just don't see cpap as viable

akpacfan · Post by **akpacfan** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:46 pm

Just finished a sleep study that took two nights to complete. The recommendation is a cpap machine. Sounds pretty fishy to me. First, The cpap titration kept me awake all night anyway. It is cumbersome and is physically impossible to get used to nor can i stand the stench of the mask. It smelled like a cat peed on it not to mention how uncomfortable it is makes it enough to drop the whole idea.

Is this common? Or am I just trying to justify my hatred for quacks and snake oil salesmen?

I'mSewTired · Post by **I'mSewTired** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:07 pm

akpacfan wrote:Just finished a sleep study that took two nights to complete. The recommendation is a cpap machine. Sounds pretty fishy to me. First, The cpap titration kept me awake all night anyway. It is cumbersome and is physically impossible to get used to nor can i stand the stench of the mask. It smelled like a cat peed on it not to mention how uncomfortable it is makes it enough to drop the whole idea.

Is this common? Or am I just trying to justify my hatred for quacks and snake oil salesmen?

There are many different masks, some that aren't really "masks." Look at cpap.com and check it out. The mask should NOT smell bad.

During titration you are not at home in you normal bed, and the whole deal is less than confortable. I doubt there are many who can say they slept just wonderful during titration. Also the process during the process of finding the right pressure, you will not be at the right pressure all of the time. So, you will be having apneas during the night. Once you are at the right pressure, (possible more than one pressure if you use an auto pap), you will have better sleep.

capt · Post by **capt** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:19 pm

My mask does not smell, and I have never worn one that did. I have no idea why the one you were using did. I do think making the decision to use this treatment is the same type of decision that one has to make to treat any medical condition. For some of us the decision to use cpap is done to save our life, for others it is to make life better. For my treatment I have to use an auto machine. I recommend that everyone go the auto machine route if they possibly can, so that they can monitor and control how their treatment is going with the built in or additional software that an apap machine has. An apap machine also can be used should the condition change. I think that choosing the right mask is the biggest challenge of cpap treatment. It can be very difficult to find the right mask that is comfortable and does everything that you want and need with the various ways different people sleep. We are here to assist and support you. All the best!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, auto, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, auto, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, auto, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, auto, APAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:33 pm

akpacfan wrote:Just finished a sleep study that took two nights to complete. The recommendation is a cpap machine. Sounds pretty fishy to me. First, The cpap titration kept me awake all night anyway. It is cumbersome and is physically impossible to get used to nor can i stand the stench of the mask. It smelled like a cat peed on it not to mention how uncomfortable it is makes it enough to drop the whole idea.

Is this common? Or am I just trying to justify my hatred for quacks and snake oil salesmen?

Hi,
Your reaction is not unusual, I too struggled with the concern that here were a bunch of folk justifying their existence by trying to bamboozle me with a health scare. I also suspected that they forced me to sleep in an uncomfortable way during the sleep study just so as to produce the results needed to back up their 'diagnosis'. My paranoia was in full force.

But, I attended some special lectures given by the Sleep clinic where they went into depth to explain what OSA was how it happened the symptoms & looks of anecdotal stories about people who were on cpap therapy.

The thing that really got to me was that for years my wife had been compelling about my snoring and that I continually stopped breathing at night and that it was exacerbated if I had just a little alcohol. Also I was feeling lethargic on week-ends & tending to doze after lunch at work.

Anyway, I decided that the medical folk weren't a conspiracy to denude my wallet & started CPAP. All I can say is thank god I had the sense to reject the conspiracy theory line. the only person who was being fooled by my fears was myself.

Cheers & happy CPAPing

DSM

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:50 pm

akpacfan,

First of all, hi and welcome.

Now, one thing I was interested in hearing but you never mentioned, what made you go for the PSG in the first place? Were you always tired? Did you snore constantly? Did you have migraines or unexplained high BP? None or all of the above or something else entirely?

I think when our negative conditions that are associated with our sleep disorders start to outweigh the positives in our lives, not to mention what will be in the future health-wise if we don't treat the disorder, then it's easier to come to terms with the therapy and realize you really don't have much choice. I don't think anyone here is jumping for joy that they have OSA, but once you get on the therapy, which, mind you, is not easy in the beginning for the majority of people, but once you start to feel the change in your life that it makes, you'll have a totally different take on this CPAP stuff. All of a sudden, you'll realize how important it was that you did this and how glad you are that you're on it.

I have had a total life-changing experience. I am a much healthier, happier, more energetic and even thinner person than when I started all because of the new-found energy I attained which gave me the power to take back my life and do it right this time.

We are all here to help you through the trials and tribs of starting therapy, and even once you're on it. You'll find this site is filled with a bunch of incredibly caring and informed people from whom you'll learn probably more than the doctors and RTs/DMEs will tell you. Don't be angry, but look at this as the start of something that is going to make you feel a thousand times better than you do right now.

And, yes, look at nasal interfaces (small devices, such as the Swift that only weighs 2.5 oz in total) and all the other types of masks you can wear. You don't have to be strapped into a full face mask at night. And, no, it should smell like a cat used it as its litter box. Perhaps the place that did your studies doesn't clean their masks properly.

