Can't Get More than 4-5 Hours

I did not come here looking for help. I read your posts and decided to post my opinion. I now see that when one posts an opinion that goes against your norms of loving CPAP machines, one will get "flamed".
All of you are entitled to your opinions just as I am entitled to my opinion.
I know other people who have been put on CPAP and are of the belief and feelings that I am, they have no love for CPAP. Just remember that all treatments don't work for everyone and this is one treatment that I feel does not work for me.

Cpap is like anything else in life that requires effort. Some are willing to make it happen, others give up too easily. I think mst anyone can work with cpap if they really put in the effort. I am three nights into this therapy. It has worked for 2 of those 3. Tonight I will try for 3 of 4. The way I see it, those two successful nights are two nights my body achieved deep sleep with proper breathing. Those are two nights more, then I would have had without it.

Boroguy wrote:I did not come here looking for help. I read your posts and decided to post my opinion. I now see that when one posts an opinion that goes against your norms of loving CPAP machines, one will get "flamed".
All of you are entitled to your opinions just as I am entitled to my opinion.
I know other people who have been put on CPAP and are of the belief and feelings that I am, they have no love for CPAP. Just remember that all treatments don't work for everyone and this is one treatment that I feel does not work for me.

The forum is for people who want help with CPAP and people who want to help others with CPAP.

You don't seem to fit either category.

No one requires you to visit this site again.

Just saw this today:

A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP demonstrates that low socioeconomic status independently predicts the poor acceptance of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea........ “Physicians should consider that patients with low socioeconomic status have an additional risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea and are poor candidates for CPAP treatment adherence.”.........

Source: http://www.medicalnewsbase.com/medical- ... p-therapy/

Boroguy,

I am sorry to hear about the problems and diseases that are afflicting you. It must be tough to deal with that.

You seem like the kind of person that forms strong opinions about things and holds onto them. I don't mean that negatively. I don't much care for those who waver and vacillate.

When I was 14 years old, I was thrown out of a boat and into the ocean. The life preserver that I was wearing saved my life. I don't "love" that life preserver, but I'm sure glad I was using one. My Cpap is kind of like that. I don't love it, but I'm glad I use it and recognize that I have a better quality of life than I would without using it. Simple memory of how rotten I felt before using it provides me with the perspective I need. It is even possible that I owe or will owe the length of my life to it. I went to the Dr for a physical last week and saw a twenty point drop in cholesterol with no lifestyle change other than the nightly use of CPAP. People with sleep apnea who are not treated by CPAP do sleep, its true. But it is disturbed, unrestful fractured sleep that does not let the body heal and restore itself as it is designed to do. Lack of proper oxygenation of the blood, spiking blood pressure and heart rate, and numerous partial and full awakenings through the night cause damage to the body. The successful, effective use of CPAP allows the body of the person with OSA to rest and heal. I cannot say that if you use CPAP you will be cured of the health problems that now trouble you. But for anyone who has sleep apnea I can say that proper CPAP therapy will reduce or limit further damage to their body and its organs caused by it.

My friend, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to re-evaluate your position on this and begin CPAP therapy. I see that you already have a lot to deal with but it will be worth it. Put on the life preserver. Everyone on this site wants you to succeed. I wish you the best always.

Alan

Amen to that, well worded Alan, well put. Boroguy, I sincerely hope you can find peace and some resolution to your issues.

And on the original topic ( ) I have been on CPAP for 19 months now, and still have never slept through. Not even made anything over 6 hours straight, and that's EXTREMELY rare. If I use the Swift II mask, I'll wake every few hours, even though I prefer it over the Activa.

My doctor has advised that this is a pattern that needs to be changed, as others have mentioned. She has prescribed some tablet or other which will change the negative patterns in the brain that cause you to stay awake, but it's early days yet. I don't know, or care, if ultimately it is an anti depressant or whatever, as long as the darn thing works.

But still feel FAR better on little sleep with CPAP than more without.

Guess that study created more questions than it answered for me...

How many of those who desired to check out other options for treatment ended up back at cpap? Seems checking out all options is a practical process no matter what the income level, and not necessarily a final decision.

Was followup for side effects and inability to adjust made equally accessible to all income groups, as in proximity and hours of availability? Were mask changes available at no charge or allowed, and the equipment given identical across the board?

How much is class discrimination a factor as opposed to class capability to understand their medical matters?

How many of those financially more able to choose cpap ended up shoving it in a closet since it was not a sacrifice to acquire, compared to those who sacrificed financially to get a cpap and made darn sure their hard earned money wasn't wasted?

Guess the study is a start at least in observing one country's money gap in cpap treatment. Of course money can be a factor in cpap success. No surprise there. Trying masks till one works is not an option for those of low income who must self pay. Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but it seemed there was an undertone to the report that made me uncomfortable, almost an inference of correlating intelligence gap. And I'm still not sure how the report relates to this thread, but these days I'm in a very low socioeconomic group, so what do I know?

I had my first experience last night with the cpap and it was horrible. I am clostropobic I explained this to my doctor but he must not have been listening. If I feel as if I am suffocating in an elevator or car why would I be comfortable with a mask plugging up my nostrils and a strap to keep my moth closed or a full facial mask that completely covered both. I was having a pure anxiety attack and I felt as if no one cared. I left the sleep center feeling very frustrated and scared. My family does not understand they just tell me I'll get use to it but for me it is not that simple. My doctor and family have me convinced I will die in my sleep, but I feel as if I put the mask on again I will die trying to survive.

I could not sleep more then 6 hours, if my life depended on it. But this week, I have been sleeping 8-9 hours !!!

The only major change in therapy, was 0.00 leaks 4 day's in a row, or I am beginning to adjust to cpap treatment.

I did think of leaks alot, prior to falling asleep, knowing if my mask/pillows leaked, treatment wouldn't be optimal. Now, I can rest without thinking about leaks, thinking of waking up to leaks, or other adjustments.

So part of my sleep deprivation was due to psychological stress of getting everything just right for a perfect night sleep, and spending hours on the forum, trying to achieve the perfect night sleep. Leaks was stressing me out to the point, I didn't sleep well and probably wouldn't have slept well, till I had them under control.

So I believe psychological stress, can also keep a person from quality sleep.

L.C wrote:I feel as if I put the mask on again I will die trying to survive.

I cried when I came out of the doctor's office with an apnea diagnosis. It came about five months after major surgery for cancer. I am claustrophobic -- intensely so. I hate having "things" on my face. My hands shook at the thought of a full-faced mask.

Please feel free to look up my early threads and read how I dealt with it.

I still don't like full-face masks. But I've adjusted to my two primary masks, and can crawl into bed without too many hassles.

Panic is no fun... but panic and claustrophobia can be part of your apnea. As you begin to repay your sleep debt, you may find that the panic is less and likewise the claustrophobia.

Six months after I started therapy, I came down with a respiratory infection and couldn't use either of my masks (my personal favorites are the Comfortlite 2 with direct seals, and the Headrest). I obtained a Zzz-mask full face, and used that for the duration of the illness. After a whole BUNCH of tweaking to meet my needs. Know what? I still don't like full-face masks (while acknowledging that for some people, they're the best thing possible) -- but I didn't have any panic attacks or claustrophobia.

Which told me I was beginning to heal.

You can, too.