It's just not worth it.. I'm just not worth it

[jmcsmomma]

A lot of people are hoping to be "Raptured" on Saturday may 21st so there should be lots of masks and machines laying around then! Hang in there!

that was weird, wouldn't let me be me.

[Mary Z]

Fighting the constant leaks, not being able to go to sleep with the mask on, and now the pillows collapsing so I can't breathe. Might just go ahead and cry "uncle" and give up. The mask has won.

Sounds like most of us when beginning CPAP. There are probably a few people out there who put their first mask on and everything went fine from then on, but I'll bet not many. Hang in there. Many of us have gone to a lot of trouble and expense to find the mask that works for us. We have spent many a sleepless night getting used to the mask and the machine. I hope you were just having a bad day because you have to have an attitude of determination that you'll make CPAP work no matter what. Some of us had pre CPAP symptoms so bad we would do anything to make it work. Be thankful you have the mask and machine and a chance to preserve your health.
Most of all, be kind to yourself and keep trying. You can make it work. Good luck.

[erny]

[quote][/quote]
Don't ever think you are not worth it, please keep trying, talk to your dme , i just lost a very dear friend 2 weeks ago from complications from this illness and i lost a brother from this as well so it can be serious if left untreated. i have been on cpap for 5 weeks and believe me it is not fun trying to adjust to these changes, the first 2 weeks was so bad i thought why go to all this trouble , not able to sleep anyway, the 3rd week was alittle better and the 4th week was wonderful, i slept so good , most of the night i got a good nights sleep, this week i have been having problems with my mask not sealing and have diffculty falling asleep kind of like i had before so i don't know what is going on so it is a ongoing process but i am not giving up, got too much to live for . please DO NOT GIVE UP ! it is not easy but we have to keep going . i am 65 years old myself and had a sleep disorder for several years so problems with sleep is nothing new to me. chenages are not easy for me and having to sleep with a mask on my face is no fun but we really have no choice , we have to keep up with this daily.
we will try to build eachother up , support eachother !

[JeffH]

The Hybrid / Liberty style mask was the worst mask I ever tried...and just to make damn sure it was, I tried it twice! I've never been able to get a FFM to work until I tried the Quattro FX with Padacheeks mask liners. I hardly get any leaks now and the mask isn't uncomfortable at all. I suggest you give this mask a try.


JeffH

[dusty0318]

I've searched the town for Lanisoh or Ayr Gel... pardon my spellings. No luck. DME called to check on me and I had a wild thought and asked her to order one set of large pillows with the medium ones. The pillows just seem to slide sideways out of my nose... perhaps too small to stay put??

[jmcsmomma2]

I've searched the town for Lanisoh or Ayr Gel... pardon my spellings. No luck. DME called to check on me and I had a wild thought and asked her to order one set of large pillows with the medium ones. The pillows just seem to slide sideways out of my nose... perhaps too small to stay put??

The Lanisoh is in the baby section, near the breastfeedikng stuff at Wally World, and the ayr is with the nose drops. At our Walmart, it is all the way on the bottom shelf. Hope this helps.

[Emilia]

Lansinoh rocks... I've used it every single night and have never had a pillow issue. It has a bit of a tackiness to it and really helps seal. It is found on the baby aisle.... purple tube/box. Just a little dab will do ya! I've had the same tube for 8 months and only half way gone! Well worth the $9 I paid.

[MeghanRF]

You are worth it! You are, you are!

Honestly, not feeling worth it is that F*ing sleep deprivation talking. Sleep deprivation makes me feel worthless, sad, crazy, etc... (I just tried re-adjust my sleep schedule drastically and unrealistically this week and boy did that mess with my mind... bad idea).

In any case, I have five thoughts to share:

1) Keep trying!!!! It's so worth it!
When I started I was waking up choking, ripping the mask off my face every night. Dude, that sucked. But, over time, hanging in there with the crazy difficulties of this journey, I can now wear the mask through the night and feel more rested. Stick with it, it is so worth it (and so are you!).

2) Try a different type of mask!
What's up with calling it a pillow? I opted for the full face mask despite my doctor being excited that my pressure allowed for the "pillows." Why they are called pillows is beyond me, they look like torture devices. I am thrilled and delighted they work for people, honestly they all look a bit like torture devices, I may try them at some point myself. But, I second, third what others are saying.

The full face mask definitely has it's minuses, but despite it's bulkiness, it feels comforting to just have the whole area covered up with pressure, and less claustrophobic than having all that air pumped just at my nose.

3) Pad A Cheek
http://www.padacheek.com
There are a number of products. I know that the PAD A CHEEK® Anti-Leak Straps (for the full face mask) absolutely changed my and transformed my battle with leaks. If you try out a full face mask, get one of these to go with it

4) Sleep with your face off the side of the pillow
I spend about 5 annoying minutes positioning myself just right. so that the mask isn't pushing up against the pillow. It helps with the leaks. By the way, does anyone have a recommendation for a pillow specially made for the CPAP masks?

5) Sleep-Aids
This whole thing can be uncomfortable. I take melatonin every night (consult with your doctor about what is right for you). This sleep aid helps me sleep through this discomfort.

Hope at least one of these thoughts helps!

Remember, this I'm not worth it thing is the sleep deprivation talking!

[LinkC]

The Hybrid / Liberty style mask was the worst mask I ever tried...

Did you try the Hybrid, the Liberty or both? They are very different masks, fit-wise. Hybrid was the best (for me); and the Lib might not have been the worst, but it's in the worst 3. Don't remember...trying to block those memories.

[LinkC]

Lansinoh rocks... I've used it every single night and have never had a pillow issue. It has a bit of a tackiness to it and really helps seal. It is found on the baby aisle.... purple tube/box. Just a little dab will do ya! I've had the same tube for 8 months and only half way gone! Well worth the $9 I paid.

Ahhhhhh Nipple grease! I love it. Just passed my 2-yr mark using it and I'm still on my first tube. A little dab'll do ya!

[JointPain]

I spend about 5 annoying minutes positioning myself just right. so that the mask isn't pushing up against the pillow. It helps with the leaks.

I do too, but I wonder how long that lasts after I go to sleep and move around a bit. I think perhaps it would be better to spend 5 minutes moving around to ensure no (big) leaks no matter what position. Yeah, more easily said than done, I know.

[MeghanRF]

Oh and LOL regarding the rapture comment!

[M.D.Hosehead]

A little dab'll do ya!

Do you remember the origin of that--the Brylcreem jingle?

Brylcreem, a little dab'll do ya,
Brylcreem, you'll look so debonair,
Brylcreem, the gals will pursue ya,
Simply rub a little in your hair.



Brylcreem is defunct, but part of their jingle lives on. Memes are interesting that way.

[Vader]

A little dab'll do ya!

Do you remember the origin of that--the Brylcreem jingle?

Brylcreem, a little dab'll do ya,
Brylcreem, you'll look so debonair,
Brylcreem, the gals will pursue ya,
Simply rub a little in your hair.



Brylcreem is defunct, but part of their jingle lives on. Memes are interesting that way.

ahhhhh, Brylcreem! such a memory, although It is indeed still available.

[dusty0318]

ok... spent an hour going to walmart.... found ayr gel but no lanisoh.... stopped at rite aid as an afterthought and found the lanisoh... will be experimenting tonight