Do You Use the CPAP Wiki?

[LoQ]

Do you use the wiki here at cpaptalk.com to find information that is new to you? If not, why not?

[Hospiceangel]

Yup, I do.
Shar:)

[Emilia]

I have used it quite a bit since I joined about 5 weeks ago. It is a resource worth its weight in gold for newbies if they have the time and patience to read and drill down to what they are looking for. Retaining that information and remembering where to find it again requires a bit of focus not always present in sleep deprived folks! Following threads and asking questions is easier, I think, especially if one has a lot of brain fog.

[Tired Linda]

Well said, Emilia!

[nanwilson]

You Betcha!
When I started out I read every word.....still do when I need info.
Cheers
nan

[GumbyCT]

I have used it quite a bit since I joined about 5 weeks ago. It is a resource worth its weight in gold for newbies if they have the time and patience to read and drill down to what they are looking for. Retaining that information and remembering where to find it again requires a bit of focus not always present in sleep deprived folks! Following threads and asking questions is easier, I think, especially if one has a lot of brain fog.

Brain fog is part of sleep apnea.

Most noobs get offended if you mention using a notebook to write things down. But that is THE Best way to waddle thru this massive learning curve. It also helps to look back and see how far you've come too

Write down questions you have so you don't forget to ask them. Esp. for the doc & DME.
Write down your equipment mask & machine make, model, and size. Dates when you got them.
ALWAYS write down ALL of your machine settings - esp. important if you intend to change something.

There is something about the act of writing which helps improve memory retention.

[erika]

I have a bit. I find it a little hard to use. I'm so new at this (even though my husband has had one for 10 years- and has not been proactive in his care- same machine, same settngs for 10 years) that I don't really know *what* I'm looking for when I want to find it.

[Emilia]

One of my favorite web tools is Evernote http://www.evernote.com/. It is very easy to use, and it allows you to 'remember' or capture things of interest on the web and works across all kinds of devices from computers to iPhones. When I find something I want to have easy access to again, I do a capture and send it to Evernote. This can be a screencapture or just keeping the URL and then writing in notes about what the page has to offer. For example, as I perused masks, I would capture each one that sounded like a good one to consider trying. I would do the screencapture of the mask picture and add the url in the spot that creates a hyperlink so I can get back to that source page with a click. I easily created a folder on Evernote called Cpap Masks and I put those into that folder. I sync my Evernote so if I am away from my computer, I can call up that information from my iPod Touch or smartphone.

Worth playing around with....it is free to use! Here is a video tutorial page: http://www.evernote.com/about/video/#OlOLXWvaIy0|1|1

[M.D.Hosehead]

Wow, Emilia, thanks for introducing me to Evernote!

Regarding the wiki, I used it a lot when I first started, but I haven't checked it for months. I wouldn't know if something has been added or expanded.

It might be useful to have link under "Announcements" or "Wiki Popular Topics" that takes you to items new in the last 90 days.

[WearyOne]

One of my favorite web tools is Evernote http://www.evernote.com/. It is very easy to use, and it allows you to 'remember' or capture things of interest on the web and works across all kinds of devices from computers to iPhones. When I find something I want to have easy access to again, I do a capture and send it to Evernote. This can be a screencapture or just keeping the URL and then writing in notes about what the page has to offer. For example, as I perused masks, I would capture each one that sounded like a good one to consider trying. I would do the screencapture of the mask picture and add the url in the spot that creates a hyperlink so I can get back to that source page with a click. I easily created a folder on Evernote called Cpap Masks and I put those into that folder. I sync my Evernote so if I am away from my computer, I can call up that information from my iPod Touch or smartphone.

Worth playing around with....it is free to use! Here is a video tutorial page: http://www.evernote.com/about/video/#OlOLXWvaIy0|1|1

Emilia, really cute video! Do you then just search Evernote for a topic, etc., and it pulls everything up related to that?

No, I haven't used THIS wiki. When I first joined, format for information was different and I used it a lot. After the change, I didn't need it as much because I was further along in my treatment. But if I was new at this, I would use it.

[Emilia]

WearyOne... you have your own Evernote page once you register. Your content is all there for you to scroll through, or if you create folders (as in my example) you will see those folders in the sidebar and you just click on it to then scroll through that subject folder content. I have EN on my desktop computer as well as on my iTouch and I sync them so they are always updated the same.

Under the video you watched is a series of short tutorials to watch on various aspects of using Evernote. Have fun!!

[LoQ]

I've used evernote for quite a while and LOVE it. And it's free!

[Bearcat42]

I have used it quite a bit since I joined about 5 weeks ago. It is a resource worth its weight in gold for newbies if they have the time and patience to read and drill down to what they are looking for. Retaining that information and remembering where to find it again requires a bit of focus not always present in sleep deprived folks! Following threads and asking questions is easier, I think, especially if one has a lot of brain fog.

Emilia, I was curious if you used the "a-z" catagory when searching for information. Do you think that maybe the articles in the Wiki could be linked a little better? I have written a few articles and I was just curious what I could do that might make it easier whenever I post something. I know it's a work in progress and there is so much information that one couldn't help but be overwhelmed until they got used to it.

[Emilia]

@ Bearcat -- I did use the A-Z, but I also used a number of the keywords in the various boxes on the front page. I've read a lot of pages on the wiki, and, as I said in my previous posts, those that were deemed of particular importance, I captured to my Evernote account for easy access again. Wikis are fabulous platforms, but they can become very cumbersome as they grow and especially if the information isn't updated as needed. I don't remember what it was at the moment, but I recall reading/skimming a page and realizing that some of the info was out of date.