Chinese torture..in the UK from cpap

[Retal]

I just got given a Philips DreamStation because I'm so fat (91Kg, 5'9") I need assisted breathing apparatus to sleep. With a name like DreamStation you might expect it would be pleasant, but this is a Chinese torture device. You stick rubber over your nose which restricts breathing whilst shotgunning air into your lungs non-stop. I mean it does literally the opposite of what it's supposed to. It's purportedly to help you sleep properly, but how is anyone going to sleep with an elevated, forced breathing cycle and racing heartbeat to match? There's no WAY! And don't get me started on the noise. You think you can just SWALLOW? SHOTGUN OF AIR as punishment for not keeping your breathing in sync with the machine. Open your mouth? Get AIRBOARDED straight into your chest cavity. LITERALLY TORTURE. I've never fallen asleep with it, but seriously, is getting aitblasted down your gullet even safe? If I ever did fall asleep I cannot be sure I will never open my mouth at some point.

I'm too young for this. I shouldn't be suffering like this at 35. I need to lose weight because this machine is not an option. Does anyone know how long, after reaching a healthy weight, until your body adapts, sleep apnea goes away and you're no longer dependent on CPAP?

[Julie]

Last things first - about the only people whose apnea is ever 'cured' are those who've had bariatric surgery and lost an awful, awful lot of weight... and that doesn't always do it either. You'll have apnea (like you have bad eyesight) forever, but how it's treated can be fine if done properly. You need to tell us what mask you're wearing, and what your pressure settings are - without that knowledge, we can't do much.

It can be very, very much better for you though - believe it or not I can't go to sleep now without feeling lonesome unless my mask is on. And I'm not alone.

Download (free) Oscar software from the 1-2 stickies at the top of the page and follow instructions re posting here so we can help you... we need to see what's what as your settings may be wrong (to say the least) because most doctors don't understand the machines and prescribe the basic minimum settings, so we all change them around based on info from Oscar (and it's important - don't try to change zip on your own til you know what you're doing... we'll help with that when the time comes). And which model of DS is your machine? That's crucial to know.

[Retal]

Sorry but I have no intention of living like this forever. I'd sooner kill myself. But before that, I'll lose the weight as I've been told this is often a way to cure it. I'll never get a girlfriend if she sees I need this to live. That is no way to live. I don't care if you've made peace with it and learned to like it, that's good for you, but it's not for me.

No idea what model the mask is, it just says "Philips Respironics" or something on it. It's whatever comes with the DreamStation, which from the pictures I've seen is a standard mask that's always the same. It's just a rubber nose piece with a tube coming in at the top. The model number of the machine seems to be DreamStationAutoCPAP GB for whatever that's worth. Anyway the pressure or whatever is the lowest, 4.something because apparently it's in "training" mode for the first week, so there's no point relaying settings and I sincerely doubt I would want to supersede the hospital experts anyway.

[Pugsy]

So....did you come here just to rant or do you actually wish some help using the mask and machine?
It's okay if you just want to rant....but if it's going to be a waste of time to try to help you ....(this is a cpap help forum you know....not a I hate cpap forum)...and if you just won't use it. There's no sense in our wasting our time trying to help you.

[chunkyfrog]

You are frustrated--many here have been in the same boat.
There are DOZENS of different masks--and several different types.
Very few people get the ideal mask first time out.
It takes persistence to get something that works for you.
Often dealers will sell you the one they need to "move".
It takes a bit of time to get used to the pressure.
You are worth the effort.

[babydinosnoreless]

Sorry but I have no intention of living like this forever. I'd sooner kill myself. But before that, I'll lose the weight as I've been told this is often a way to cure it. I'll never get a girlfriend if she sees I need this to live. That is no way to live. I don't care if you've made peace with it and learned to like it, that's good for you, but it's not for me.

Would it help you to know the weight gain might be due to the apnea ? I've lost 50lbs and counting since I gave in and made friends with my pap machine. It was torture at first until the kind souls here helped me to fix the settings my clinic screwed up. Give it a chance! I sleep so much better now and I have the energy and the desire to do things which makes the weight melt off even more easily. My husband thinks its cute and said its worth every penny so that I sleep peacefully and am not jabbing him and kicking him and snoring loudly.

[Dog Slobber]

Does anyone know how long, after reaching a healthy weight, until your body adapts, sleep apnea goes away and you're no longer dependent on CPAP?

For many [perhaps most people] never.

If you believe that simply by losing weight, you won't need CPAP, be prepared for potential disappointment.

[palerider]

I just got given a Philips DreamStation because I'm so fat (91Kg, 5'9") I need assisted breathing apparatus to sleep. With a name like DreamStation you might expect it would be pleasant, but this is a Chinese torture device. You stick rubber over your nose which restricts breathing whilst shotgunning air into your lungs non-stop. I mean it does literally the opposite of what it's supposed to. It's purportedly to help you sleep properly, but how is anyone going to sleep with an elevated, forced breathing cycle and racing heartbeat to match? There's no WAY! And don't get me started on the noise. You think you can just SWALLOW? SHOTGUN OF AIR as punishment for not keeping your breathing in sync with the machine. Open your mouth? Get AIRBOARDED straight into your chest cavity. LITERALLY TORTURE. I've never fallen asleep with it, but seriously, is getting aitblasted down your gullet even safe? If I ever did fall asleep I cannot be sure I will never open my mouth at some point.

