I hate this!

[suzebarb1964]

i have tried to work with my machine, but we are not getting along. I feel like there is a leak, but my screen doesn't indicate it. I get frustrated and want to throw it out the window. My support team tells me it can take several months to get used to it. I dread fighting with that mask again tonight. I cried last night, please help!

[scottjf8]

What kind of machine and mask?

[ThirdOutOfFive]

Yes, I hate this therapy, too. It is a royal pain in the keester. I do it because hubby is sleeping better without my constant "buzz saw." Every time I think I have things working properly, something else crops up. The PAPpy dance goes "2 steps forward, 1 step back, jog in place, 2 steps forward. . . ." I know it is better for my health, or will be eventually. But, right now, it is making my usual "seasonal" pain flare up worse! Yeesh!

In spite of all this, I am hanging in. Hope you can, too. Maybe we will laugh about this some day?

[LSAT]

i have tried to work with my machine, but we are not getting along. I feel like there is a leak, but my screen doesn't indicate it. I get frustrated and want to throw it out the window. My support team tells me it can take several months to get used to it. I dread fighting with that mask again tonight. I cried last night, please help!

The machine is not leaking...it is the mask. It takes time to find the mask that is right for your face.

[BlackSpinner]

I love this - I am alive again. I have energy. It is so easy - it does all the work while I sleep. There are next to no side effects.

Wonderful! Fabulous!

Register and use the user control panel to show your machine and mask in text. We can't help you unless we know what you are driving!

[nanwilson]

You don't have to like it, but you have to use it to not die of diabetes or heart disease. Would you like to inject yourself with insulin every day? Not me thats for sure. This therapy is a royal pain in the posterior, but its what keeps us going and going and going.......... You may need to change masks, it took me 8 trys to get the best one for me. Please tell us EXACTLY what is bugging you so that we can help you get it fixed and on the way to good therapy.
Do not despair, this is a big learning curve and you must make it to live.

[Perrybucsdad]

Would you rather have surgery that will cause discomfort, swelling, and possibly pain? The surgery may not work and is very invasive. I don't know about you, but I would rather learn to like my machine than have to go through an invasive surgery that may not fix anything.

Learn to get used to your mask. The first week I had my machine I "played" with it when I was up and watching TV. I had fun with it... making goofy faces at people while I had it on, making the kids and wife laugh. It's all in your mind... make it fun and not a chore. Your attitude is what will make it easier for you. You can fight it, or you can approach it with a positive attitude. The choice is yours and only you can make that choice.

Good luck, you can do it...and it takes time.

John

[cowlypso]

It is possible that there is a mask leak that is large enough to bug you but not large enough to register on your machine. Also, depending on what machine you're using, the machine might not register the leak unless it is really large. The best thing to do to check your leaks is to download your data to your computer (hopefully you have a data-capable machine!).

Can you describe why you think you have a leak? What kind of mask are you using, and where are you feeling the air leaking? Masks are hard to get right. You might need to try a different size, brand, or style that will fit you better and not leak.

[davelikesbeer]

You don't have to like it, but you have to use it to not die of diabetes or heart disease. ...

Could someone post a link to a study that shows a valid cause and affect relationship? My Google searches have failed to find such a study that states SA causes diabetes.

I'd really like to know if treating OSA will lead do lower glucose levels. But thus far, I only see correlations between OSA and diabetes.

[Janknitz]

It's OK to hate this, but it's not OK to give up. So you are going to need to work with it. We can help you deal with the annoyances and get them under control. Once you accomplish that, you may not hate it so much. You might even start to like feeling better.

The first step is to give us a hint so we can help you. We need the following information:
1. Make and model of your machine (i.e. Resmed S9 Elite, Philips Respironics System One CPAP Pro, etc). The name is usually right on the top of the machine, near the button. If you can't find the model name, tell us the brand and we'll tell you where to look. If you know your settings, that's even more helpful.

2. Type and name of your mask. There are three major types (plus a few others):
a) Full Face--goes over your nose and mouth
b) Nasal Mask --goes only over your nose
c) Nasal pillow mask--goes (slighly) in your nostrils.
Look for names like Quattro, Swift FX, Swift LT, Opus, Flexifit, Comfort Gel, etc. It may be marked on the mask, the headgear, or the packaging that came with your mask. If you can't find the model name, we can help you narrow it down if you tell us what type (full face, nasal or nasal pillows) and brand (major brands are ResMed, Respironics, and Fisher and Paykel), which is usually marked somewhere on the mask.

[chunkyfrog]

--sounds like one of the stages of grief.
Check out the article by idamtnboy under the first topic at the top of the page.
"Especially for the newly diagnosed-dealing with change"
Some folks have a harder time getting used to the idea, the process, and the future with this disease and its treatment.
It can be difficult, but I found it totally worth the effort.

[BullwinkleMoose]

Some days I hate this, some mornings I love this, but all I have to do is run my finger down the center of my chest where no hair will grow on the scar tissue left by the heart sugery and I'm always fine with it. And please put your equipment in a post if you can't find the User Control panel in the top left of the page. That's fun to play with also.

[ems]

You don't have to like it, but you have to use it to not die of diabetes or heart disease. ...

Could someone post a link to a study that shows a valid cause and affect relationship? My Google searches have failed to find such a study that states SA causes diabetes.

I'd really like to know if treating OSA will lead do lower glucose levels. But thus far, I only see correlations between OSA and diabetes.

I haven't found a study either.

I can only tell you that since I've been using CPAP, my glucose levels went from 146 to 113. I have lost about 4-5 pounds, but I seriously doubt that's the reason for the lower levels.

[ozij]

http://www.springerlink.com/content/7p633037p0n1j2gh/
The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on glucose control in diabetic patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep and Breathing
Volume 9, Number 4, 176-180, DOI: 10.1007/s11325-005-0033-y

Cited by 21 others: http://www.springerlink.com/content/7p6 ... referrers/

[xenablue]

OSA does NOT cause diabetes. It may however, make diabetes show its ugly self earlier if the OSA goes untreated. T2 diabetes is genetic, so if you're gonna develop it, there's not a lot you can do, but you can hold it off for years if you're diligent, unless your liver and pancreas have worn out already.

Diabetes can be made worse by untreated OSA, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and of course, high blood glucose - all treatable and manageable.

Suzebarb - yes, it's understandable that you hate this, but better you spend a few weeks or even months acclimating yourself with XPAP, and waking up hooked up to your machine, than not waking up at all.

Hang in there, read a lot here, ask lots of questions - the experienced posters here have so much great advice, information and support - you will 'get it' eventually.

Don't give up.

Cheers,
xena