CPAPtalk.com

Quit using it for now, and start in on an adjustment of your point of view. There are some inspiring videos on youtube if you do a search that may help. With your current attitude, you are going to fail. I had the same attitude as you, but had to wait some time to get all the testing done, and I gradually came around as I did some research.[/quote]


And hope you don't have a Stroke or Heart attack in the meantime.

Welcome to the world of CPAP therapy! I started last February and remember well how hard the adjustment period was. It took many weeks to sleep through the night. The best advice I received was to get used to breathing with the machine while awake. I would go to bed early and put on the gear while watching TV or reading. I also tried meditating with the equipment, so that I could begin to equate the therapy with relaxation rather than the sheer anxiety and frustration I felt during the night. I use a nasal pillow and that has worked pretty well. It is all worth it when you begin to appreciate the benefits of the therapy. I will never go back. I encourage you to keep strong and determined, since I believe you will eventually adjust (once you get the right mask). Good luck, my friend!

Worrisome how many posters seem to come on to the board, post a call of desperation and then seem to disappear. Are we giving too much advice in too haphazard a way, is there some better way to help.

I know I came sooooooo close to quitting for exactly the same reasons as the OP after a month, but now I'm a happy dedicated CPAPer. For that I'll always be grateful

Denial is strong in this one. Perhaps he only seeks confirmation for his own wish.
We can only help those who WANT to be helped.

grayghost4 wrote:

WindCpap wrote:Quit using it for now, and start in on an adjustment of your point of view. There are some inspiring videos on youtube if you do a search that may help. With your current attitude, you are going to fail. I had the same attitude as you, but had to wait some time to get all the testing done, and I gradually came around as I did some research.

And hope you don't have a Stroke or Heart attack in the meantime.

There is a 50% compliance rate, and it is mostly because of people who go in with the attitude that is not something they can do. If you are determined to not do CPAP, you will never succeed in doing it, and a half-hearted effort will only make it harder if you ever do take it seriously. The chances of you having a heart attack or stroke because you aren't pretending to use your CPAP are nil. The chances of serious health consequences down the road because you don't end up seriously using CPAP are quite substantial. Take the time to get on board with the idea before you use it. Like I said, there are some really inspirational videos on youtube if you just search for them.

Maybe if we stopped demanding that people have the perfect attitude when they start pap therapy, that they would stick around to listen to advice.

Windcap, I have a relative who adjusted very quickly to pap therapy and he still hates it but accepts the fact that this is what he needs. In my own situation, I welcomed the diagnosis of sleep apnea and couldn't wait to get my machine. I had no idea that I would be in for months of struggle. If I was in denial, it was my refusal to accept the fact that pap therapy wasn't working and I needed to move on.

I suspect some of the 50% failure rates are due to folks not getting adequate coaching regarding their issues. But then again, when I went back to read the archives on another forum regarding folks who finally decided to have surgery, it sounds like they struggled for months trying desperately to make pap therapy work to no avail. The failure rate issue isn't as black and white as this forum generally makes it out to be.

It is easy to be judgmental when everything turns out well for you and as a result, you erroneously think your experience applies to everyone else. I have been guilty of this myself and fortunately, have gotten friendly reminders of this which I am grateful for.

49er

49er wrote:Maybe if we stopped demanding that people have the perfect attitude when they start pap therapy, that they would stick around to listen to advice....
49er

Thank you for pointing out that the tone of my post was judgmental, and that such a tone could drive somebody off. This wasn't my intention. However, I still stand by the underlying message, and I will attempt to rephrase.

There are very few people who can white-knuckle. indefinitely, and it is my suggestion that somebody who is white-knuckling should take a step back, and re-evaluate. I believe that the first step in adjusting to CPAP happens prior to starting, and involves getting ones head around the fact that it can be done, and without any real suffering. Focusing on the negative health aspects of OSA leads to a fear-based, stressful transition, and really has no place in starting CPAP therapy. People need to focus on the positive benefits that will follow in a few months time. I was inspired by the following video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvQqFXcMmxg with the followup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aAYdIktB3A. Again, the first step is getting on board with the idea of doing this, and getting on board with the idea that it won't actually be the difficult hell that some people make it out to be. I am speaking from my own transition experience. When I went for my first sleep study, my attitude was that there was no point since I would never be able to sleep with a mask.

