How do you guys keep it all straight?

You can't defend yourself by pointing to another person's bad behavior.

Sleep disorders are not fun. There is a lot of bias in the general public against people with these problems. Some in the medical profession have proven to be not our friends. Some suppliers are lining their pockets with our money. It just seems to me like we, those of us with these problems, ought to be more supportive of each other.

Simple or more complex, whatever works, I support you all in your efforts to solve your problems. Is there some reason you feel you can't support someone's simple approach, even though simple doesn't work for you?

LoQ wrote:You can't defend yourself by pointing to another person's bad behavior.

Huh? Not sure I understand what this relates to here.

LoQ wrote:Is there some reason you feel you can't support someone's simple approach, even though simple doesn't work for you?

I think the points have already been made pretty clearly with explanation, and no need to re-explain...

LoQ wrote:You can't defend yourself by pointing to another person's bad behavior.

Sleep disorders are not fun. There is a lot of bias in the general public against people with these problems. Some in the medical profession have proven to be not our friends. Some suppliers are lining their pockets with our money. It just seems to me like we, those of us with these problems, ought to be more supportive of each other.

Simple or more complex, whatever works, I support you all in your efforts to solve your problems. Is there some reason you feel you can't support someone's simple approach, even though simple doesn't work for you?

LoQ, I apologize if my response to guest was over the top. I get carried away sometimes. I'll try to behave better.

I'm not sure I'm reading this thread the same way you are, though. That's cool. I may be missing something. But as I follow it, I think the original poster asked about how those with knowledge keep their knowledge straight. Some helpful answers were given. Then (maybe as a joke, I don't know) a guest expressed some disdain for those being detail-oriented in making sure their therapy was successful. The guest's point seemed to me to be that we're all making a big deal about nothing on this board in learning anything about OSA or taking an active approach in making our treatment as successful as possible. That, I believe, is what I and others were responding to the guest about--trying to explain to the guest why it is important to do all we can, within reason, for ourselves--especially if no one in the medical community is proving to us the efficacy of our treatment individually.

The detailed approach often put forth on this board has apparently grown out of the experienced observations from PAPers who have seen too many blindly trust they were getting good therapy but later found out they weren't. Not feeling well is one indication that treatment may not be optimal. But it IS possible to feel relatively good and to be wearing a mask every night and still, unknown to us, have far too many events than it is healthy to have. If improvements can be made, it is important to make them, in my opinion. It is good for newbies to know that. Without being disdained by guests for wanting to learn.

So I think you may be reading the disdain for the disdainer as being disdain for those who have made an informed choice to take a different approach. Some of my friends choose not to be treated at all. That's their choice. And I will miss them when they are gone. Others have very mild OSA and it may not matter that much, yet, if their therapy is as successful as it could be. But if a person with severe OSA comes here and reads that it is OK to take a casual approach to their therapy, I don't think that's good. So when I hear disdain being expressed for those who choose knowledge over ignorance, it tends to bring out the sarcasm in me.

I could be wrong about all of that and could be missing some of the undercurrents and overtones of the posts. I can be a little dense that way sometimes.

But I apologize either way if my response to guest was offensive.

jeff

I'm not sure I'm reading this thread the same way you are, though. That's cool. I may be missing something. But as I follow it, I think the original poster asked about how those with knowledge keep their knowledge straight. Some helpful answers were given. Then (maybe as a joke, I don't know) a guest expressed some disdain for those being detail-oriented in making sure their therapy was successful. The guest's point seemed to me to be that we're all making a big deal about nothing on this board in learning anything about OSA or taking an active approach in making our treatment as successful as possible. That, I believe, is what I and others were responding to the guest about--trying to explain to the guest why it is important to do all we can, within reason, for ourselves--especially if no one in the medical community is proving to us the efficacy of our treatment individually.

