CPAPtalk.com

If I had to choose between not having to wear glasses (I only wear readers now), and not having to use cpap for the rest of my life, I would choose not having to wear glasses.

I can give you two plusses:

1) a reasonable nights sleep consistently, took a while to get there but, great.

2) I get filtered, humidified air wherever I go, don't have to worry about dry dusty allergen-ridden hotel rooms any more. The HEPA air filter (Austin Air Jr and a customized SKB case) I take with me is part of my CPAP suite, so I can't travel light anymore like I used to. But I can still carry (or wheel) all my luggage myself.

Before CPAP, sleep HURT.
Now, I can look forward to each restful night.

chunkyfrog wrote:Before CPAP, sleep HURT.
Now, I can look forward to each restful night.

+1

Such an old thread but some real gems of wisdom.

In a nutshell the daily complaint at CPAPtalk is often: I hate these demanding changes in my life - I used to be so carefree (and healthy). What happened to the old me? So, the basic issue remains... do I move on and adapt - or do I submit to entropy, thereby giving up and fading away? Everyday you have major decisions to make. Let's all hope that we make the right ones

K5MOW wrote:Eventually after wearing the mask for X amount of time you will not even think about not wearing it. Matter-of-fact the thought of the power going out and not being able to use your CPAP is terrifying. When I get a itch on my nose or something I never take the mask off just start thinking about something else it will go away.

Roger

I just shove my finger inside the mask

I use a cpap. It is scary. This thing is like life support equipment, forever. Is that how one should live? It is not good.

jwong wrote:I use a cpap. It is scary. This thing is like life support equipment, forever. Is that how one should live? It is not good.

I think of it as sleep support. After living for 40 years tired all the time, the CPAP machine so improves the quality of my life I think it is a small and totally worthwhile price to pay. If you don't think so that's your choice. but be aware there is a price to pay if you decide it's too much bother. So there is a choice to use or not to use, just be as fully aware of the consequences as you can, study and learn endlessly, and may you live long and prosper.

jwong wrote:I use a cpap. It is scary. This thing is like life support equipment, forever. Is that how one should live? It is not good.

It's better than the possibility of dying early.

Life support? Everything that assists, enhances, or extends life is "support".
Medication nearly always has side effects. Aspirin can hurt your tummy,
Lipitor can give you the "trots". Cpap? WHAT side effects? A crease on my face, extra luggage?
Considering all the good it can do, what is wearing a leash at night?
A little gentle bondage for a lovely breeze. I can handle that.

chunkyfrog wrote:Life support? Everything that assists, enhances, or extends life is "support".
Medication nearly always has side effects. Aspirin can hurt your tummy,
Lipitor can give you the "trots". Cpap? WHAT side effects? A crease on my face, extra luggage?
Considering all the good it can do, what is wearing a leash at night?
A little gentle bondage for a lovely breeze. I can handle that.

I wish I had two life Support Sausage Egg McMuffins, they would support me until supper. Jim

jwong wrote:I use a cpap. It is scary. This thing is like life support equipment, forever. Is that how one should live? It is not good.

You'd prefer the alternative? ... (not living).

CPAP's a hell of a lot easier and safer than a lot of other things people do to stay alive.

jwong wrote:I use a cpap. It is scary. This thing is like life support equipment, forever. Is that how one should live? It is not good.

pre-therapy, the only thing i looked forward to was going to bed. that isn't living.

Luckier than I was. I dreaded sleep.
It was miserable--full of bizarre nightmares, repeatedly waking up out of breath,
and finally getting up in the wee hours if it happened WITHOUT a headache,
because I knew that "sleeping" longer only meant more pain.
Then again, maybe that made ME the lucky one.
My apnea made me so miserable, that compliance was a complete no-brainer.
Whatever it took, I was willing to do it--no arguments.

From your profile pic and username, I assume you are a diver? Getting used to the mask is a mental challenge, at least it was for me. What got me through it was my experience in SCUBA diving. I imagined that every time I put the mask on, it was like using a regulator. In fact, the first time I put the mask on, I associated it with diving. the gentle pressure reminded me of the same type of positive pressure my regulator puts out. Some of my most peaceful moments on earth have been under water. Using visualization like this helped me cope pretty quickly.