I hate the c pap machine

If your surgery is to correct the sleep apnea. Good Luck!...... You think it is bad now? I much rather have air blowing in me then be cut open. The surgery for sleep apnea does not have a very good track record

@xenablue
I appreciate your post I really do. But somehow i don't see how my attitude is going to make a mask more comfortable. i don't see how my attitude is going to let me sleep through the night, or warm the air being shoved into my mouth till it blows up like a balloon and stretches my mouth to uncomfortablness. I don't see how my attitude is going to give me back the hard earned money I've spent on the 2 worthless masks I've tried or keep the leaking and hissing and loud annoying suction noises from happening everytime I move. Generally speaking I think my attitude is pretty damn good since I've been at this for 3 weeks now and I've finally HAD it. I've asked my doctors for help and nothing they do works. I've tried different masks and none of them work. How dare these people make a machine that is incapable of doing the job it was intended for and then blame it not working on everything but themselves.
Regarding my dying in my sleep. Well, frankly I slept just fine until I started this so called "therapy".

Cut a liner for the mask out of an old well washed t shirt, just lay it on the shirt and cut about 1/2" extra all the way around. Cut a T in the middle for your mouth or nose or both. That stops the face farts and hissing from the leaks. Many masks actually need to be looser so they can inflate. Let us know what machine, what mask and what settings your on for additional help with that.

Use the ramp for the whole blowing your cheeks up thing. It helps if you're asleep when the air pressure gets really strong.

Your machine doesn't have a heated humidifier? If not you can run the hose down your body to warm the air or use a reptile wire. There is a very good post about that on this forum.

Ldrakekat wrote: How dare these people make a machine that is incapable of doing the job it was intended for and then blame it not working on everything but themselves.

My machine does what it is supposed to do. They only way anyone will get my machine is if I am dead. Is it a pain to put on yes, does it sometimes make funny noises yes, do my kids laugh at me if I try to talk with it on yes! But you know what at least I am ALIVE to put up with all that. I stopped breathing 53 times an hour.... And only was getting 10 mins of REM sleep after 6 hrs. With my CPAP I now sleep thru the night, get REM sleep, Wake up ALIVE. I no longer almost fall asleep at work, driving, at the movies, etc.... Difference between you and I? I went to the DR and ASKED for the sleep study. I could not wait for the cpap to show up from UPS. I knew I had OSA just from what I read and how I felt. It works for me, maybe because my attitude is 100% the opposite of yours!!

Might I suggest, if you're going to stop using it, instead of taking a bat to it and tying it to your bumper and all, that you instead put it on Craigs list and sell it, or if you're feeling philanthropical enough, perhaps even give it away. I'd bet there is someone out there who doesn't have insurance and cannot afford a sleep study, much less a machine.

You may hate it, but I'd bet someone out there would find it to be a lifesaver.

Seriously.

Ok.. I'll bite on this one...

First off, I can understand your frustration about being on a machine, spending your own money for something that you think may be temporary... I've been at this thing for just over a month now and compared to where I was a 2 months ago, I like the change. I'd fall asleep driving, while at work, watching tv.... during my sleep study I only got 12mins of REM out of 6hrs of sleep and here is the very scary part, in non-REM sleep I'd stop breathing 84 times and in REM it was 124 times. And the lowest my O2 got was 78%. No wonder I couldn't function.

No one loves being on it, but in order to function we need it. Now, here's the thing, instead of acting childish and beligerant to other people, why dont you answer the questions you've been asked about your machine... your surgery.... masks... etc so maybe we can actually help you out.

You know how most doctors wont say a procedure they do to you wont hurt, but then you turn to ask if they've had it themselves and they typically say No, well then they dont know.. maybe your doctors dont have to use a cpap machine everynight like everyone here on the forum does.... we can help but we can't help those that dont want it. Accept what you have to do. You dont have to like it, which you obviously dont but getting treatment has helped many people live longer and live better.

Just take a chill pill, be civil and allow us to help. Answer our questions...

What machine?
What type of mask?
What are the settings they have you on?

Ldrakekat wrote: Regarding my dying in my sleep. Well, frankly I slept just fine until I started this so called "therapy".

Apparently you didn't if you're having surgery to correct this... just a thought.

I'm beginning to think Ldrakekat is a fake....he's just found an outlet for his many lonely hours.

@avi123
I'm sorry are you trying to imply that my blatantly honest and truthful post is a symptom of Tourettes? Seriously? Am I the first person you've ever heard write that they hated the c pap? Maybe you should appreciate how lucky you are then. Because obviously you're one of the chosen few who have never lost a night's sleep with this machine and sprang out of bed the very next day with energy and joy and all that other stuff the sellers of this torture device try to shove down my throat along with ice cold air. Lucky you. I however have been using this sadistic torture device for 3 weeks without a decent nights sleep since. I guess I feel that I'm allowed to be angry. And too bad if you don't agree. I'm tired. I can't work. I can't sleep. I can't focus. And when I'm tired and I can't work I don't make any money. And when I don't make money I don't get my bills paid. Get it now?

