Where to begin...

Well, I switched off Klonopin because it was habit forming as well as causes sleep spindles and disturbed sleep. Completely weaned off it and started Mirapex. About the same time I noticed hypersensitivity to smell and taste as well as rash. Sadly I've had to switch back (per doc's orders). Almost immediate relief of the taste/smell/touch problems and rash going away. But my main point was that it got so bad I couldn't stand the smell of the mask anymore and quit wearing it several weeks ago.
\
But, now that I'm feeling better, I'm ready to jump back in and do what is right for me! (and everyone else around me). Saw the sleep doc today and they were nice enough to give me a loaner Hybrid (don't have the Liberty). Trying it on in the office it felt great. I really liked the breese (?) but could not get the mouth breathing to stop no matter what I did. This seems like a good compromise.

Has anyone heard anymore about the tube down the throat treatment for Apnea anymore? It seems like a simple solution but also one that would gag the user.

Sorry I've been away so long and unable to support my many friends here. It's time to start taking care oof myself again. I've been on a pretty depressed cycle lately (1 year anniversary of divorce, etc.) and sitting on my pitty pot for the most part. So time to "SNAP OUTTA IT" as Cher would say and get moving again.

Had a scare where they thought I had a heart attack. (Faulty EKG equipment) but passed the stress test and blood tests with flying colors. Cholesterol perfect, sugars only slightly elevated - not enough to warrant meds. So working on dropping a few more ## and exercising more.

So hopefully there will be more more feeling sorry for myself - a totally unproductive activity. On to make positive changes in my life!!!

Hope my ole friends are around! I missed you guys!

Hugs,

L

It's good to hear from you, DeltaSeeker. Sorry to hear that you had a hard time, but glad to hear that you are doing better, too.

Thanks Rose,

Still trying to figure out why it's so difficult to take care of ME. Maybe because I compulsively take care of everyone else in my life. But the time has come to start putting myself first. I know CPAP works. Yeah it sucks not getting the right fit, but just something we have to deal with until some miracle doc comes along that solves all our problems. In the meantime, I have 2 8 year olds who depend on me and I need to be there mentally and physically for them. Much harder to do when you're not 100%!!!

So I just have to stop feeling sorry for myself, drag myself up by the bootstraps and do what is necessary. Vitamins, exercise, diet, CPAP, whatever it takes.

Hope you have been doing well. Haven't had much time to catch up on the threads...

Hugs,

L

Hello DeltaSeeker,
I'm new here but I'm very glad you've decided to take and start your treatment again. Today is my first day with my machine, picked it up this morning. I've had a whole 2 hour nap with it before family decided they were going to continuously call till I picked up the phone and woke me up, now they wont leave me alone to go back to sleep either...

Hope the transition back is easy

Thanks AdmiralCougar.

I was completely and totally committed to CPAP when I started. This wierd smell/taste thing finally was too much to handle. One good thing came of it and that was that I finally quit smoking. Couldn't stand the smell and taste of cigarettes anymore!!! I'm quite hopeful for this new Hybrid mask as well and if it works well for me I'm willing to dish out whatever $$ I have to to get it!

Best of luck getting to sleep tonite If possible just unhook that phone!!!

Hugs,

L

deltaseeker
was wondering where you've been
sorry to hear you've been having so much difficulty
glad to hear you're doing better
we missed you, too
sharon1965

WELCOME BACK!!

Sorry to hear you've had such a hard time. There are times when you have to make yourself the #1 priority. If it helps, think of it this way...Your children need you to be 100%, so you aren't just doing this for yourself but for them too. Hope the hybrid works for you. Here are Roosters instructions for fitting the Hybrid, I found them to be excellent;

viewtopic.php?t=14422

Brenda

Welcome back, Delta. Sorry you're having a rough time, but glad that you are recommiting to therapy.

What's with the hybrid? I bought one second-hand a few months ago, and can't use it. If you're looking for one, let me know.

