Encouragement to those struggling - my positive experience

[am7357]

This could come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am a newbie and I love my mask! I'm not kidding - my full face mask creates this very comforting feeling. As if it were my little bubble. It's hard to explain.
I got the CPAP only 4 days ago. The first night, I must admit that it scared the hell out of me. However, after tossing and turning for a few hours, I decided to give it a real try JUST FOR ONE NIGHT. And that was it - all of a sudden, all the anxiety and discomfort vanished and I was able to sleep till the morning. Since then, I fall asleep easily and have no more problems. I realize that the barriers were mainly psychological.
So, for those new to CPAP, just try to explore the positive aspects of the therapy. As you fall asleep, why not focus on the cushiony feel of the silicone? Or the cool and refreshing breeze on your face? Or else, why not consider how strong you are for taking care of your health? How courageous to dare overcome your fears and use a CPAP? How much more mature you will be when you learn to accept that everyone has their weakness?
The CPAP should not be seen as a burden, but rather as an invitation to inner exploration and self improvement.
Keep smiling, friends!

[rosacer]

Wonderful point of view, congratulations for it. The attitude we have towards the fact we need a CPAP makes a huge difference on the success of our treatment.

Thanks for your words, I would like to show it to a dear friend of mine whom is having serious heart's problems because of OSA and his refuse to use a CPAP, he said CPAP was for old people (he is seventy or more LOL, he is funny). Hopefully he is going to see a Dr for his sleep test soon.

[BlackSpinner]

This could come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am a newbie and I love my mask! I'm not kidding - my full face mask creates this very comforting feeling. As if it were my little bubble. It's hard to explain.
I got the CPAP only 4 days ago. The first night, I must admit that it scared the hell out of me. However, after tossing and turning for a few hours, I decided to give it a real try JUST FOR ONE NIGHT. And that was it - all of a sudden, all the anxiety and discomfort vanished and I was able to sleep till the morning. Since then, I fall asleep easily and have no more problems. I realize that the barriers were mainly psychological.

Yes That is the way it works. I told myself I was going to wear it for 2 hours that first night because I was the one who went snorkeling and panicked by both claustrophobia and fear of falling off the water! I woke up the next morning.

[IndyDave]

I was talking to someone I know this evening who just started this week, absololutely no problems either. He opted for the full face mask, and said its all normal to him, because he's a scuba diver. Said he gets in bed, imagines a dive, and he's right out for the night. I'm jealous!

[the_nap_ster]

This post rocks my socks!

And inspired me to buy a FF and see how it goes. I want to sleep in a little bubble!

(Cpap.com will be winging me a Quattro FX on Monday!)

In all seriousness, as someone who has been debating trying a FF mask, this was lovely to see. And it reminded me: only good comes by being open-minded. Thanks for the very-welcome reminder!

This could come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am a newbie and I love my mask! I'm not kidding - my full face mask creates this very comforting feeling. As if it were my little bubble. It's hard to explain.
I got the CPAP only 4 days ago. The first night, I must admit that it scared the hell out of me. However, after tossing and turning for a few hours, I decided to give it a real try JUST FOR ONE NIGHT. And that was it - all of a sudden, all the anxiety and discomfort vanished and I was able to sleep till the morning. Since then, I fall asleep easily and have no more problems. I realize that the barriers were mainly psychological.
So, for those new to CPAP, just try to explore the positive aspects of the therapy. As you fall asleep, why not focus on the cushiony feel of the silicone? Or the cool and refreshing breeze on your face? Or else, why not consider how strong you are for taking care of your health? How courageous to dare overcome your fears and use a CPAP? How much more mature you will be when you learn to accept that everyone has their weakness?
The CPAP should not be seen as a burden, but rather as an invitation to inner exploration and self improvement.
Keep smiling, friends!

[carbonman]

The CPAP should not be seen as a burden,
but rather as an invitation to inner exploration and self improvement.
Keep smiling, friends!

Zen of the Mask-Beyond the numbers
Zen-direct experiential realizations toward obtaining an awakening.
The practice to discover, through daily, or in this case, nightly,
experiences that will lead one to ultimate enlightenment.

All things are brought to each of us, for a reason.
Why OSA???

In OSA therapy, the mask, is everything.

This "club" that God and the Universe has chosen for us to be in is serious business.
What we are dealing w/is a matter of life and death.

I realized early on that it is much more than the mechanics
of blowing air up your nose. It's about a journey into ourselves,
to help us learn who we are and what we are about.
To help us learn what our strengths and weaknesses are.
To help us learn what our limitations are.
.....and in the end, how to use those strengths to overcome
the weaknesses.....how to go beyond our limitations and
expand our horizons.

My journey began as most do...it was not easy.
With your help and guidance and support and encouragement,
When I see myself reflected in the replies to my posts,
I realize that through you,
my life has been enriched beyond anything I could imagine.

