What was first time you saw /heard of someone wearing cpap?

hi there!

(inclusive thread time)


I was just wondering when was the first time you saw someone wearing a cpap, and what was your reaction?
even if it was you!

Also, when was the first time you heard about cpap, and what were your first thoughts, did you compehend what it was all about
or was it a bit of a mystery?


The first time I saw a cpap on someone was about 8 years ago in a photo. It was someone I only knew from a message board. He posted a picture of himself wearing a full face mask, and tried to explain what it did.

My reaction? I thought, OMG, how on earth can he sleep with that contraption on his face? THAT POOR GUY!!!! and geez, what is that thing,
some kind of ventilator? Why does he have to wear that? He cant breath at night? Whats up with that?
BACK TO.. THAT POOR GUY! I must admit when I first saw the photo, I was a bit shocked.. I couldnt relate to it one bit..
and now I am that guy!

The first time I saw somebody masked up was maybe 15 years ago. My dad had been prescribed one by the VA. Technology wasn't what it is now, and he couldn't tolerate it but nobody could figure out how to change things so he could use it. My mom was convinced it would help him, and it stopped his Olympic-champion-caliber snoring, but he just couldn't deal with it. I think I remember him saying something along the lines of "that stupid machine," but I've slept (both with & without CPAP!) since then. Then, in 2006, I stayed with my sister who had been using CPAP for a couple of years. She was having surgery, and gave me specific instructions about having the machine at the hospital and how it should be set up. I distinctly remember being confused by most of the terminology. I was unsure how sleeping with all that on your face could HELP you sleep, but she told me she couldn't possibly sleep without it. She also told me then that I probably had OSA as well, but I didn't do anything about it until 2009...good advice falling on deaf ears, I suppose.

It was about 15 years ago when I saw myself in the mirror. At that time, CPAP was very rare and I didn't know of anybody else who used CPAP.

the first time I saw a CPAP mask was in 1999, Washington DC. I was travelling there with a group. This guy from Frisco told me that he has sleep apnea and sleep with a mask. Showed me a horrible mask like the one the soldiers used in Word War I. Pity him and cannot imagine how he could sleep with that kind of contraption on top of his face. just like Darth Vader.

March 5th 2010

It was me, and I'm glad I did it!

Good thing there is internet to research and gather a wealth of info about it.

Hi Elena,

First time I head of it was about 10 years ago, I knew of a man who had end-stage ALS and used CPAP to keep his airway open to sleep. He wore the full face mask. The muscles in his arms didn't work well, and I heard from his caregivers that he felt claustrophobic with the mask on, unable to adjust it himself to fit his face comfortably or take it off if he panicked. I felt awful for him having to deal with having an uncomfortable mask over his face at the end of his life.

Thinking about this memory may explain a little about why my first weeks on CPAP were traumatic. Now I talk about how helpful my CPAP is to people when I get the chance, probably to counteract the feeling of horror that I felt when I learned about CPAP for the first time.

Happy Sleeper

I think it was in 1991. It was in a psych unit in southern california. I was just beginning orientation of my new job. I was making rounds with the other rn and in one of the rooms, the door was closed, I heard this horrible howling loud noise. I was rather startled and inquired what it was. She said it was a patient tht also had sleep apnea and that was his cpap machine. I felt so sorry for that guy. I was horrified, I think even then I had a sense that I was stopping breathing at night and listening to that mess put me into a state of denial that took me years to overcome.

-

I heard about CPAP, eight years ago when my daughter was put on cpap in the NICU after her preterm birth. That is a bubble CPAP a little different than the ones we use, but mostly the same. My BF's dad also uses cpap, and I had seen a few episodes of those ER shows where the people with asthma sometimes needed cpap when they were having a bad asthma attack.

I didn't have a clue until I was diagnosed. (Found this forum that very day, almost 2 years ago). Had heard the term cpap and always thought it was one of those large oxygen machines and must be for people who had lung problems. Kid you not. First time I ever heard of sleep apnea where I actually tuned in, was about 8 years ago when a co-worker was going in for sleep studies and then some jaw/dental surgery. But even then, I just didn't get it or ask too many questions. Just knew he slept every day before that at his desk and I thought it had something to do with snoring and nasal structure. Amazing. From the day of my diagnosis by my PCP, I honestly did read this forum for about 4-5 hours every single night after work, for the next 6-8 months, and have rarely missed a day since. Have never known anyone else personally who uses cpap.

elena88 wrote: I was just wondering when was the first time you saw someone wearing a cpap, and what was your reaction?
even if it was you!

It was the guy looking at me in the mirror.

June 29, '08.

I thought...."Damn ....this can't be happening to me."

Haven't missed a night since.

carbonman wrote:
I thought...."Damn ....this can't be happening to me."

Haven't missed a night since.

Me either, CM!

It was 1995 in the United Arab Emirates. My boss had sleep apnea and used cpap. He called it his "Darth Vader" mask. I'd never heard of sleep apnea before but I learned a lot about it. We saved the job of one employee because the boss knew all about sleep apnea and the affects of it. The customer kept finding the man asleep at his desk and they were ready to fire him. Then after he had a minor car accident one day with five other employees in the car with him, we forced him to go to a sleep clinic in Dubai. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, started treatment, and, as far as I know, the man is still on the contract in the UAE.

I was the first one I saw using one. I figure that I am pretty much adorable no matter what I wear, so... I am just teasing I did not see myself wearing it until the first night I had it at home, and I needed the mirror to get it put on properly.

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