Take care,
Cathy

Tangents,

I've been having lots of trouble with the FFMs and have been wanting to try out the Hybrid and/or Liberty for a while now. Part of the problem I was having was the extreme sensitivity to smells. I couldn't stand the smell of the CPAP machine! My doc and I have finally narrowed it down to the Mirapex (one of the side effects is hypersensitivity to smell and taste).

My DME gave me a loaner Hybrid to try out - he said if I liked it I'd be the first one to his knowledge that did. Most complained of the pillows popping out.

I wore it last night and thought it was great. No problem - well almost none. The only time I had a problem was when the swivel got in front of the vent - then it was noisy enough to wake me up. But if I moved the swivel arm away everything was fine.

I've also wanted to try a Quattro but figure it can't be much different from the UMFF. Actually the most comfortable mask I've used was the one I got in the hospital when they had me there overnight on an emergency basis! It was a Resmed and very similar to the UMFF but had a small head piece and different head gear. Needless to say, I kept that one and have it in my supply drawer

My DME coordinator (Homelink) is getting me a Hybrid and/or Liberty today from a supplier in Arlington Heights - only one in the Chicago Area that she could find that carried them...

I'm trying to get it in under this year's deductible which ends 8/22...

Brenda, Thanks for pointing me to Rooster's post. I had remembered it and was going to search for it myself - you made my job easier


L

DeltaSeeker, glad you're back! We missed you.

1) Try PurSleep to help with the smell issues.

2) OceanPearl is offering a Hybrid on the Mask Roulette thread.

3) If you want a small size Hybrid mouthpiece with the chin flap cut off, PM me. I'll send it to you completely free. I inherited it, and have no use for it.

Until you can get the PurSleep, try my "cheap-o" version - get a small glass tea-light candle holder. You're looking for something shallow. Take a cotton ball, and put it in there. Put a few drops of any 100% NATURAL essential oil on it that you like. I used Lavendar and some other things I had in the house until my PurSleep came.

I really love Bret's PurSleep mixtures and highly recommend them:
http://www.pur-sleep.com/

Now, to clean out your house of any lingering cigarette smell, or other odors, try his Puraira product:

http://www.puraira.com/

Oh, and don't forget to try my favorite mask - the NAII. You KNEW I'd have to work that into the conversation, didn't you?

LOL,
Barbara

Divorce? Medication reactions? No stress in your life, I see. <eyeroll> I shudder at remembering some of those events in my life.

Delta, it's good that you can now refocus yourself in your therapy. I'm an old hand at failing at xPAP therapy, but new to the board and am finding a wealth if information here and many nice folks helping to ensure that I find it. Of course, my move toward success is now noticeable every day, thanks to this board and the folks who devote themselves here.

I hope your reentry into therapy is comfortable, quickly beneficial and very successful. No, I did not wink at you. That was an eyelash that made my right eye flutter several times. Seriously, best wishes in your hose-hugging every night.

Thanks Nodzy. Yep, it's been a tough year with no small amount of stress. But no one ever promised us it would be easy. Sometimes I reflect on the saying that God doesn't give you more than you can handle and wish that God didn't think I was such a superwoman Guess it was a bit of hybernation or playing ostrich (hiding my head under the covers and refusing to come out). Last Saturday was my "anniversary" for my divorce. Did't think it would affect me as much as it did.

Babs, great to see you again! I might just change my avatar to one similar to yours but not as "nice." I remember us all scrambling for Blarg's Hybrid when he dumped his inventory - is that where you got the chin-cut-off one? Now if only I could find a Liberty in the bunch to try out.

Thankfully I have 2 weeks to evaluate the Hybrid to see if it's right for me. and Thankfully too the hypersensitive sense of smell has pretty much gone away. Now if the rash would leave I'd be real happy

Sharon, sorry I forgot to say "Howdy" in my last post! I've missed this fine bunch of people here