The detailed approach often put forth on this board has apparently grown out of the experienced observations from PAPers who have seen too many blindly trust they were getting good therapy but later found out they weren't. Not feeling well is one indication that treatment may not be optimal. But it IS possible to feel relatively good and to be wearing a mask every night and still, unknown to us, have far too many events than it is healthy to have. If improvements can be made, it is important to make them, in my opinion. It is good for newbies to know that. Without being disdained by guests for wanting to learn.

So I think you may be reading the disdain for the disdainer as being disdain for those who have made an informed choice to take a different approach. Some of my friends choose not to be treated at all. That's their choice. And I will miss them when they are gone. Others have very mild OSA and it may not matter that much, yet, if their therapy is as successful as it could be. But if a person with severe OSA comes here and reads that it is OK to take a casual approach to their therapy, I don't think that's good. So when I hear disdain being expressed for those who choose knowledge over ignorance, it tends to bring out the sarcasm in me.

I could be wrong about all of that and could be missing some of the undercurrents and overtones of the posts. I can be a little dense that way sometimes.

But I apologize either way if my response to guest was offensive.

jeff[/quote]



Jeff,
I agree. I read that post the same way but thats okay because I CHOOSE to take a positive pole in my therapy and not let others undermine that choice. Thanks Jeff. Bearcat42

Bearcat42 wrote: . . . I CHOOSE to take a positive [role] in my therapy and not let others undermine that choice. . . .

I'm glad to hear it! That means you already know the most important thing there is to know and are already waaaaay ahead of the game compared to most out there. The rest of the information will all fall into place for you as you go. Few of us will ever know as much as the longtime experienced ones on this board, but as long as they're around and cpap.com hosts this board, we have someone to direct our questions to. I use the search feature here a lot to go back and read older posts by the particularly helpful ones here.

Let's keep at it together!

jeff

Bearcat42 wrote:As I keep reading posts and following links provided by members over the years I have come to the realization that I cant possibly retain this much information in my head! How do y'all do it?LOL
I guess whenever I do get my 2nd sleep study and go on the ole hose I will start having to deal with issues I read about as they pop up. I suppose that is one way to retain some of this, by doing it. But being awakened in the middle of the night by a problem and not having an immediate solution seems like a real hassle. In my job we travel around a 3-state area, living out of motels and if something goes wrong I cant go to my trusty laptop to find an answer.
So does anyone ever write all of this stuff down? I thought about creating a Works document in a categorized format that I could take with me, in case I forget something.haha. It would be so much nicer if I had a stay closer to home kind of job, but these days I am just happy to have a job. Does anyone besides me feel completely overwhelmed?

Somehow this thread went off on a tangent shortly after it started......

Yeah, it's sort of like learning a new language or starting in a different job/career......new terminology and a WHOLE lot of information to wade through.

On my computers, I do have a directory/folder labeled "CPAP" (with other subdirectories) for everything I keep relating to CPAP......all of my own reports and documents, setup instructions and manuals, studies, patents, "you name it". For alot of the other stuff, I rely on search of this forum and searches on the Internet.
After you've been on the forum long enough, most of the questions get asked repeatedly and so, the answers are repeated......so, there's a lot of repetition and it eventually sinks in. And, sometimes there are some very memorable posts that stick in your head for years. (like the cockroach story)

Den

Wulfman wrote:....And, sometimes there are some very memorable posts that stick in your head for years. (like the cockroach story)
Den

Okay, I'll be the straightman....

"...Cockroach story???" What cockroach story, Den?

plr66 wrote:

Wulfman wrote:....And, sometimes there are some very memorable posts that stick in your head for years. (like the cockroach story)
Den

Okay, I'll be the straightman....

"...Cockroach story???" What cockroach story, Den?

The one in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4223

I posted it yesterday in the "Ants" thread (now on page 2), but I guess you missed it.....along with the spiders, etc.


Den

Wulfman wrote:

plr66 wrote:

Wulfman wrote:....And, sometimes there are some very memorable posts that stick in your head for years. (like the cockroach story)
Den

Okay, I'll be the straightman....

"...Cockroach story???" What cockroach story, Den?

