My Two year Anniversary coming up

[jsmythe]

Hello my friends, It has been so long since I have posted that I don't know where to begin. Almost 9 months. I have been thru so much, it seems that staying away from the comp was one of the side effects I guess. I apologize for that.

I have been battling stress,anxiety and depression on my own now for a long time. Yes, I know that I need to check into counseling, I tried to get an appt. but she was never in her office, and didn't return my calls, so I quit trying. Then, to top it all off, I lost my Mother in July. So life has really been like a roller coaster ride for me, in a bad way. I am having a very difficult time dealing with everything that has been going on in my life. I have not abandoned you, I have just been away from here for awhile

My therapy is still going good; my avg. 7dy AHI is 1.0 and 30dy AHI is 1.5. I have 5630.9 hours of cpap machine therapy and have been 100% compliant for almost two years now, from the beginning.With one exception, I was at the hospital the night my mother passed away. I don't count that under the circumstances. Unfortunately, my Encore Pro software will not work on my new computer. It is almost like the software is too old or something, or maybe a file has gone corrupt, not sure. Anyway, I can no longer track my therapy. Yes, I know there is Encore Viewer available, but I do not have it. I would rather use Encore Pro.

In the past, I have tried and used almost every mask on the market, but I still went back to the Activa, which was the very first mask I had. Love it. Comfortable,loose fit and no leaks. I now alternate between the Activa LT and the Original. Used to love the Swifts, but last two times I tried to use them, my nose was sooooo sore from the pillows, just quit using it. Last night, I tried to use the Ultra Mirage FF,,, dang thing leaked all night and kept me awake, I finally threw it in the floor and hooked up the Activa. Slept solid for the next 4 hours...

About 10 months ago, my doctor (Primary Care/Sleep Doctor) ordered me to go on Oxygen at night with cpap, I am now on 3 ltr. And I feel so much better physically, no longer feel fatigued and draggy all day.

I have a wonderful DME, which is a blessing in itself, Pulmacare. Recommended to my by my very good friend and neighbor, Rested Gal. (Thank you Laura ). They have been very good to me. Glad I fired Apria, best thing that I have done since going on cpap... lolol....

For all of you newbies to cpap,,, hang in there, remember that Patience and Perseverance is the key to cpap success. Do not give up. This board is reallllllly the key to success, I could not have made it for the last two years with out these good folks help on here .

I was one of the fortunate ones in the beginning, I had no problems getting used to the machine and therapy,, getting my mask properly adjusted was my main problem. Once I accomplished that, (and I finally quit fiddling with my machine pressures) it was all down hill from there on.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention,,,, After waiting for 22 months,,, I FINALLY got my Disability approved!! Yay!! It was a very long and hard struggle waiting for it, one of the major reasons for my stress and anxiety. But am so glad I got it, and got alllllll of those hospital and doctor bills paid up that was piling up on me. No more harrassing phone calls from the wolves at my door.

If you have a Facebook account, I would love for you to look me up, I would love to add you to my Friends there- Joyce Kinder-Smythe

God bless you all

[bdp522]

Hi Joyce,
So good to hear from you! So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Now that you have posted I hope you continue to post, you were missed. See ya on facebook!

Brenda

[Lee Lee]

Hi, Joyce,
Glad you're back. Don't go away again! Things sound like they're getting better.
All the best to you,
Lee Ann
Happy Anniversary!

[rested gal]

Joyce, I'm so sorry about your mom.

You've done a wonderfully good job sticking with your therapy!

Stop by any chance you get. I always enjoy our visits.

If the problem getting Encore Pro going on your new computer is that the computer has Vista on it, you might be able to get it going with the help of these threads:
viewtopic.php?t=40234 (Gregor's topic)
viewtopic.php?p=366706#p366706 (deerhound's topic)

Encore Pro 1.8.49 can be used with Vista.

[sleepycarol]

Congratulations Joyce.

I have missed you!!!

I am sorry about your Mom. It is difficult when you lose a loved one and especially your mother.

I am glad things are going well and you are finally on disability. Maybe now you can breathe easier knowing that it is resolved and in your favor.

I, too, recently celebrated my 2 year anniversary. I have been so busy with new grandbabies (3 this summer) and 2 weddings in August that it slipped right past me until I saw your post.

I hope that I hear from you soon.

[rested gal]

I, too, recently celebrated my 2 year anniversary.

WTG, Carol.

I have been so busy with new grandbabies (3 this summer) and 2 weddings in August that it slipped right past me until I saw your post.

That's a good kind of "busy." You've also stayed busy helping newcomers to CPAP...which is another good kind of "busy."

[mckooi]

Hi Joyce,

My deepest condolences to you on your beloved passed away.
You had done the right thing to keep cpap therapy going.
CPAP community is more than just cpap therapy and emotional sharing is part of healing process.
God bless you too.

Mckooi

[GumbyCT]

For some reason I thought both you and Carol were doing this longer than me - I started in Jan 2007. Guess I just came here later. My how time flies

Hopefully you have seen and survived most of life's bumpy roads. When we are down, it is hard to imagine that it can be worse, but certainly it always could be.

Condolences and Congrats, my friend.

ps. does that mean that you've given up on the Headrest?

[gasparama]

I am very sorry to hear about your mother, but most delighted to hear from you. I've always enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks for checking in with us!

