The need to have outside interests once you recover from OSA

[ResmedUser]

I am going to post something and I hope it does not upset anyone. But it comes from experience. I think it is important to have outside (non medical) interests once you have your OSA under control and are feeling decent again. I think its not good to dwell on your medical issues once they are under control. The time to dwell on your medical issues is when you are sick and things are not under control.

For example take myself, after I started feeling better, I got back into work. That lasted until my machine broke in December and I started backsliding again. I found when I began feeling good again and recovered, a lot of old interests came back...things I had lost interest in on OSA. Outdoor stuff, high power rifle competition, working out, Lifeguarding, I graduated from a top end ABA approved post bachelor Paralegal school with a 4.0 GPA...I did all of this on my original Resmed APAP. I would not have been able to do this stuff without OSA therapy.

I think forums such as these are awesome for newbie people and for folks having problems with their therapy. Or for a guy like myself who has had success, but is having a backslide due to equipment issues and maybe needs a new sleep study for a tune up. But once I get back into the swing of it again, I dont think its good for me to just hang out here and dwell on my OSA. And think about myself, my medical issues, etc. Its much healthier to just go out and do things you want to do, be with people, be outside, go back to school and maybe retrain if you have been out of work for a while, get a new hobby, lose weight...do whatever floats your boat and is needed to be done.

I just thought I would throw that out there.

Mikey

[scrapper]

I have received much on this forum............I no longer dwell on my OSA, but come back now to help others.......... If all of us left once our problems were under control, there would not be anyone left to help the newbies.

That being said, I do understand your point..........it's usually not productive to dwell on yourself and your own problems.

[jazzer4]

I learn something evey time I come on this site. I've been on c-pap for over a year.

I'm doing great with my treatment and have lots of outside interests, but enjoy the folks here.

Scrapper is right, if everyone felt like you who would help the new people?

[carbonman]

I dont think its good for me to just hang out here and dwell on my OSA.
Mikey

Interesting thought.

I was lucky to find this site early on.
It may have saved my life.....
without the compassion, support and knowledge
I would have quit.

My therapy is stabilized and routine.
I come here to keep up on what's happening in the cpap world.
What's new in the mechanics of blowing air up your nose.
What are the latest "lab rat" fixes.
Keeping track of how my friends are doing.
I help when I can.

I think the most important reason I come here now is to
listen to the newbies. I don't ever want to forget what it was
like before I got here, how I got here and what it takes to stay here.
OSA will always be there waiting for my vigilance to wane.

I crashed on my bike, a couple of weeks ago and fractured my finger.
It's going to be splinted for 6wks. I don't dwell on it.
I ride on. I've logged 200 miles since it happened....
I'll log hundreds more before it's healed.

Stuff happens......OSA happens....we adjust...life goes on.

[Pugsy]

I took a break from the forum and the internet when I moved to an area where I didn't have easy internet connection. Chose not to have land line phone because anyone I called would be long distance and I just wanted the cell phone.

Finally stole hubby's computer that we use the mobile WiFi thing with. Yeah, I could have got my own but my computer works when it only wants to and didn't want to pay for another WiFi thing through cellphone company. Besides he didn't use it much anyway. Connection isn't as fast as DSL and sometimes just downright awful, but I deal with it.

I came back here to interact with the friends I made when I first started cpap therapy and was helped by some of the members here. I would never have been able to sort through all my cpap issues without their help and I would be someone with my machine sitting in my closet now. I also like to contribute every now and then my own experiences and ideas. Sometimes it helps someone. I have more time right now because I am stuck in the snow and can't do much outside. When weather improves I will be outside more messing with things on the farm and be here less but I won't disappear again. Guess you all are stuck with me and my sometimes maverick thoughts.