I'm too young for this. I shouldn't be suffering like this at 35. I need to lose weight because this machine is not an option. Does anyone know how long, after reaching a healthy weight, until your body adapts, sleep apnea goes away and you're no longer dependent on CPAP?

There's so much wrong with this, I don't even know where to begin, and it's unlikely the OP will pay attention anyway.

OP needs a CPAP because of bad genetics, (narrow airway) and is likely fat *because* of the sleep apnea, not the other way around.

As someone who's been on cpap for over 10 years, I can also call bollocks on the "chinese torture device".

CPAP does not "shotgun" air into your lungs, it doesn't even have enough air pressure to blow up a balloon. If it did force air into your lungs, then YOU would blow up, like a balloon, and explode, making a mess of the floor, walls, and ceiling. Has that happened? No? then you're completely WRONG about that part, too.

There is no "in sync with the machine" since it purely follows YOU.

Now, if you want a real blast of air, get an ASV, it WILL force you to breathe.

If you want to stop whining and making ridiculous hyperbolic statements, and get some HELP, this is the place, if you just want to whine like a baby.... don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[palerider]

Sorry but I have no intention of living like this forever. I'd sooner kill myself.

That would solve the whining issue.

But before that, I'll lose the weight as I've been told this is often a way to cure it.

You've been told wrong, there are lots of lies out there, and that is one of them.

Some people (get this) need MORE pressure after they lose weight.

I'll never get a girlfriend if she sees I need this to live.

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

[Miss Emerita]

Hey there, Retal. I think a lot of us can understand your feeling that this is too much to deal with. There are a couple of things I'd like to ask or suggest.

* Did you have a sleep study? If so, tell us something about your diagnosis: mild, moderate, or severe apnea? Do you know what they said your AHI is (apnea/hypopnea index)? Or did they tell you the main problem is not apnea but low oxygen levels at night?

* Please try setting the machine up outside your bedroom someplace comfortable where you can lie on a couch or a recliner and use it while you watch TV, use your devices, or read. This can really help you get used to the new sensations that you describe so vividly. Do this every day. Your brain will start adjusting faster that way.

* A fair number of people find the Dream Station machine gives them the feeling it is rushing their breathing. I was sent home with one for my first week and hated it for that reason. But my "keeper" machine was a ResMed Air Sense 10 Autoset, which followed my breathing patterns instead of trying to guess and lead. Any chance you can get that machine?

* Do you breathe through your mouth during the day? If yes, you should ask them to give you a full-face mask.

* I hear you on the girlfriend worry, and all I can say is I know a lot of men who use CPAP and have terrific girlfriends and spouses. I notice that men sometimes write on this forum that their libidos improve once their apnea is treated, and they don't have to get up repeatedly at night to pee. Two pluses right there!

[chunkyfrog]

Cpap is not for sissies.
Is that you?

[Wincy]

I lost 75 pounds, from 300 lbs down to 225 pounds and my apnea went away. Unfortunately I gained the weight back so now here I am again. For me the apnea went away pretty quickly but that might be because I was on a really restrictive diet and wasn’t nearly as congested as before.

[chunkyfrog]

I lost 75 pounds, from 300 lbs down to 225 pounds and my apnea went away. Unfortunately I gained the weight back so now here I am again. For me the apnea went away pretty quickly but that might be because I was on a really restrictive diet and wasn’t nearly as congested as before.

Although effective, extreme diets are very quickly reversible.
The trick is to make the weight stay off--way harder than they want you to think.

[Sylvanas]

I lost 75 pounds, from 300 lbs down to 225 pounds and my apnea went away. Unfortunately I gained the weight back so now here I am again. For me the apnea went away pretty quickly but that might be because I was on a really restrictive diet and wasn’t nearly as congested as before.

What diet did you follow, that helped congestion?

[Revived1]

Sorry but I have no intention of living like this forever. I'd sooner kill myself. But before that, I'll lose the weight as I've been told this is often a way to cure it. I'll never get a girlfriend if she sees I need this to live. That is no way to live.

Good luck to you if you can lose the weight. In the meantime, I'm thinking you will need to learn to use the CPAP machine...unless you decide not to use it, but that probably isn't a great idea for your health.
Re: you thinking that you'll never get a girlfriend if she finds out you are on CPAP, I don't agree with that at all. My ex-husband snored like a chainsaw, and I'd have been more than happy if he'd have had a CPAP machine. You do realise you only need to wear it while you're asleep, right? It's not like you need to walk around the house with the mask on. It's just as simple as doing everything you normally do, then at the very end of everything you do, put the mask on before you go to sleep. It doesn't intrude on your entire day.
I've been on CPAP for about 3 months, and I'm only just starting to feel like I'm really getting properly used to it now, so it takes time - but it's really worth it to feel better and have improved health.
Anyway, as people have said, if you just want to vent, there isn't much point filling out all your info., but if you want help with your treatment, or to get information/feedback about it, you can fill out the information about your exact mask and machine in your profile. Also, if you get Oscar, you can post charts on here and get feedback, etc..
Whether you just want to vent or you're looking for a bit of help...Good luck.