Does anyone ever just give up on cpap?

[Arlene1963]

Recent research is focussing on arousal threshold and XPAP adherence, trying to figure out why some people seem to adjust really quickly and others not.

In this article the authors suggest that folks who have a low arousal threshold have much, much lower adherence rates. They discuss various reasons why this might be the case. So in these folks targeting the low arousal threshold might be a way to help in future. I hope so.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5940420/

Obviously there are many more reasons why folks give up, but this is one possibility.

[jnk...]

I believe that CPAP adherence requires desire, commitment, education, experimentation, adjustment, support, patience, and time.

Sensitivity in general is one issue that comes into play. Some who are sensitive by nature will never be able to make CPAP work for them. Others are able to build up a tolerance to it over time, through raw, determined willpower.

This forum can't do much about desire and commitment--those are up to the individual. But hopefully we can do much to help the rest of the requirements for successful CPAP use.

[TheDuke]

Unfortunately, yes , a lot of people give up on CPAP therapy. I have seen it numerous times within my own circle of friends.
My original sleep medicine doctor really drilled into me that Sleep Apnea is truly a serious problem and "put the fear of the Lord into me" that I must acclimate to CPAP. That was about 33 years ago in the absolute infancy of CPAP and then there were few if any really good masks, but fortunately I stuck with it. Incidentally, my first machine had no electronic features whatever, and there wasn't even a run-time indicator. The pressure adjust was a screwdriver slot in the bottom of the machine with merely a dial that turned as the screw was turned up or down. Now people whimper about "Bricks". BUT it worked and relieved my sleep issues. I had a severe apnea rate of about 65 events per hour then.

I urge you to hang in there and acclimate to wearing the mask.

TheDuke

[Goofproof]

This is the new mantra... Observe the symptoms, note them, then look deeper and address the root cause.

There is only one treatment for the root cause - Bimaxillary Advancement Surgery - https://sleep-doctor.com/surgical-treat ... vancement/

Go for it:

Very seldom can using a Rotor Rooter, help Sleep Apnea. XPAP's work best! Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Surgery too often does little more than enrich the surgeon.
There are no guarantees--a fact to bear in mind.
Cpap is pretty much the only thing that CONSISTENTLY works.

[D.H.]

Ideally, alternative therapies should be reserved for those who can't use or can't tolerate CPAP after trying.

[chunkyfrog]

Ideally, alternative therapies would be effective enough so they could . . .

[Goofproof]

If we could get a mental cure for CAN'T, we could get XPAP usage up from 50% to 90%, that would just leave 10% failure rate for the WON'TS! Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Except that "can't" is often not a choice, but an affliction,
caused by circumstance--not moral weakness.
Remember, that leprosy was once viewed as divine punishment, instead of a curable infection.
We are still struggling with the judgemental--but completely ineffective way that obesity is viewed.
When knowledge reaches fact, then solutions will be found.
Superstition and misinformation are the biggest barriers.

[Goofproof]

I hope, If they ever do come up with a pill to cure mental problems for "CAN'T", they don't name it after Ambien, last thing we need is another mental drug that disconnects your mind at bedtime.

Sometimes we do make progress in treatment over time, but many times for every step forward, they take two steps back, many times even more. The Dunking chair has been abandon, Witches are now save to practice their religion water free, but we now waterboard prisoners. I'm not sure the World is really changing, for the better anyway. If they do prefect the CAN'T Pill, I'll buy some, not to use, but to give out for the good of mankind! Jim

[SnoringInOregon]

I gave up for about 10 years, but have now stuck with therapy for over a year.

To me the biggest difference is having a newer, smart machine with SD card. Combine that with SleepyHead software and I can see what a difference CPAP makes for me.

Also as was mentioned, it's almost criminal how machines are set up "wide open" and just thrown at people. The min pressure of 4 is probably too low for 95% of people. No wonder people feel like they're suffocating. My DME at least started me at 7-20 pressure. But even that was too low. And no way for the average user to change that minimum.

It's sad how nobody in the medical establishment really cares. This forum and apneaboard have been godsends to countless people.

[Sluggish]

Is there anything about your face shape that is making mask selection more difficult? Sometimes posting those issues will prompt others with similar face shapes to give input on masks that did/didn't work for them. For example a very small face, or high bony nose bridge, or slotted nares, or recessed chin. With any mask, review videos offered for proper fitting. It's amazing how much of difference a slight tweak can make. And different sizes with the same mask too. Post specific problems with a particular mask - someone may have already faced and resolved that. Good luck. Finding a well fitting and comfortable mask is worth the effort. Some of the ones I've tried, if that was all there was out there, I'd have failed too. Hope your search turns out to be a short one.

Oh, and the type of sleeping pillow can make a difference. I find a firm flat pillow is less likely to allow my face to sink into it and dislodge the mask. And hose management - the slightest tug on the hose can be an issue. There are management systems one can buy or ideas for DIY.

Thanks for this!!
There are SOOOoooo many factors to consider. I don't think there is anything super unique about my face shape. I haven't tried any full face masks yet because I don't like the idea of having all that stuff covering my face and all the straps etc.. I would rather stay minimal with the mask and tape my mouth closed but I still haven't had much luck doing that. Every mask I have tried fits and feels fine while standing/sitting or lying on my back. It's only after I fall asleep and start moving around that I get leaks.

Hose management got me thinking. What exactly do you do for hose management? My machine sits next to my bed on a table slightly lower than the level of the mattress. The hose then runs up and through a velcro loop thing that I have attached to the wall kinda above my pillow, then connects to the mask at the top of the head. I do believe that there are times the hose pulls the mask into a bad position but I am not sure how to stop it. The hose also tends to hang in the loop where it was bent and I can't seem to get the factory bends out of the hose so that it is just straight and can move freely in the loop support (if that makes sense). Without the velcro loop support the hose hangs down in the small space between my mattress and the wall and pulls downward.

[Scluvsrain]

I’ve been on CPAP since the beginning of April, so just about three months now. I started with a nasal mask and didn’t like it too much as it did have some small leaks during the night that kept waking me up. Then I changed to the P10 nasal pillows and that was perfect. My sleep quality has vastly improved and I wake in the mornings feeling refreshed and ready to go.

This positive change really hit home for me last night as I had developed the start of a cold and had a terrible sore throat. Using the CPAP last night caused me to keep coughing with all that air whooshing at the back of my throat and I was awake more than asleep. At 3 AM I took off the mask and turned off the machine. I slept fitfully until my usual wake up time. But I felt brain foggy, sluggish and overall just miserable by having abandoned the CPAP for only a few hours of my sleep.

My throat feels better though.....

Anyway, I can’t wait to go to sleep tonight with my CPAP, as I know I will once again get a good quality night’s sleep.


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[chunkyfrog]

"This forum and apneaboard have been godsends to countless people."
Also freecpapadvice.com.
Jason's videos address the problems visually and with humor.
I also remember a forum member named Mike Moran. Humor can break down a lot of barriers.

[Muse-Inc]

...start of a cold and had a terrible sore throat. Using the CPAP last night caused me to keep coughing with all that air whooshing at the back of my throat and I was awake more than asleep...

Try increasing your humidification. High humidify might lessen the drying effect on your throat. Many of us go to max humidity during colds/flu. etc.