My failing career

[giantred]

I don't want to use excuses, but has anyone suffered so much from sleep apnea, that it practically destroyed their career, ambtions, relationships, etc. I've reached that point. I'm really trying to deal with what's left, but it's not much. Anyway, it's not fair and people that suffer from it might understand. I'm trying my best each day, by using the equipment, surgeries, pain, etc, but it really isn't easy and I get annoyed from people around me that don't suffer from this and they think it's a big joke. I was a winner before, I made over $200,000 K, but now I'm barely surviving because of this condition. I seriously might be homeless real soon and I have too much pride to ask family to have me move in with them. I'm not going to wear this life support thing in front of them, I'd rather be under the streets collecting change.

[Gerryk]

If you don't wear it you won't even be collecting change. What kind of problems are you having?

Yes, it did effect my job. I was only going in and doing what I had to in order to get by. I didn't take on extra assignments and wasn't running things the way I should have. Once I got on cpap and my treatment was successful, I took on more at work and it was noticed. I also took on more in the community too, but eventually had to bad off some.

Gerry

[giantred]

It's just not fair, I had this talent and I realized that because the way I feel from the apnea, I couldn't get things done. When I go to Starbucks in the morning and I drag myself to get there, I know that noone else is going through this. I really don't with this upon anyone, I know we all have it, but I really don't want this to happen to anyone. A good freind of mine said something insulting about apnea so I won't bring it up to her again. She said not to downplay the Apnea, but there are other worse problems people have in the world. I agree, but they don't feel the way I do all day long. Anyway, I'm leaving work now, I have an assignment due by Thursday, but I've gotten to the point in which I don't care if it gets done, I feel like crap and I'm going home. I just have one thing to say, the person that made that comment as well as many other people that think this condition is a joke, I wonder how they would react if they had it.

[Muse-Inc]

GiantRed, I'm sorry your CPAP therapy has not improved since you last posted! What are the biggest challenges you are struggling with...maybe someone has suggestions that might help.

Many of us have lost jobs and some their family from untreated apnea. Is this right? No, but untreated apnea makes us nuts to one extent or another, remember the phrase not dreaming makes you crazy? Well, some of us with severe sleep apnea will attest that our irrational confrontational behavior, our inability to think logically, and our overall inability to function like a rational human being costs us a lot. Sounds like you have some issues with needing CPAP therapy; you've just got to accept it (whether you like it or not) and work to find ways to make it work effectively for you. Frankly for one having what is a fatal condition, I'm just glad there's a therapy that keeps me alive when I sleep...maybe you should think about your sleep apnea and equipment the same way. Without it, you end up dead or horribly incapacitated, think severe stroke. BTW, it's not a sign of weakness to use the equipment, it's a sign you're smart enough to know your airways will not stay open by themselves when you go to sleep...not a lot different from needing eyeglasses or hearing aids or blood sugar lowering agents.

[giantred]

Thanks for the encouragement, it makes me feel better. I'm glad you understand. My family and friends at times call me a sissy for using the machine and not being tough and trying to sleep without it. They say they are tough because they don't use it and they feel fine when they sleep. Again, I think it's because I have anpea and they don't.

[PST]

Thanks for the encouragement, it makes me feel better. I'm glad you understand. My family and friends at times call me a sissy for using the machine and not being tough and trying to sleep without it. They say they are tough because they don't use it and they feel fine when they sleep. Again, I think it's because I have anpea and they don't.

That's like calling a diabetic a sissy for using insulin when the rest of us manage to feel fine without it.

[Wulfman]

I don't want to use excuses, but has anyone suffered so much from sleep apnea, that it practically destroyed their career, ambtions, relationships, etc. I've reached that point. I'm really trying to deal with what's left, but it's not much. Anyway, it's not fair and people that suffer from it might understand. I'm trying my best each day, by using the equipment, surgeries, pain, etc, but it really isn't easy and I get annoyed from people around me that don't suffer from this and they think it's a big joke. I was a winner before, I made over $200,000 K, but now I'm barely surviving because of this condition. I seriously might be homeless real soon and I have too much pride to ask family to have me move in with them. I'm not going to wear this life support thing in front of them, I'd rather be under the streets collecting change.

Well, here we go again........

In this thread, you claimed to have made over $500K. You bailed out of that thread/discussion at the top of the second page.

viewtopic/t47897/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43 ... 60#p382060

Did you ever get the software and card reader for your Auto?

Seems like all you want, is to have a "pity party"........"Woe is me".

If you were that much of a hot shot, making all that money, what did you do to earn it? Anything?

The way this therapy works is, you get out of it what you put into it.

If you want to make it work and get your life back, git 'r done!


Den

[Muse-Inc]

...My family and friends at times call me a sissy

Excuse me but what sort of jacka!!es are they? You need this to get your airways open while you sleep! Do they make fun of people who need hearing aids, eyeglasses, drugs to control blood sugar? It's likely ignorance on their part GiantRed, so don't look for support from them...come here for that! Rants, complaints, questions...we get it GR, we do, we've all been there.