Jane

[kteague]

Hi. Joyce. Good to hear from you, but sorry to hear about your mother.

When I was waiting on my disability to go thru (3 years), I think I underestimated the toll the stress of all the changes in my life was taking on me. I also lost my mother during that time. Even getting approved for disability was a stressor in the sense that even though I was living in the reality of my limitations, have a judge proclaim that I was disabled was surprisingly sobering. But I began to recover when the relief of having some income settled in - though I couldn't allow myself to believe it till I saw about the second check. It's been 4 months since my approval, and just about 3 or 4 weeks ago I became aware of a sense of "lightness" like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Until I saw the contrast, I wasn't aware that I must have been quite depressed. Although 3 doctors had noted depression in my medical records, I couldn't see it as I was not one prone to depression. While nothing can (or should) change the loss you feel, the effects of stress on the body and mind can sometimes be helped. Sounds like you are self-aware, and will know if and when it's time to get help and not suffer more than is required. Poor health, financial adversity, major life changes, loss of a loved one - that's a lot to deal with. Be extra nice to yourself - you deserve it. I have a friend who lives in lots of stress and swears by the value of massages.

Glad your cpap journey is going well. Take care.

Kathy

[jsmythe]

Thank you all for your condolences and best wishes, I appreciate that. It feels good to be back, the first thing I did when I turned on my comp this morning , was open up cpaptalk . Not done that in a long time. And I give your caring and response credit for that

Thank you for hooking up with me on FB Brenda , was a very pleasant surprise, I love it!

As far as my comp Laura, it is a HP Workstation, Core2 Quad with XP downgrade. I did not want to use Vista, I hated it when i had it. Loved XP. It has been awhile since I tried to install Pro, but I do remember that it could not connect to data base. Said something didn't exist, cant remember what it was now, but that is why I thought the software may be outdated. I will try again. Maybe have you on the line when I try?

Oh,, Congratulations Carol!!! I had forgotten that we are so close together on our anniversary , and a big congratulations on the new additions that is wonderful. I am so sorry that I have not answered your last email, I have just kinda dug a hole for myself and crawled in it for the last few months. Don't want to go anywhere,see anyone or do anything. I know, that is not a good thing either. For 3 or 4 months it seems, I spent every day driving back and forth to MH Hospital taking my dad to see mom. She would get to come home, then go back again. Has been a very stressful and exhausting time.

Thanks for reminding me of my Headrest , Gumby Used it last night and slept like a baby,, no sore nose either , yep, you got about 8 months on me as far as anniversaries

Kathy, you summed it up so well, almost everything you said, I have been feeling. We must have gotten our approval around the same time. Mine came April 21, I had been waiting on a court date to appear. I got the letter from the judge in the mail, he went over my papers and approved me without me having to go to court . That too was a big relief. After that, I did not receive any letters or hear from them at all, then out of the blue- got my back pay check in the mail !!!! Not expecting it. I just sat down and cried like a baby for an hour, couldn't even talk about it without crying I was so happy. Happy to get out of medical debt. Now, if only I didn't have to wait 2 years to get Medicare...that would be even better. Kathy, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother, how well I know the feeling. As an only child, I guess I just felt so alone, even with my husband and children there, it didn't matter. I also am trying to make sure my Dad is doing ok, he is so alone now. And has given up kinda/sorta. He has quit going for his PSA tests, said if he has cancer, then so be it; that there is nothing they are going to do about it, and that he is 82 and has lived a full life. ahhh,,, didnt mean to start babbling... sorry

Anyway, thank you all so much again, great to hear from you gasparama, LeeLee and Mckooi... I won't stay away so long this time maybe

God Bless...

[jmval]

I am new to the forum. I need some help. I have had the CPAP for 3 months now and I can't make it through the night with it on. I have the nasal pillows and they would be fine except for my allergies....my nose stuffs up and I can't breathe. I have severe allergies- taking two allergy meds, get two allergy shots every other week and use a nasal rinse. When my nose isn't stuffed up, I find I take it off in my sleep and turn off the machine. I just got another mask to try- a full face mask with the nasal pillow and mask over my mouth. Last night was my first night with it and it didn't go well. I am hoping the key is in finding the right mask. I am so frustrated. I also feel sore in my nose- I wonder if the nasal pillows are the wrong size or the strap is too tight or loose or something because where the pillows touch my nose is bothering me. I'm worried I won't be able to do this. The longest I have gone is 3 hours. I fall alseep okay but then take it off in my sleep or wake up freaked out and take it off.
I welcome any advise or input anyone can give me.

[plr66]

I am new to the forum. I need some help.

jmval, Welcome to the forum. It would be best if you start a new thread with your paragraph here, with your own subject line. Just highlight your entry here, copy it and paste it to the window you open by clicking "Post a New Topic" above.

[jsmythe]

Two years today my friends, and still lovin' it

[deerslayer]

Joyce i'm not even going to give congrats on your milestone...just give you a big ole cyber bear hug. i lost my mom 2 hrs. after valentines day this year. God bless you! you are not alone & like you i have stayed away from my friends here because treatment seems to be going well (if i don't self destruct first),lol. i came back because i just miss my extended family here at cpaptalk. don't know anything about facebook but would welcome any dialog from you any time. Joyce i think you could use a little Tennessee mountain Laural