Cats, menopause and CPAP

[babydinosnoreless]

A hose cover helps a lot when you have animals interested in playing with the hoses. They are easy to make if you sew, crochet or knit. Even a little. You can always use a tube sock with a hole cut in the toe and to rubber bands to attach. If not they are also as easy to buy.

If expenses are an issue i just bought a command hook (lots cheeper than a hose management system ) and stuck it to my headboard for a hose management system. I just hook the hose so I don't pull it out. I used to use a pillow but my pillow got damaged and couldn't find another one that stuffed into the headboard gap just right like my first one.

I find the pap machine helps with its filtered and humidified air helps my congestion keeps my nose open and moist all night and cuts down on my allergy symptoms.

I'm claustrophobic and I find the N-20 "for her"mask with its magnetic clips for easy off and its clear field of vision one of the best masks imo. Plus I love its pretty pink accents.
Each person is very different on masks, you do you, mine is a nasal mask. Go look at all the different choices on cpap.com. Even tho I often get congested I found the nasal mask worked better than a full mask.

I put off getting my pap for a year after I was dx. I greatly regret it. That being said by the time I did get it I was more mentally prepared and more willing to make it work. I don't know if it would have worked if I wasn't ready to put in the effort. It sounds like you might not be there yet. You have to be willing to work for it. Your compliance hrs can be earned by using the machine. The first little while I earned them sitting in front of the tv or reading a book wearing it while I was awake in the evenings. It helped me to get used to it. And it wasn't as stressful as trying to sleep with it right out of the bat.

I had plenty of mishaps at first. Pulling it of the night stand one night, my dog eating my first mask and hose, finding that right mask. Its a process that takes patience, and perseverance. You've got this !

[KittyMom22]

The cat is not going to care how you look. And you can talk with a CPAP mask on, though it takes a bit of practice.

Both cats freaked out when I had Halloween makeup on this weekend, and I've been using a mouth appliance at night which alters my speech and it took some time for my older cat to get used to. So it's not an invalid concern.

As for air blowing on her: There are modern masks that have diffusers built into the exhaust vents. Look for them.

Thanks. Can I just buy one myself or do I need my doctor to write a script for it?

PAP machines and masks have come a long, long way in the last 10-15 years. Modern machines are almost silent. And many modern masks have diffusers built in, so there's no blast of cold air blowing out of the vents.

It sounds like your ex-husband had a rough adjustment period and did not have much support in trying to troubleshoot what was going on. Some people do have a really bad time adjusting. I was one of them. But most people who get the appropriate support that is needed to troubleshoot their issues typically start feeling better pretty soon.

In my case, discovering cpaptalk.com was critical in getting me over the serious problems that I faced while starting out. My husband, on the other hand, slept like a baby from night one onward and never needed a support group. And he had witnessed and helped me through my very difficult adjustment period.

So don't expect that you'll have an awful time just because your former husband had a rough time.

I'm trying not to make that assumption. I think this is just bringing up very bad memories. Fingers crossed it will be easier than I anticipate!

[lazarus]

I think maybe 90% of the posters on this board are females of a certain age who are owned by cats.

Those of us who are men without cats (MwC), though, still usually feel mostly welcome here.

[KittyMom22]

@lazarus - Thank you for the belly laugh!

[KittyMom22]

@babydinosnoreless Thank you very much for the tips and the encouragement. No, I'm not ready at all but it's already ordered so here we go!

I tried crochet once. Maybe it's time to give it another go.

[ozij]

As for air blowing on her: There are modern masks that have diffusers built into the exhaust vents. Look for them.

e.g. the Resmed F30.

You don't need a script for a specific mask.

And yes, talking with a Full Face Mask - one the covers your nose as well as your mouth is not so easy.
That said - the mask is very easy to remove.

[lynninnj]

I'm only trying to find a way to get sleep during this household transition. I'm not planning to use it for just 4 hours forever, but I know it takes time to adjust - sometimes months - so I need to figure out how to make this work during the transition.

Cats have their own territories and are easily upset by changes in routine. If it was just the CPAP I wouldn't be as concerned but we have 4 other major things happening in the same time frame so yeah, it's a lot for her. Please believe I'm doing my best to stay calm and cheerful and appropriately guide both animals, just as I would parent a child. I'm just screaming on the inside.

My ex really was very severely impacted by his CPAP experiences and his doctor was completely unsympathetic. Yes, he was difficult but this really made him extremely exhausted and his personality changed over the couple of months he struggled with this therapy.

I know lots of people have great experience though.

