POLL: How Many Hours Do You Spend on the Forum?

[jnk]

I don't understand the question(s).

I come here once a day.

All day long.

Isn't that what smartphones are for--to be everywhere all the time for everyone always?



Not really. I take breaks. Really I do. Like sometimes when I'm driving.

Wait! What was that? Something shiny over there. Later . . .

[Starlette]

@jnk - For you dear it would classified 5+ hours a day if you're including time on the smartphone

[jnk]

@jnk - For you dear it would classified 5+ hours a day if you're including time on the smartphone

Smartphone's always on, even if the ringer and notifications are off, so I guess that makes me a 24-hours-a-day guy!

Thanks for the clarification. My math ain't too good, but I guess 24 is higher than 5, so I voted!

[MidnightOwl]

Remember being able to read text faster than it could appear on your screen? Direct-connect and 1200baud got my friend SOO jealous. A whole screenful of text (24-line x 40 char) in 8 seconds!

Remember your first time at 9600? And then 28.8? Somehow upgrades today aren't quite the same.

[Captain_Midnight]

Polite suggestion for anyone who spends more than 10 minutes a day on ANY online forum...
Consider a trip to the sporting goods store and buy a nice pair of running shoes (they can also be used for walking).


.

[Tino2You]

Remember being able to read text faster than it could appear on your screen? Direct-connect and 1200baud got my friend SOO jealous. A whole screenful of text (24-line x 40 char) in 8 seconds!

Remember your first time at 9600? And then 28.8? Somehow upgrades today aren't quite the same.

Two weeks ago, I had to set up a dial in access from our cabin. I had screen shots of the access numbers from Verizon's web page, I've set up networks far more challenging than a lap top but could not get access. Authorization failed. I called Verizon and it took 4 "techs" to finally get what I needed. The first one told me to "turn my cable modem off and on" grrrr.

Anyway, the last guys sounded older and knew exactly what I was asking for and within 10 minutes I was running at the blazing speed of 52k (till it trained down to about 38kb but it worked and I so did I.
-tino

[flatag]

3 to 5 minutes.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Polite suggestion for anyone who spends more than 10 minutes a day on ANY online forum...
Consider a trip to the sporting goods store and buy a nice pair of running shoes (they can also be used for walking).


.

Not discounting exercise ... But how can a person learn so much about a new to them medical problem by going for a walk or run?

I spend a lot of time reading ... Gain knowledge of what makes my life go round ... I will not "just" take what a Dr says, even though what what the do talk ... they say very little!

To truly learn, one must read and research at the very least, and that takes more than ten minutes!

Also for the truly helpful members which make this forum a worthwhile place to spend time learning, they must also spend time sharing and teaching, sometimes a lot of TIME!

[carbonman]

The evolution of a cpaptalk'er

Postby carbonman on Mon Nov 01, 2010 1:41 pm

Exhausted by the fatigue,
brain dead from hypoxia,
I arrive at the sleep lab admittance desk.
"How may I help you?"
"I need some sleep."

As a refugee, staggering from the trenchs of OSA....
desperate to know that I am not alone and
to know what is this OSA and what is cpap?.......
I stumble onto cpaptalk.com.

Just from my first reading, I realize, I'm not alone.
This alone is worth the effort.

Then the compassion, the education and sometimes....
the tough love. Slowly, methodically, systematically
each obstacle is dealt with. The immediate problems
are fixed. Each night, a new fix is processed,
evaluated and then, accepted or rejected.
In a few weeks, familiarty is born, habits begin to form,
relief and recovery are realized.

As the knowledge base is built, the options begin to materialize.
I make an educated move from strapping and gluing to a FFM.
More help, more knowledge, I methodically refine the quest for the perfect mask.
My knowledge of using the software and ability to analyse the results,
allows me to adjust my pressure for optimal results.
In a few months, I have a mask that fits, leaks under control,
have self-titrated to a pressure that brings my
numbers to levels of recovery I never thought possible.

With this miracle of rebirth, I am overcome w/gratitude.
My need to share this increbible recovery,
help others to realize this same miracle,
and share this amazing knowledge of the mysteries of cpap,
drive me to want to respond to every post and
answer every question.

As my forum involvment continues, I begin to sound redundant.
I continually repeat myself, because all the newbie questions
are the same ones I asked. Others many times, respond w/the
same information so there is no need for me to repeat
the same information. I find myself becoming more and more
an observer.

I see my excitment to post and answer questions replaced by others
that have discovered the same miracle that I had
and are just as excited to help/share those same feelings and knowledge.
As each day brings new refugees, the process renews itself
and the flow of knowledge repeats.

Along the way, friends are made.
A cyber bond is formed to those that helped in the beginning
and w/those I was able to help.
The chatter, give and take, the odd questions,
the discussions to learn, the jockularity, the spats....
all build a feeling of family.
A place to come and put your feet up.
A place where the education never stops,
where there is always a reminder of where I came from....
that in turn, a reminder of the blessing of cpap,
always something to bring a chuckle,
a place to see your reflection and grow......
a place to observe the ebb and flow of life.

I don't really know where my place at cpaptalk is now.
I just know that for the reasons listed above,
I feel a connection here that continues to bring me back.

It truly is an amazing life experience.

[BlackSpinner]

Remember being able to read text faster than it could appear on your screen? Direct-connect and 1200baud got my friend SOO jealous. A whole screenful of text (24-line x 40 char) in 8 seconds!

Remember your first time at 9600? And then 28.8? Somehow upgrades today aren't quite the same.

ATDT ? I remember the first times I was able to dial into a client to fix a bug instead of drive across town in rush hour traffic! 300 baud was better then an hour in a car.

[Pugsy]

Well maybe I should get out and exercise more or buy some new walking shoes and walk more but it is difficult when even a trip through Walmart has one nearly crawling back to my vehicle due to pain.

I could also possibly limit my time a lot by just responding "this question has been asked already here on the forum no less than 100 times" "use the forum search and you will find the answers" instead of trying to reply in a manner that is welcoming, informing and not a put down for not using the search function (which BTW even I have trouble with).
It is very rare that I see a question that hasn't been asked already multiple times.

To insinuate that someone who happens to spend what they consider "too much time on the forum or wherever" needs to get a life and go "do something better" is kind of like telling me I am wasting my time here. That I really need to "get a life"... well...that kinda pisses me off. Don't try to tell someone else what they should or should not do until you have walked in their shoes for a while.

[ems]

Don't try to tell someone else what they should or should not do until you have walked in their shoes for a while.

You hit the nail on the head and should be applied in many instances on this Forum.

No one really knows anyone here except for the words they write. You have no idea if someone is being honest or making up all kinds of stuff. You read their words... you don't have the slightest idea who they are or why they are here. Maybe they don't even have sleep apnea or use a machine for that matter. Of course, why someone who doesn't have sleep apnea would even want to be here is another thread.

Pugsy... I wish you no pain, but I'm very thankful that someone like you spends a good amount of time on this Forum! Never feel that you have to defend yourself. You are the voice of reason and knowledge and have made my experience with sleep apnea a little easier.