deleted

[GumbyCT]

Mark your calendars folks - finally something me & BB can agree on.

I am grateful I have something that can be treated -- with air no less.
I am grateful I do NOT have one of the very many illnesses that there is NO Treatment for.

Think about it Dot - would you really have something like one of the many cancers that can't be treated or one of the ones which can?

Maybe something like Parkinsons would be better?
Even Diabetes can be treated - some here treated with air

I just can't multi - anything - like sleep AND breath!! Poor me!!

[GumbyCT]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38249&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I have to respond with this:

viewtopic.php?p=308736#p308736

To which I have to say :
My Crystal Ball is in the closet. I could bring the ouija board out if you think that will help.

The point is - the OP never mentioned ANY extenuating circumstances, iirc, so therefore I will NOT assume s/he is an idiot but IS looking for an excuse not to wear this getup the rest of their lives.

I won't provide that excuse. Nor am I aware of any deaths caused by wearing any cpap getup during a power outage.
If you are - kindly direct this OP to it.

I forgot to add -
NEVER expect someone to make a choice (decision) based on information they do NOT have. It will only lead to disappointment.

[DreamOn]

I've never wished I didn't have to use this therapy; on the contrary, I'm glad to have it available to me. And I'd go so far as to say that my attitude about it all has helped me tremendously in getting to where I am right now. Given all the roadblocks and pitfalls I experienced during two+ years of ineffective therapy, I can now trumpet that I'm an xPAP success story because I never even considered giving up.

This is the way I've felt too. I am very grateful that there IS an effective therapy to treat sleep apnea.

Actually seeing the positive results from using CPAP outweighs all the negatives of wearing the mask, etc. My quality of life in the daytime (16 hours) is SO much better, that it's worth wearing a mask for 8 hours while I'm sleeping! I no longer have to get up to use the bathroom at night, I can now think clearly (after years of living in a fog), short-term memory is better, I sleep soundly and wake up feeling rested, I don't fall asleep watching TV in the early evening, my blood pressure is lower, I'm getting adequate oxygen at night which is allowing me to heal, I have more energy and a more positive outlook, my body composition is changing....what's not to love about all that!

But, that's MY experience. I do realize that everyone doesn't have positive results right away, and we all react to things in different ways. For a lot of people, accepting the diagnosis of sleep apnea and adjusting to xPAP is a process of acceptance, with stages much like grieving. So I try to understand that everyone doesn't react and adjust to life changes the same way I do and have some compassion.

But if someone whines continually about their problems and seems to be making little effort to move forward in their recovery, I must admit that I do sometimes feel like shaking them (in a loving way)! We are SO fortunate to have a disorder that can be addressed! NONE of us want to have sleep apnea! But that is our reality, and we can't make it go away by wishing it was so. I don't have time to waste having a pity party for myself. Life's too short as it is. We have to accept what life hands us and move forward in a positive direction, troubleshooting the challenges of therapy that need to be overcome. We all have had challenges with masks, etc. Let go of the denial -- resistance is futile. Accept reality, then enjoy life....

~ DreamOn

[BleepingBeauty]

I think that's wonderful that you had that experience! I truly do.

However, it's not everyone's experience. And, neither side is right or wrong. Perhaps some people do take to this therapy as easily as you have. Others don't. Some of us do have problems that are frustrating to overcome. And, some of us do wish we didn't have sleep apnea at all and could just sleep without a mask.

Please don't misunderstand where I'm coming from. I never said I had an easy time of things; quite the contrary, actually. I did "take to" the therapy pretty easily, because I knew that I had to make it work. But I've had to fight against shoddy service from sleep doctors and my DME to finally achieve effective therapy. What I'm trying to convey is that a positive, can-do/will-do/must-do attitude can make all the difference. It definitely did, for me.

Personally, I don't want sleep apnea. While I'm thankful the therapy exists, I still wish I didn't have to deal with it to begin with. I'd love to be able to sleep freely without having to have the therapy at all. I guess I don't understand the mindset of feeling otherwise! I'm not saying people aren't grateful that cpaps are here and available. But, wouldn't it truly be wonderful to not have to have it at all?!

I'm sorry. But, I really, really do miss snuggling my face into the fur of my kitties at night and sleeping cuddled with them. I really, really do miss laying on my comfy pillows and sleeping without a mask in the way. I really, really do not enjoy the fact that I look weird going to bed now. Yes, it's saving my life. That's why I do wear the thing. I'm thankful that I'm getting sleep. But, seriously? I'd love to give all this dang therapy up and live my life free again without having sleep problems.

I don't think anyone would argue with your POV. Nobody wants to have to deal with this condition. Given the chance, I'm sure everyone would opt not to have to sleep this way. I'm sure we all remember fondly the ability to just lay our head on the pillow and sleep well. But when sleep isn't restorative (and, in fact, is harmful), that's just not an option anymore, and I think holding tight to that wistful remembrance only makes the process more difficult.

I'm not dismissing how you feel, as it's certainly valid. What I'm saying is that a positive attitude can make a huge difference in your therapy experience. That said, I'm glad you're wearing the mask and doing what you have to do to treat your condition.

And FWIW, my cats still snuggle up with me every night; in fact, one of them seems to love the air coming from the vent holes.

[DottyG]

Nobody wants to have to deal with this condition. Given the chance, I'm sure everyone would opt not to have to sleep this way.

Which is EXACTLY what I've been saying, but for some reason, y'all are arguing with me about it!

What I'm trying to get across is that I do not want to have ANY kind of medical problem - cancer, sleep apnea or anything else. Now, I do. I have sleep apnea. And, I'm treating it. THAT part I'm not arguing with! All I've been trying to get across is that I don't want to have sleep apnea and have to then treat it at all.

