Rant

Rusty,

My partner of 22 years has told me that if I ever shave off my beard she'll leave me (she's seen a photo of me when I had to shave it off briefly), so I'm trying to find a mask that will cope with a beard. The problem is all those extra chins (as you say).

When I was a kid I used to watch cartoons where people put on a sort of belt, and it wobbled their tummies to make them lose fat. Perhaps we need one for our chins? Or perhaps a nautilus machine with fittings for chin exercises?

Regards,

Wobbly GrizzlyBear

I couldn't agree with you more. I'm new to this whole CPAP experience and this website is truly a Godsend. I didn't receive any info other than to put the mask on, turn the machine on, and see the doc at the end of the month. In another forum I sent a message regarding the fact that it feels as though I'm not getting enough air when the full mask is on. Can't get through to the doc, his staff just won't put me through even though then know that I'm not wearing the mask. Wulfman told me that when I leave the machine running while I'm not wearing the mask (bathroom breaks), it will screw up my readings. I never would have known that except for his advice.

I'm not at all happy about having to "dig" around for knowledge when I'm sure the docs and the techs know what kind of problems 1st timers have.

I'm sure it will get better, but right now I can see how people would just chuck the whole mess and go on sleeping (or not) as they had before.

Hey Griz ... lemme tell you my "Beard Story".

So it was 15 years ago when I got out of the US Marine Corps after 16 years of active duty (all of it obviously clean-shaven), and I was getting my picture taken for a driver's license at the California DMV. The "Photographer From Hell" looked at me as I stood on the yellow foot-prints and said "Oh, your glasses will reflect the flash.

I said "OK, I'll take them off", but she said I couldn't.

That's when she said "Lower your chin ... lower ... lower ... OK, now SMILE!".

I knew it was going to a "Train-Wreck".

Two months later when the license came in the mail, my wife opened it and looked at it. As soon as she saw the picture, she visibly "flinched" ... as if somebody had hit her with an electric shock.

Then she looked at me, looked at the picture ... back and forth a few times ... and said "Have you ever thought about growing a beard?"

Until three weeks ago ... I've had one ever since.

Rusty