[dsm]

Thanks for the encouragement, it makes me feel better. I'm glad you understand. My family and friends at times call me a sissy for using the machine and not being tough and trying to sleep without it. They say they are tough because they don't use it and they feel fine when they sleep. Again, I think it's because I have anpea and they don't.

That storyline sounds a bit bizarre ? - I can't really imagine *anyone* calling someone else a sissy for using a ventilation machine ! - it sounds more like you are feeling like a sissy for using it !.

But, yes there are quite a few of us who worried (and at times probably still do) about our employability. Let me just say that using a medical device that keeps me awake & alert at work trumps what anyone else thinks (including how I used to feel at first).

I really sense the need for an attitude adjustment from you and your family if there are any of them that would make lite of OSA therapy.

DSM

[BlackSpinner]

My family and friends at times call me a sissy for using the machine and not being tough and trying to sleep without it. They say they are tough because they don't use it and they feel fine when they sleep

Time to drop those friends and to tell your family to shape up or ship out. Use the sense you had to make that cash to change your life. You won't get better the same way you got down into this hole. Suck it up and use the equipment and make it and your life work - but drop those assholes you call friends!

[Gerryk]

I was concerned about the cpap with my job, but it doesn't effect my job. However if I didn't use it, then my job would be effected. In fact I have had guys that I work with wake me up to tell me to put it on if I fall asleep without it.
They do it partly because they care for me but they also do it because they want me making decisions with a clear mind.

I haven't seen you post what problems you are having. No one can help if we don't know what problems you are having.

Gerry

[montana user]

My apnea caused me to quite doing a job that I very much loved! Working Ambulance ( I am again doing it part time now that I am being treated) when I first started I could drive for hours and hours, get 2 hours of sleep, answer a page, and so on. Then my apnea caught up with me. I couldn't drive for more than two hours. Here in Montana some of our transports to other hospitals, nursing homes, etc, are over 4 hours away. I would have to pull over on family trips, so my ex wife could drive and I would sleep! I was also a reserve deputy, and again, I was so tired I could not concentrate on the task at hand. Not a good job to be tired at!
My ex wife did not believe in sleep apnea and thought I was lazy ( even though I had a full time job, and two part-time jobs). When I had my sleep study she asked me " what are you going to do when they say theres nothing wrong?" Well there was something, and now I'm a new man and back on my feet, as I know you will be too! Just don't give up, keep up the treatment and things will fall into place!

Sleep apnea is getting more attention now, and people are starting to understand it better. Hell when I went to the airport, I didn't have to tell them what that machine was. They already knew it was a CPAP! So hopefully your family/friends will do some research and be more supportive. If not, you have all of us here on this forum!!!

[scrapper]

OT but on topic......thank you Wulfman and others who have been here long enough and have enough memory for the repeats.....

Giantred, PLEASE NO more pity parties, no more con games, no more excuses, no more whining....either get treatment, seek help, lurk and learn, or get off of the board.

We're all in this together because we've all had some wake up call that made us realize that we in trouble or would be in trouble because of sleep apnea. Many on this board made major life changes--not because it was easy or what we wanted to do--but because it is what we had to do to regain life and energy.....

For your own sake, please do the same. If you choose not to, please do not include those of us on this board in your whining and excuses. If you want to lurk and learn, please do until you're ready to move forward with treatment. If you sincerely and honestly want help in conquering this chronic condition or are seeking specific information, I don't believe anyone here would turn you down.

but, please don't use us........that's not the purpose of this board

[JohnBFisher]

... I don't want to use excuses, but ... I was a winner before, I made over $200,000 K, but now I'm barely surviving because of this condition. ... I'm not going to wear this life support thing in front of them, I'd rather be under the streets collecting change.

[ jbf pulls out the soapbox, slowly climbs on top of it and warns everyone - Tough Love Ahead! ]

No. You won't be collecting change. You will be six feet under in a plot beside the street !

Guy, are you really serious? Are you so vain that you won't use something that can transform your life?

• Do you use glasses? You shouldn't by your logic. You should just be able to SEE.
• Do you use a car? You shouldn't by your logic. You should just be able to RUN.
• When you deliver presentations to a large audience, do you use a microphone and speakers? You shouldn't by your logic. You should just be able to SHOUT.
• Do you know someone with diabetes, who uses insulin? They shouldn't use it by your logic. They should just DIE!

And that's exactly what will happen to you if you don't get a grip on yourself. If you are a winner, act like one. Winners use everything at their disposal to take control of the situation and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! So, take a long hard look at your situation and remember when things were going well. You can reclaim that.

Trust me, I understand your situation. I managed to squeek by for the past few months, but I've not been happy with the quantity or quality of my work. I know my manager would like to see more. But pushing as hard as I could it took me more than six months to be able to get more than 2 to 4 hours of miserable sleep per night.

Okay, enough preaching.

[ jbf carefully steps off his soap box ... returns it for the next user ... and ambles off stage ]

[Muse-Inc]

... jbf carefully steps off his soap box ... returns it for the next user ... and ambles off stage

John, I love your rants!!!