[BlackSpinner]

for some one of us it is not about dwelling on our own OSA but about giving back to others. Like volunteer work, which I also do. As well as my art, my costumes, my knitting, my daughters, this house, my work.... yeah I don't need more outside interests

[gurp13]

I am grateful for those who are here with experience to help me begin my therapy. I think it would have been a drag if I came here and only found newbies and people trying to get their therapy back on track. I wouldn't have stayed long, probably wouldn't have posted at all.

And for what it's worth, I exercise, I have a (very) full time job as a teacher, a family with children, and I watch movies on my home theater, read, and sometimes I actually get out to ride my bike. I think I have a life and will continue to have one but I hope that u will eventually be able to help others as I have been helped here.

I think it's unhealthy to worry about other people and try to tell them what to do. Your mileage may vary and I love irony.

[Jaylee]

I think it is silly to assume that everyone here is dwelling on their OSA and bored.

I don't think I ever dwelled on it, as I am a super special snowflake and I took to my BiPap and mask with no problems at all. I am one of those annoying people.

That doesn't mean I don't have questions to ask here. Or experience to share. Or friends I like to talk to and joke with, etc.

I think it is sill to assume that the people here do not have outside interests. I work full time, take online classes to keep my teaching license active, go to the movies, go to dinner, go to the chirpractor more times than I would like, exercise, babysit occasionally, flirt with Dr. Cloudy, read, crochet, etc, etc.

[Madalot]

And then there are people like me that will NEVER recover from OSA or the other issues that are plaguing them.

I would LOVE to have outside interests, go places, do fun things, but my body is betraying me so badly that it's all I can do to get up every morning. A day where I actually am able to have someone take me to the store is considered a BIG day in my world.

The internet, and online forums such as this, are my ONLY connection to the world, without which I would have gone insane by now.

[Pugsy]

The internet, and online forums such as this, are my ONLY connection to the world, without which I would have gone insane by now.

Tis true Madalot and we shall do the best we can keep the cheering section on its toes to help bring a smile to your face.

[carbonman]

And for what it's worth, I exercise, I have a family with children, and sometimes I actually get out to ride my bike.

I think you need to adjust your priorities.
Get you and that family with children out on the bikes.

I think it's unhealthy to worry about other people and try to tell them what to do.

I couldn't agree more.

Your mileage may vary.

So true.

I love irony.

Great minds think alike.

Cpap/cycling are life, the rest is just details.

I'll see you on the road.

[ResmedUser]

Well, I am just saying that once recovered, its better to move on IMO. Once I got adjusted and OK on my original gear, I certainly did not spend time on message boards talking about OSA. As far as support, I did not need support when I adjusted to CPAP. I just sucked it up and followed my doctor's and DME's suggestions. Basically, it came down to this: 1) you wont adjust immediately and 2) you may need to change mask types in the first month or so. Pretty simple.

I am already feeling better the second night on my new machine and in a few weeks I certainly do not hope to be posting on an OSA forum. I intend to be working, doing things IRL, offline. Thats what the therapy is for, afterall. To give you your life back. Once you get it back, move on dont hang out on the Internet.

Spring is less than two months away!

NRA High Power rifle season is right around the corner!

Mikey

[Jaylee]

I find it ironic that you are criticizing people for posting on the internet while posting on the internet. If your life is so full, then shouldn't you be off living it?

[ResmedUser]

I find it ironic that you are criticizing people for posting on the internet while posting on the internet. If your life is so full, then shouldn't you be off living it?

I am recovering from a backslide right now. Right now I am sick again. Thats why I am here. But hopefully in a few weeks once things are normalized again, I sure as heck wont be posting here.

Mikey

[Jaylee]

I find it ironic that you are criticizing people for posting on the internet while posting on the internet. If your life is so full, then shouldn't you be off living it?

I am recovering from a backslide right now. Right now I am sick again. Thats why I am here. But hopefully in a few weeks once things are normalized again, I sure as heck wont be posting here.

Mikey

I suppose it doesn't make sense to me why you care what other people do. I could truly give a crap about how people decide to spend their time.