I think that had I never found this group....family and
had been successful, it would have been a hollow success.
Through the sharing of our trials and tribulations,
failures and successes....our efforts are validated and more worthwhile.
Each of us does earn it. Each of us, in the dark of the night,
makes the journey alone, but always with the knowledge
that many are in support of us and pulling for us.

All of these things are granted to me through the Zen of the Mask.

Yin/Yang of life-
MY choice to embrace or reject, the mask, and in so doing,
chose quality of life.

I have chosen quality of life.

[Maxie]

Thank you for the positive post! It is psychological. I use nasal pillows but I still like to go into my own little world and I fall right asleep.

[xenablue]

This could come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am a newbie and I love my mask! I'm not kidding - my full face mask creates this very comforting feeling. As if it were my little bubble. It's hard to explain.
I got the CPAP only 4 days ago. The first night, I must admit that it scared the hell out of me. However, after tossing and turning for a few hours, I decided to give it a real try JUST FOR ONE NIGHT. And that was it - all of a sudden, all the anxiety and discomfort vanished and I was able to sleep till the morning. Since then, I fall asleep easily and have no more problems. I realize that the barriers were mainly psychological.
So, for those new to CPAP, just try to explore the positive aspects of the therapy. As you fall asleep, why not focus on the cushiony feel of the silicone? Or the cool and refreshing breeze on your face? Or else, why not consider how strong you are for taking care of your health? How courageous to dare overcome your fears and use a CPAP? How much more mature you will be when you learn to accept that everyone has their weakness?
The CPAP should not be seen as a burden, but rather as an invitation to inner exploration and self improvement.
Keep smiling, friends!

I couldn't agree with you more!! IMHO attitude towards XPAP makes or breaks your success. Thank you for your post - very uplifting and encouraging - I sure hope the ones who hate their XPAPs or are struggling against their therapy read this.

Cheers,
xena

[sleeptimeinNY]

What a great way to look at it... congratulations! After a month and a half I am becoming good friends with my CPAP and mask... not bbff's but close! Thanks for the positive words.

[smurfyabs]

Great post!

I repeat a mantra in my head "Imagine how much better you'll feel once you've begun to experience good sleep every night." Or I fall asleep listing all the things I'll be able to do with my new found energy and my decreased pain.

[burc2006]

Great post.. Congragulations on your getting used to your CPAP mask.
I hope this post encourages other newbies who are having difficulty on sleeping with their masks on.

[Papit]

Ditto here, am and xena. I masked up to get the feel of it and watched television after dinner for a couple hours, as advised by my sleep tech, the first day that I had my S9. (My wife and I do a lot of snorkeling, so I guess I had an 'edge' and was ahead of the game.) Then I went ahead and slept all night with the cpap going without major problems. (In my case I took Sonata as I usually did for insomnia. Now I use it less often.) I agree that the initial adapting and acceptance of the mask is mainly psychological if you were given good instruction in its use and/or read carefully and understood the written instructions. Glad to hear how relatively easy it was for you guys. I'm sure there are many others like us. Goes to show that introduction to xpap therapy is not necessarily a big difficulty for all newbies.

This could come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am a newbie and I love my mask! I'm not kidding - my full face mask creates this very comforting feeling. As if it were my little bubble. It's hard to explain.
I got the CPAP only 4 days ago. The first night, I must admit that it scared the hell out of me. However, after tossing and turning for a few hours, I decided to give it a real try JUST FOR ONE NIGHT. And that was it - all of a sudden, all the anxiety and discomfort vanished and I was able to sleep till the morning. Since then, I fall asleep easily and have no more problems. I realize that the barriers were mainly psychological.
So, for those new to CPAP, just try to explore the positive aspects of the therapy. As you fall asleep, why not focus on the cushiony feel of the silicone? Or the cool and refreshing breeze on your face? Or else, why not consider how strong you are for taking care of your health? How courageous to dare overcome your fears and use a CPAP? How much more mature you will be when you learn to accept that everyone has their weakness?
The CPAP should not be seen as a burden, but rather as an invitation to inner exploration and self improvement.
Keep smiling, friends!

I couldn't agree with you more!! IMHO attitude towards XPAP makes or breaks your success. Thank you for your post - very uplifting and encouraging - I sure hope the ones who hate their XPAPs or are struggling against their therapy read this.

Cheers,
xena

[zoocrewphoto]

This post rocks my socks!

And inspired me to buy a FF and see how it goes. I want to sleep in a little bubble!

(Cpap.com will be winging me a Quattro FX on Monday!)

[/quote]


This is the mask I used at my sleep study, and I barely remember wearing it. I looked it up online before my followup, and took a printed paper with me to the DME to request that mask. I have to make minor adjustments each night until I am really used to this (just stated 5 nights ago). But I am very happy with it. My mom also does cpap, and she asked to try mine on, got a new prescription, and got her own, same model.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted a full face mask as I am often congested and can't breathe through my nose. Also, even when not congested, if doing more than sitting or standing, I find that I don't get enough air through my nose. When the sleep tech asking if I normally breathe through my mouth or nose, I told her definitely the mouth. So she started with me the full face mask, and her choice was excellent for me.