And, as a result of the above, "I still have to force myself to put the stupid mask on every night. And, sit there saying, "Please don't make me have to do this another night" as I put it on." Because I don't want to have to do it - I want a sleep-apnea-free life. Same as, I would bet, the majority of you would.

I think you'll find that I'm not actually on the opposite side of what many of you are saying after all. You're just not quite grasping what I'm saying, yet!

[DottyG]

Think about it Dot - would you really have something like one of the many cancers that can't be treated or one of the ones which can?

Maybe something like Parkinsons would be better?
Even Diabetes can be treated - some here treated with air

Well, actually, I personally don't want cancer (treatable or non-treatable), diabetes, Parkinsons OR sleep apnea. I would like to be free of ALL medical problems, if I have my wish.

Again, you're arguing with me when I'm not even on the opposite side of what you're saying!

[BleepingBeauty]

Nobody wants to have to deal with this condition. Given the chance, I'm sure everyone would opt not to have to sleep this way.

Which is EXACTLY what I've been saying, but for some reason, y'all are arguing with me about it!

What I'm trying to get across is that I do not want to have ANY kind of medical problem - cancer, sleep apnea or anything else. Now, I do. I have sleep apnea. And, I'm treating it. THAT part I'm not arguing with! All I've been trying to get across is that I don't want to have sleep apnea and have to then treat it at all.

And, as a result of the above, "I still have to force myself to put the stupid mask on every night. And, sit there saying, "Please don't make me have to do this another night" as I put it on." Because I don't want to have to do it - I want a sleep-apnea-free life. Same as, I would bet, the majority of you would.

I think you'll find that I'm not actually on the opposite side of what many of you are saying after all. You're just not quite grasping what I'm saying, yet!

I think we all get what you're saying, Dotty, and we're not arguing with you. (At least, that's not my intention.) What I'm apparently failing to convey is that the attitude towards the treatment makes a difference. Yes, you're doing what you have to do, but you hate that you have to do it; and although that's understandable, it makes it more difficult to adapt to the reality of the situation. Wishful thinking is counter-productive, IMO.

Peace.

[DreamOn]

Nobody wants to have to deal with this condition. Given the chance, I'm sure everyone would opt not to have to sleep this way.

Which is EXACTLY what I've been saying, but for some reason, y'all are arguing with me about it!

What I'm trying to get across is that I do not want to have ANY kind of medical problem - cancer, sleep apnea or anything else. Now, I do. I have sleep apnea. And, I'm treating it. THAT part I'm not arguing with! All I've been trying to get across is that I don't want to have sleep apnea and have to then treat it at all.

And, as a result of the above, "I still have to force myself to put the stupid mask on every night. And, sit there saying, "Please don't make me have to do this another night" as I put it on." Because I don't want to have to do it - I want a sleep-apnea-free life. Same as, I would bet, the majority of you would.

I think you'll find that I'm not actually on the opposite side of what many of you are saying after all. You're just not quite grasping what I'm saying, yet!

Dotty, I think that we all understand what you are saying. I don't think that anyone is arguing with you about what a pain in the butt it is to have sleep apnea.

Unfortunately, none of us have a choice about this. If we want to give our bodies a chance at recovery and prevent further damage, then we have to use the mask. We just do it, whether we like it or not. Life is much easier if we don't fight that reality and just go with the flow. You're still fighting it.

I hope you know that I'm fond of you, and I'm not trying to be contrary. I just hate to see anyone struggle with this. To me, using a machine to keep my airway open really isn't that big of a deal compared to all the truly awful things that can happen in life. And I think that's the point that's been made by the others here. How we view life's inevitable challenges is all a matter of perspective. Stuff happens....you make the best of what you're given in life, move forward and get on with the business of living. For me, it's a waste of precious life energy to fight something that cannot be changed. I'd rather focus on my blessings, rather than the negatives, and enjoy my limited time on this earth. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. I do mean well.

[Kiralynx]

But, be patient with us. At some point, we'll be oldtimers, too. And, we'll have all the answers, too. And, we'll be helping the new newbies, too. As long as you help us get there.

Exactly. I wrote and posted that, BTW, on the day after my first night with my machine.

[ozij]

viewtopic/t50402/SUFFOCATON-GUY-SAYS-THANKS.html

[Huffer]

I never would have believed that I would would wind up with a weird illness that made me a wear a goofy looking mask, but now that I have, so what. And I'm gunna come up with a designer mask that all the beautiful people are going to be jealous of,( hopefully without all the leaking problems), and all this crying about having to wear a mask to bed will be a moot point. Don't know what it might look like, Darth syle maybe, or that mask that the North Korean guy wore in the James Bond movie.

P. S. It'll be suffocation proof too!

[DottyG]

Please make one that looks like Dorothy from "TWOO" for me. Thanks!

[GumbyCT]

Please make one that looks like Dorothy from "TWOO" for me. Thanks!

YOU are NOT in Kansas anymore

Wake-Up

[Wulfman]

viewtopic/t50402/SUFFOCATON-GUY-SAYS-THANKS.html

Somehow, I just knew THIS thread would continue on.......and on......and on......
(even after I read the other one (yesterday) in that link)


Den

[r1200c]

I purchased an alarm that plugs into the outlet and immediately souds an alarm if the power goes out. I've been a cpap user for about 10 months, and the thought of a power outage really messed with my mind. I'm cool with it now because I comfortable that i would awake even wothout the alarm.

Hey Pdean44 You dont hear of people dying of cpap because they can't post!