how long deciding cpap was your friend and not your enemy?

[elena88]

Hi there!

I was just wondering how long did it take you to figure out cpap was your buddy and not your enemy, or are you still conflicted?


I know some people love their machines right off the bat, they get great results right away..

some people hate their machines, and quit..

some of us struggle, but realize cpap is saving our lives every night, so why wouldnt it be our friend?

I am thankful for my cpap, but I have a love/hate relationship with it..

[sonyat]

When I realized it could make me more alert in the mornings, and that alone would change my entire life, I wanted to be friends with CPAP.

It's been a rocky beginning, though.

[gulfpearl]

I guess I was one of the lucky ones when I awoke after my titration study I couldn't believe I could wake up feeling so well, right there & then I decided I had to make this therapy work. It is 5 years since then & I still love that feeling. Don't get me wrong there are some bad nights leaks etc where I would love to throw my mask or cpap against the wall,but I am reminded how bad I feel without this therapy.

[Gerald]

Anything that helps prevent BP systolic of 200 during the night is my friend.

[jabman]

I am still new a this, it hasn't even been a week.
when I had my sleep study it was a split study ( that is all I needed). after 2 hours they came and put the Cpap on me. They were able to find my pressure during the second half. when i woke the tech said according to the charts I had a good night after they masked me up. I didn't feel like it. Now after four days of using my S9 I have felt better waking up and it seems to get better with each day. I think that I have made a friend.

[Lindapat]

Well, I'm in my titration study right now. I'm going to have this machine for about 5-6 nights.
First night with a mirage nasal mask, great seal, dropped right off to sleep, woke up and was awake. Thought, wow, this is going to be great. Second night, nose was congested so I tried the full mask (nose and mouth), leaks were a nightmare. awoke about 2 hours in (I had turned to my side sleeping position) got a blast of air into my eyes. Switched back to the nasal mask. Didn't get it right on right away. So this was a more difficult night. Kinda gave me a reality check that I'm gonna have to work at this. Still, woke up in the morning feeling more mentally aware than I have in a long time.

I'm definitely going to work with this. If even a bad night gets me more mental awareness than a good night without the cpap, it's worth it.

Note: I'm gonna have some down time between the titration and getting my machine. Not looking forward to that....

Lindapat

[sleepycarol]

I decided at the get go that I had to do this in order to prevent further damage to my body. I was lucky that I didn't struggle with it nearly so much as many on here do. I was able to use it all night from the first night I put the mask on. Oh, I fought leaks, finding the right mask for me, etc. but I am so "friendly" with my machine I can not sleep without.

[silver123]

Where I am, your initial evaluation and titration are done at separate times but at home. they send you home with i nstructions on how to hook your self up and there you go.

I knew XPAP was my friend from that first titration study. Best sleep I had had in years. I found this forum before I got the results and started reading. My doc was the one that suggested the APAP so that was not a struggle to get. I knew the mask I wanted to try, which was the Swift LT and just coming out.

I was lucky to find you all here and get the info I needed to start therapy with my best foot forward. It's been a bit over two years now. And yeah, there are times I hate it but I am completely grateful this therapy exists and is successful for those of us that are committed to it. Resentment gets me nowhere quickly.

[JayC]

My enemy was the decades of being blown off and not getting proper testing/diagnosis.

I woke up from my split study (I desatted so they had to mask me) with a headache from the mask sitting on my sinuses, yet clarity of thought and lack of fatigue that I had not experienced in so long. Got much done that next day even with a headache!!

I got a good machine and good fit on Swift LT (and still using the same exact nasal pillow 2 years later...doesn't seem right to change it when the morning numbers say 0.0 leak)

98% compliance in 2 years (illness or sleepness causing the lack of use.....and I am always grateful when those bad days leave so I can get back to using my life-returning buddy!!!!)

If was never a matter of "deciding"......cpap/mask was going to address things so I would have the energy and focus to improve my life......

J

[torontoCPAPguy]

Instantaneous! The moment I masked up and fell asleep I knew it was a friend.

The enemy is the work it takes to maintain my friend and finding the perfect mask and trying to keep it from smooshing against my face and waking me up and so on. But overall? I knew the XPAP was my friend the very first time I put it on even with the leaky nasal pillows and the hard plastic economy mask that MediGas gave me in order to nail me for the improved mask, etc. And when I tried the Activa mask... I came home at 5 p.m. and put it on while watching TV to see if it would be comfy and workable... and woke up 14 hours later ready to take on the world.

I keep my backup machine and accessories packed up in the case and ready to go in case my primary machine fails or in case we decide to travel - I'm not going ANYWHERE without my S8 Autoset II (and soon to be S9 Autoset - yay!).

If you are thinking of your cpap as the enemy you need to get your head wrapped around it and work it out - it WILL make a huge difference in your life and you will live longer and healthier. Proven fact. Now if I could only figure why I keep getting up at 5:30 a.m. I would be all set. Wonder if it is genetic?

[BlackSpinner]

From diagnosis on I worked at making sure my mind would accept it. I have had lots of practice with trance work due to migraines so I knew how to do this. After the first morning it was my lover. Oh sure we have had issues but every relationship requires compromise and adjustment.

To paraphrase

"Take your xpap into your heart and be saved"

[packitin]

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[thewetlizard]

I'm still struggling with it but I know it's getting a little better.

[cobra4x4]

I too had a split study, after 2 hrs they masked me up and I hit REM sleep an hour before they woke me up at 6am.

I too am one of the very lucky ones as cpap became my best friend instantly, 1st night 5 hrs, 2nd night 5.5 hrs then after that I was at 8.2 hrs minimum and continue that to this day. I don't even think of my mask when I put it on anymore its just a natural thing I do when I go to sleep.

I'll be looking forward to getting a new machine when my works insurance kicks in later this year, then I'll keep my old tank as a backup and to use in the livingroom when I feel I need a nap and for travel as well.

When I get my new machine I'll be getting the same mask as I use now because its the one that works for me.

[Kiralynx]

Took me about three weeks, but that was because it took about ten days to get my pressure right, based on reading my software and discussion with the RT.

Now, it took me a good six months or more to accept putting on my mask and etc. as just part of getting ready for bed. Mainly because it took me that long to figure out how to rig my mask so I could read for a little while, set my glasses and the book on the night stand, pull my mask down, turn on the machine, and turn out the light.

Do I wish I didn't need it? Sure. Would I go without it? Never.