Too late to cancel the appt. Just going to muscle through it.

Thanks for all your comments!

It def sounds like you have a lot on your plate but part of the battle will be getting through one step at a time.

Please come back here and let us help you help yourself.

Aside from hose management and masks, consider getting an SD card to put in your machine, include machine and mask in your profile, and a card reader to post your results after you use it.

If you let go of the unpleasant ex hubby baggage you will have a much better chance of really taking to it. I had a lousy night the first night but still better than my sleep test. The next night was better. There are folks using them for years that hit a bump in the road in their treatment. Just come back and post your issue on this, your own personal thread, and you will find a lot of good help.

GIRL YOU GOT THIS!

[chunkyfrog]

Before cpap, I snored so loudly, it scared the bejeebers out of the cat.
That was a couple cats ago.
The current cat curls up next to me while I'm sleeping.
She avoids my arms because they move too much.

[robysue1]

I'm only trying to find a way to get sleep during this household transition. I'm not planning to use it for just 4 hours forever, but I know it takes time to adjust - sometimes months - so I need to figure out how to make this work during the transition.

Try to keep a positive attitude. Not everyone needs months to adjust. And I say that as someone who did need months to adjust. Back during my very, very difficult adjustment, I was often green with envy over other newbies here at cpaptalk that had straightforward problems that were relatively easy to fix and who started feeling better in a week or two.

In other words, try to expect the best instead of the worst, at least until after you've started and know what kind of problems you might be dealing with.

Cats have their own territories and are easily upset by changes in routine. If it was just the CPAP I wouldn't be as concerned but we have 4 other major things happening in the same time frame so yeah, it's a lot for her. Please believe I'm doing my best to stay calm and cheerful and appropriately guide both animals, just as I would parent a child. I'm just screaming on the inside.

Although I'm not currently owned by a cat, I have been owned by many during my life.

Yes, they can be upset by changes in routine. But they're also super sensitive to their owner's moods. You may think you are doing your best to "guide" both animals, but I'm pretty sure your older cat knows you are screaming inside. And the fact that the older cat can't settle you down is probably just as upsetting to her as you get when you can't seem to settle her down.

Give the cats extra love during the daytime. And I'd suggest that if you tend to read in bed or watch tv in bed with the cats near you, that's a good time to try to wear the mask with the CPAP on so that all of you can just get used to it and accept the hose as a friendly addition to the bedtime routine.

My ex really was very severely impacted by his CPAP experiences and his doctor was completely unsympathetic. Yes, he was difficult but this really made him extremely exhausted and his personality changed over the couple of months he struggled with this therapy.

Been there done that and have the scars to prove it. I was "fired" as a patient by two sleep docs and fired a third one myself after she said something really and truly stupid to my face. Doc #4 was a gem, but he's now retired and I'll be breaking in Doc #5 starting tomorrow.

I had one of the worst crash & burns of anybody who has been on cpaptalk in the last 12 years. But I also know that I would never have made it to happy PAPing without the support of the people here, as well as my extremely patient husband, who put up with more shit from me during the first 3 or 4 months of PAPing than anybody should have had to deal with.

But I also know that my response to xPAP was a far outlier of normal experience. And I am glad that my husband did not let my horrible transition period stop him from trying PAP when his daytime sleepiness got to the point where he was falling asleep in front of the TV while watching shows he was genuinely interested in seeing.

I know lots of people have great experience though.

Too late to cancel the appt. Just going to muscle through it.

Keep telling yourself that you may very well not have the same experience as your ex husband.

[zonker]

I think maybe 90% of the posters on this board are females of a certain age who are owned by cats.

Those of us who are men without cats (MwC), though, still usually feel mostly welcome here.

men meowing their own way?

[KittyMom22]

They had me scan my face with an app to choose a mask. It chose the F30i.

[KittyMom22]

You may think you are doing your best to "guide" both animals, but I'm pretty sure your older cat knows you are screaming inside.

I'm pretty sure she's just trying to avoid being jumped by the kitten 24/7.

[lazarus]

I'll be breaking in Doc #5 starting tomorrow.

Should someone call to warn him/her?

[lazarus]

men meowing their own way?

I believe Lindsey Buckingcat would call that "another lonely day."

But let's not let KittyMom22 know we all cray-cray here just yet until we've got her completely and fully sworn in to the covenant of the mask.

[zonker]

men meowing their own way?

I believe Lindsey Buckingcat would call that "another lonely day."

But let's not let KittyMom22 know we all cray-cray here just yet until we've got her completely and fully sworn in to the covenant of the mask.