Re: Is all this really worth it?
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:42 pm
I'll add some of my own thoughts & attitudes.
When I started I was really keen to eliminate the tiredness I started experiencing at work. It really got into me that if it got worse I would probably become unemployable - that was a downright panicky feeling. I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE MY GOOD JOB.
I was quite excited about the prospect of finding an apparent cure to the tiredness & really was super keen to get into the therapy
The 1st 2-3 months seemed like it was everything I hoped it would be & I was easily able to suppress the negative feelings that lurked in regard to wearing a mask & chinstrap etc: to bed & just doing the whole xPAP thing. But, those negative feelings remained lurking for about 2.5 years.
After several ups then slides down in effectiveness (over 2 years or so) I was sure I had a good set up - had chosen a bilevel & was sure it was the cure I sought. One good sign was that I was able to lose quite a bit of weight & felt more positive about life in general. THEN, I decided whilst well into losing around 20 KG (105 to 85 drop), that I no longer needed xPAP & stopped using it - after a week, decided it would be prudent to collect some SpO2 data just to be sure & was quite taken aback to see distinct desats. So back on to xPAP therapy. This stopping using it happened 3 or so times at around the 2-years to 2.5 years period. Each time despite exercising, despite losing weight, despite telling myself I was doing ok without it, the SpO2 data told a different story. Each time I was back on within a week.
Today I would not want to go a single night without the config I now use. I no longer think about how annoying it can be, the need to keep my job (a job I really like a lot) leaves no doubt about the value the machine is to me.
I now feel quite sorry for anyone who gives up xPAP and I have some good friends who have done so saying they are cured of it (I sincerely doubt they are). I carry this very contented feeling that I am doing something that I believe will keep me mentally alert & contented & expect to keep working into my 70s (less than 7 years away). Am expecting I will still be smiling to myself in 5-7 years & being so glad I got onto this life extending reality early enough to really benefit and that I purged from my attitude those self-destructive notions that I really didn't need this set up.
I am now pretty sure that in 10-20 years xPAP therapy will be a highly regarded way for lots of people to keep healthy and alert and comparatively happy and extend their working careers or life pursuits way beyond what they may have without xPAP once diagnosed. The wise ones all know that we don't generally improve our respiration as we get older but with xPAP support we have a serious aid available to do so.
I truly believe that the best event for me over the past 3 years was the day my ego dropped any notion of not needing xPAP therapy & switched from feeling uncomfortable about it to believing I am now among the lucky ones who stayed with it & that it works well.
DSM
When I started I was really keen to eliminate the tiredness I started experiencing at work. It really got into me that if it got worse I would probably become unemployable - that was a downright panicky feeling. I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE MY GOOD JOB.
I was quite excited about the prospect of finding an apparent cure to the tiredness & really was super keen to get into the therapy
The 1st 2-3 months seemed like it was everything I hoped it would be & I was easily able to suppress the negative feelings that lurked in regard to wearing a mask & chinstrap etc: to bed & just doing the whole xPAP thing. But, those negative feelings remained lurking for about 2.5 years.
After several ups then slides down in effectiveness (over 2 years or so) I was sure I had a good set up - had chosen a bilevel & was sure it was the cure I sought. One good sign was that I was able to lose quite a bit of weight & felt more positive about life in general. THEN, I decided whilst well into losing around 20 KG (105 to 85 drop), that I no longer needed xPAP & stopped using it - after a week, decided it would be prudent to collect some SpO2 data just to be sure & was quite taken aback to see distinct desats. So back on to xPAP therapy. This stopping using it happened 3 or so times at around the 2-years to 2.5 years period. Each time despite exercising, despite losing weight, despite telling myself I was doing ok without it, the SpO2 data told a different story. Each time I was back on within a week.
Today I would not want to go a single night without the config I now use. I no longer think about how annoying it can be, the need to keep my job (a job I really like a lot) leaves no doubt about the value the machine is to me.
I now feel quite sorry for anyone who gives up xPAP and I have some good friends who have done so saying they are cured of it (I sincerely doubt they are). I carry this very contented feeling that I am doing something that I believe will keep me mentally alert & contented & expect to keep working into my 70s (less than 7 years away). Am expecting I will still be smiling to myself in 5-7 years & being so glad I got onto this life extending reality early enough to really benefit and that I purged from my attitude those self-destructive notions that I really didn't need this set up.
I am now pretty sure that in 10-20 years xPAP therapy will be a highly regarded way for lots of people to keep healthy and alert and comparatively happy and extend their working careers or life pursuits way beyond what they may have without xPAP once diagnosed. The wise ones all know that we don't generally improve our respiration as we get older but with xPAP support we have a serious aid available to do so.
I truly believe that the best event for me over the past 3 years was the day my ego dropped any notion of not needing xPAP therapy & switched from feeling uncomfortable about it to believing I am now among the lucky ones who stayed with it & that it works well.
DSM