharma generator.

Mostly joking, but as George Carlin said, "Tell people there’s an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure."

It's sort of sad that many people would accept a holistic crystal homeopathic khama generator, but they'd be skeptical of a CPAP machine.

[letsride]

I feel great after using my Cpap!
Nothing to be embarrassed about!