The one in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4223

I posted it yesterday in the "Ants" thread (now on page 2), but I guess you missed it.....along with the spiders, etc.


Den

Yup, I missed it. Sorry. Been busy lately and just fragments of time here on the forum. Thanks, Den.

jnk wrote:LoQ, I apologize if my response to guest was over the top. I get carried away sometimes. I'll try to behave better.

No, you were hilarious, as usual. You are a breath of fresh air.

This had nothing to do with Guest. The way it came across to me, there was a mildly snarky comment towards those who do more than just use the machine every night. It was totally not necessary, as the point of simplicity could have been made without the "existential" comment. Then a couple of "complex" people felt they just had to retaliate, and over-snarked back.

I was just wondering if there wasn't room for both opinions in this group, and further wondered why we need to make other people suffering from this ailment our targets.

For the record, if I used a machine capable of recording useful data, I would be one of the "complex" people. I love data, and I think it can be very helpful. As it is, I am forced to be one of the simpletons. I can see both sides of it and don't think either side should be putting down the other side.

But I could be wrong.

LoQ wrote:But I could be wrong.

You're right.

But I could be wrong about that.

A belated welcome to the forum, Bearcat42!

Getting back to one of your original comments, do some research for machines that are travel-friendly, i.e smaller in size/weight and that have an option of a built-in humidifier, so that when you do get a Rx for your equipment, you can get your doc to prescribe one of those machines. If you travel by air a lot, this can be a real concern. If your travel is mostly by car, it is likely less a concern. These machines are available in both plain cpap and auto-pap models, as well as various power options (DC, battery).

Here are some suggestions for small machines, but they are just that...suggestions. There are other machines out there, and some people do better with one company's treatment algorithm as opposed to another. Some have exhale relief, others do not. If your prescribed pressure is lower, you may not need that at all, but if your pressure is higher (15+) you may find that is a necessity for you.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/proba ... chine.html
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/devil ... chine.html
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/devil ... ystem.html

Hope this helps!

Thanks Bookbear. I travel by truck alot and stay in motels, alot, so I am keeping that in mind.

I like the Intellipap Auto machine as it has the features I am looking for. Another choice would be either the Resmed S8 Elite II or the Remstar M-series with A-flex. I am doing this through the VA so I may not be given any choice in what I use.

LoQ wrote:

jnk wrote:LoQ, I apologize if my response to guest was over the top. I get carried away sometimes. I'll try to behave better.

No, you were hilarious, as usual. You are a breath of fresh air.

This had nothing to do with Guest. The way it came across to me, there was a mildly snarky comment towards those who do more than just use the machine every night. It was totally not necessary, as the point of simplicity could have been made without the "existential" comment. Then a couple of "complex" people felt they just had to retaliate, and over-snarked back.

I was just wondering if there wasn't room for both opinions in this group, and further wondered why we need to make other people suffering from this ailment our targets.

For the record, if I used a machine capable of recording useful data, I would be one of the "complex" people. I love data, and I think it can be very helpful. As it is, I am forced to be one of the simpletons. I can see both sides of it and don't think either side should be putting down the other side.

But I could be wrong.

No. Everyone that doesn't think like me needs to get the hell out. I'm glad you were able to dig deep and get the true meaning of my post rather than misinterpreting it as my saying, "Hey buddy, different strokes for different folks".

[/sarcasm]

>>>compromising your therapy and health while you plod along in your self righteous simplicity. >>. What is self righteous about letting a doctor prescribe and direct my treatment?? Maybe thats why he prescribed the simple machine I've got, the pressure it's set at and the type of mask I use. I'm even self righteous enough that I dont go to a mall and walk around with my "I'm a CPAPer and if you're not, you're going to die" t-shirt. I don't even whip my machine out and mask up on my monthly flight to Minneapolis to make sure everyone else on the plane know I have a condition. And I'm so self righteous that I don't attend parties and suggest everyone there better get to their sleep doctor, nor have I rushed my grandson to the sleep lab. Just because I'm not a CPAP nazi, doesn't mean I'm self righteous