CPAPtalk.com

And, in addition to all the above, go to your doc, tell him - her you can't stand straight cpap at a pressure of 14, and ask for a bi-level trial.

I too quit after 2 weeks frustration - because nothing felt right - and I told the clinic "I won't continue tell I speak to the doc". They switched my RT to one who would listen, I was given another mask - that turned out to be right for me and a different machine at the right pressure.

Quitting will get you nowhere - fighting for the right therapy is worth it.

O.

I understand how you are feeling and also, agree with all of the advice you've been given. You have to have the mindset that you will do whatever it takes to make it work. I have been on cpap for almost two years and have been through many masks. It is worth the effort to keep trying with masks, tweaks etc. It took 21 months, but my blood pressure meds have been reduced, I've lost 25 lbs, feel much better. I know without the machine, I'd be headed for certain disaster right now with my health. So, please keep trying and give yourself time to get used to the treatment. It really does become second nature after a while. I wouldn't even think of sleeping without my machine now. Do I still have bad nights sometimes? yes. Is it worth it in the end? definitely. Post problems you have here as was suggested and you will find a fix for the mask you are most comfortable with.

I've been at it since February '06 and I maintain that getting through the beginning of the treatment is very much worse than the ailment because the treatment is awakening you fully many times per night to adjust the mask for leaks. I really felt like hammered doggy do for weeks until I found a mask that wouldn't give me leak problems AND cured mouth leaks with a chin strap AND adhesive strips. I go to bed about 8PM every night so that I wake naturaly raring to go to work early before Houston traffic get going.

Hang in there, we've all been through it. It can be figured out.

TerryB

I'm approaching this from the "machine" side, too.....although the mask is of major importance, too.
They gave you the cheapest piece of CRAP for a CPAP.....doesn't have any exhale relief and 14 is getting to be a tad on the stiff side to breathe with unless you have something like C-Flex.

How much is your health (life) worth? Is it worth a few hundred dollars to get a better machine?......maybe an Auto?.....or at least a Pro 2? (your humidifier would at least be interchangeable and the Pro 2 would provide nightly data).

Do whatever it takes to get a different machine and take control of your therapy.

Quitting is NOT an option!

Den

Don't sell it, keep it in the closet for your Estate, odd's are your one or more of your kids will need it, and after you pass, maybe they will be inclined to use it sucessfully. Or maybe after a by-pass you will decide you like to breath, I did. Now I can't imaging like without it.

Like isn't easy, it requires us to suceed or die. I use my XPAP, I chose to live for a while longer. Jim

P.S., they gave you the low end machine, a APAP is easyier to use, and give you data, if you have the software to make your treatment work better.

My guess is that there are other underlying issues (family/wife) and just looking for an easy way out .... raising 7 kids in this day and age has got to be really tough (a whole lot tougher than PAP treatment).

I didn't get through all of these posts, so please excuse me if this has been mentioned already. Five masks in one weeks tells me that you haven't given each mask enough time to really test it out. I tried 8 masks before I found the one I use. I tried them all for a minimum of 4-5 nights before deciding they didn't work.

If you feel you are spending more time messing with the mask than you are getting sleep, that might be true IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE SLEEP APNEA. Go back to your sleep study. How many apneas did you have each hour? If it is pretty high, which most of us had had high apneas or we wouldn't be using CPAP, then you really aren't getting worse sleepwith the mask. You are just more aware of it. You weren't necessarily aware of how many apneas you had.

Please give it more time. Your life and health are worth it. I still hate wearing a mask, but I feel much better. My energy, attitude, and quality of life have improved greatly with CPAP therapy. Just ask my husband and my co-workers.

Good luck. We are here to offer any help we can since we've been through it too.

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