Step 2 is to come up with a plan. This plan should involve starting when there is no stress about getting sleep. The best way to start is to decide never to sleep without the mask once beginning CPAP. If this is well timed with some time-off work, it can work extremely well. A lot of thought should go into which mask to start with in this stage.

Step 3 is to follow through with the plan. During this phase, looking at data for efficacy should be out of the picture as adjustment to therapy is the most important part. The current mask should be tolerated, but if it is completely unworkable, it should be switched out. People need to keep in mind that no mask will be 100% comfortable at first.

The intention of my post was more to give permission to take a step back, than to pass judgement.

Again, thank you for the correction. I will try to be more clear in the future.

I see you already have some excellent advice here so I will offer encouragement. Do Not Give Up. It's a state of mind, try the nasal if you can. I know it can be a bit scary at first but remember this is going to take some getting use to. I would suggest trying to wear the mask with the pap on some during the day to deal with the claustrophobic feeling. Do everything possible to keep the mas on as long as possible. Leaks are a real pain, I still struggle with leaks at time finding the right mask is trial and error also finding that sweet spot between comfort and no or minimum leaks and maximum therapy may take a little time.

There are some very knowledgeable people on here that can you help you through this read previous post, ask questions, and above all do not give up.

WindCpap wrote:

49er wrote:Maybe if we stopped demanding that people have the perfect attitude when they start pap therapy, that they would stick around to listen to advice....
49er

Thank you for pointing out that the tone of my post was judgmental, and that such a tone could drive somebody off. This wasn't my intention. However, I still stand by the underlying message, and I will attempt to rephrase.

There are very few people who can white-knuckle. indefinitely, and it is my suggestion that somebody who is white-knuckling should take a step back, and re-evaluate. I believe that the first step in adjusting to CPAP happens prior to starting, and involves getting ones head around the fact that it can be done, and without any real suffering. Focusing on the negative health aspects of OSA leads to a fear-based, stressful transition, and really has no place in starting CPAP therapy. People need to focus on the positive benefits that will follow in a few months time. I was inspired by the following video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvQqFXcMmxg with the followup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aAYdIktB3A. Again, the first step is getting on board with the idea of doing this, and getting on board with the idea that it won't actually be the difficult hell that some people make it out to be. I am speaking from my own transition experience. When I went for my first sleep study, my attitude was that there was no point since I would never be able to sleep with a mask.

Step 2 is to come up with a plan. This plan should involve starting when there is no stress about getting sleep. The best way to start is to decide never to sleep without the mask once beginning CPAP. If this is well timed with some time-off work, it can work extremely well. A lot of thought should go into which mask to start with in this stage.

Step 3 is to follow through with the plan. During this phase, looking at data for efficacy should be out of the picture as adjustment to therapy is the most important part. The current mask should be tolerated, but if it is completely unworkable, it should be switched out. People need to keep in mind that no mask will be 100% comfortable at first.

The intention of my post was more to give permission to take a step back, than to pass judgement.

Again, thank you for the correction. I will try to be more clear in the future.

Thanks for clarifying WindCap and you make some good points. Unfortunately, some people aren't in a position to take off from work so I am not sure what the answer would be if they started having difficulty with pap therapy.

And is taking from work even the best thing to do? Some people need to work as a distraction from their problems so as always, your milage will vary.

49er wrote: Unfortunately, some people aren't in a position to take off from work so I am not sure what the answer would be if they started having difficulty with pap therapy.
And is taking from work even the best thing to do? Some people need to work as a distraction from their problems so as always, your milage will vary.

It's really only a 3 or 4 day long weekend that is needed for the most part, and I think it is well worth-while to wait for the next one before starting. My suggestion is not to take off work because one is having difficulty after starting, but to plan to take the time even before starting. I truly believe that the absolute need to get sleep (or belief thereof mistaken or otherwise) is the biggest downfall for people starting with CPAP. I think it is the number one excuse for sleeping without the mask. A small project around the house would provide the needed distraction without adding the stress of needing to sleep.