Please keep us posted when you get your equipment as to what you got and how you're doing. Feel free to post questions or just give an update. And, the worst case scenario, just post when you need to vent your frustration, like you did today. We're all here listening. Best of luck to you.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:10 pm

Lori,

You are a gem

Very nice post - classic of what makes this such a nice forum.

Cheers

DSM

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:20 pm

Just get your Auto cpap and a good mask. I'd choose Activa for a first mask. In a few days you will look forward to sleep and fear sleeping without it.

Just Do IT

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:28 pm

Awwww, DSM, thank you for saying that . I did mean it, you know...

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:21 pm

Well, I too didn;t like the idea of a CPAP; my son asked me if it would be like the elephant trunk Homer Simpson used in a Simpsons episode! However, my wife had complained for 2 years about my snoring and I then suspected I had OSA. A pending insurance changed prompted me to go for the sleep stude while I could get it and theequipment fully paid for.
Mine ramps from 4 to 8 and the mask certainly has no odor. eventhough I find it confining, I am much better rested, my wife has come back to bed and it is what I needed. For the most part, if the person has MD after their name, I consider the a professional, not a quack like the (MD) who did sonoplasty as a 'sideline' and wanted $2500 for that and never evenmentioned OSA possibility or a sleep test!
I encourage you to follow your doctor's advice; it will be uncomfortable(I have only been on it 2 months or so) but it is best for you! There are MUCH WORSE medical problems you could have today, so just accept it. If you are overweight(I only weight about 165 at 5'8), I would encourage you to lose weight for your own good or atleast stay in shape. Just my two cents worth, good luck!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:08 pm

dsm wrote:Lori,

You are a gem

Very nice post - classic of what makes this such a nice forum.

Cheers

DSM

Took the words right out of my mouth.

akpacfan
look at this explanation of Sleep disordered breathing, make sure you find a doctor you trust.

O.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:10 pm

Thank you kindly, Ozij.

akpacfan · Post by **akpacfan** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:13 pm

Well, Thank you all for the encouragement. I guess I did sound a bit cynical with that post. 30 plus years of two to four hours sleep a night makes me a little cranky too.

My wife makes me sleep in the kid's airplane bed cause i snore too much so I might as well look like a jet jocky!

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:41 pm

Lack of sleep does indeed make a person cranky. I always TRY to take that into account when someone fires off a hot one on the forum.

And yes indeed its common to freakout when confronted with the "solution".

The mask should not smell funky. I don't even want to THINK about the explanation for THAT. That is just WRONG.

Sleep study nights are pretty much a night in hell for most people. It should get better after you get all the bugs worked out, adapt to the change and get comfy at home.

Will you ever LIKE it? ...The sleep yes, the equipment..NO. Think of it in terms of bifocals (just wait until you hit THAT one in a decade or two!) where everyone of course loves the improved eyesight of bifocals, but everyone HATES the bifocals themselves.

Read the forum, search the back posts and you can optimize your experience pretty quickly usually. The docs and other "trained professionals" that will set you up with equipment are generally pretty worthless for making the experience more liveable.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:42 pm

akpacfan wrote:Well, Thank you all for the encouragement. I guess I did sound a bit cynical with that post. 30 plus years of two to four hours sleep a night makes me a little cranky too.

My wife makes me sleep in the kid's airplane bed cause i snore too much so I might as well look like a jet jocky!

Glad you have the sense of humour to laugh at the problem. Strapping on a mask & hooking up to a reversed vaccume cleaner isn't what any of us really want (well there may be a kinky member or two ).

The value is in crossing the line that says CPAP TREATMENT NEEDED then when over that line, grabbing the gear and getting it to do what you want (healthy living & more energy).

Part of the challenge though is dealing with the people we must deal with before we get that control. This has been a good experience for some but a frustration for others.

Whatever you do & experience - the best outcome is going to be how you decide to feel about it and manage it. The fact that you sought medical advice says you are already well on the right path. A few laughs helps.

Cheers

DSM

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 6:05 am

Snork1,

Great analogy to not wanting to wear glasses, but once you realize you can see again...really good.

akpacfan,

All I can say is, 30 years of sleeping two to four hours and all you are is "cranky"??? God bless you. I'd be a raging homicidal lunatic. Boy, you are going to be amazed once you start reaping the rewards. Like Snork said, you won't love the treatment, but the feeling that comes from it you will adore.

Remember, for some people (the minority), feeling better from treatment happens instantly, but they are the exceptions. I had to pay back my "sleep debt" first which is something you may encounter. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones since you've been so sleep-deprived. Just go into it not expecting instant gratification and that way you can't be disappointed. But it WILL work and keep that attitude once you start and you'll do great.

Good luck and let us know what's happening!!! Trust me when I tell you, you came to the right place. This site is the best.

just don't see cpap as viable

just don't see cpap as viable

Re: just don't see cpap as viable

Re: just don't see cpap as viable

Nice post Lori

Re: Nice post Lori

guess I better get used to it.

Re: guess I better get used to it.