Question, Before getting the cpap machine. Were you jumping out of bed all ready to go in the morning? If you were feeling just fine and ready to go why did you go through a sleep study, and a Tiration to get perscribed the new machine? If it's that you are having even more trouble now than before. Ok thats understandable and this takes adjustment. You have to work through it, Sorry that it's like that. But for some of us it's a long time struggle.

If you are just mad that you have to go through this before the surgery.. Well, a word of warning. A lot of the people who go through the surgery still seem to need the device. (Just at a lower flow rate) And even for those who it works like a charm I belive they have to suffer for a few months with lots of pain as the body heals.

No one here wants to have to use this device every night for the rest of their life. But most did not come at it with quite such a negative attitude as your first post showed.. I think my point is, if you are going to come here to a self help forum with such negative thoughts.. You have kinda doomed yourself from the start. And since some of the posters here struggle with this and worse on a daily basis, many are not going to be inclined to sit there and hear you rant in such a manner.

Your choices, Settle down and work to manage your treatment so it works for you. Or go take a bat to the machine and see if you end up in a better spot.

Ldrakekat wrote:@xenablue
I appreciate your post I really do. But somehow i don't see how my attitude is going to make a mask more comfortable. i don't see how my attitude is going to let me sleep through the night, or warm the air being shoved into my mouth till it blows up like a balloon and stretches my mouth to uncomfortablness. I don't see how my attitude is going to give me back the hard earned money I've spent on the 2 worthless masks I've tried or keep the leaking and hissing and loud annoying suction noises from happening everytime I move. Generally speaking I think my attitude is pretty damn good since I've been at this for 3 weeks now and I've finally HAD it. I've asked my doctors for help and nothing they do works. I've tried different masks and none of them work. How dare these people make a machine that is incapable of doing the job it was intended for and then blame it not working on everything but themselves.
Regarding my dying in my sleep. Well, frankly I slept just fine until I started this so called "therapy".

Attitude is going to make a huge difference to your success or failure on this journey.
I've been at this just on a year, and I still feel tired when I wake up, and at times during the day, HOWEVER what I know for a fact, is that I now don't stop breathing for long periods of time during sleep (I check my data regularly), I don't snore and keep my husband awake, nor do I kick him within an inch of his life repeatedly during the night - keeping him awake and cowering in a corner of the huge bed we share!

Once diagnosed, I made my mind up that I was going to make this work for not only my own health and wellbeing, but my dear husband's as well.

If you don't have a positive attitude, it matters not whether you have the best equipment in the world - it will never be right.

After a year I still spend a few minutes each night tweaking my mask so that it feels as comfortable and leak-free as possible. Having a conversation after hosing up is a challenge.

Now, if you want to keep whining, go right ahead - I'll stop posting to this thread, but if you want help, then do as suggested, add your equipment, tell us some specifics about the problems you're having so that someone can advise you on solutions.

xenablue

We ALL hate the CPAP machine. Sadly it's the most preferable option for now. Hopefully they will eventually figure out a better way. But now, you need to keep at it. It's this or a lifetime of misery culminating with a heart attack. I know you are frustrated, and the lack of sleep isn't helping you get any calmer or more rational. But believe us, we have all been there. Go find my first post, do a search. You will find I was just about as irate as you are now... but it does get better. All I can do is to say to trust us on this one.

In most cases, it isn't a matter of the mask getting more comfortable, it's a matter of you getting more accustomed to the discomfort until it just doesn't bother you anymore. This unfortunately takes time. Though there is nothing wrong with going back to your Dr. or DME and telling them you want to try a different one. Everyone is different and that's why there are dozens of different styles to choose from. There are also other options to increase your comfort. Mask liners (padacheek.com) help a lot. Some people like aroma therapy (pur-sleep.com). You can also loosen the mask so that it is comfortable, it doesn't have to be leak-free, there is a leak threshold you want to stay below and newer machines have leak indicators set at this threshold, but some leaks are ok and some people like myself will wear eye masks to prevent the leaks from irritating us.

Ldrakekat wrote:...if the purpose of this piece of shit machine is to ACTUALLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO SLEEP than it's nothing but bullshit. And because of this machine, the inventor and my shitty doctors I am having another worthless, workless unproductive day. I hate you c crap machine. And I wish nothing but evil things on the inventor and all those that push this torture devise like drug pushers on innocent victims.

That is B.S. I was told I needed to use CPAP 10 years ago, but refused until recently. I put up with not getting a good night's sleep because my wife would wake me up every 10 minutes because I was snoring like a freight train, waking myself up from snoring, taking 2 to 3 hour naps in the afternoon, and being awaken at a traffic light at Sunset and Whitter by other drivers honking at me because the red light had turned green. But when I started suddenly waking up, feeling as if I'd been holding my breath for a couple of minutes, I knew the time for holding out was over. The hose is just a minor annoyance, if it weren't for the enlarged prostate gland that comes with us guys getting older , I'd sleep solidly through the night. And now I've got more day and evening awake time than I know what to do with.

So why are you posting on this forum...........its for those of us who are trying to better our health....we HELP each other overcome our difficulties with this disease. Or are you just trying to piss one of us off so you can get your jolies listening to us rant and rave like an idiot.

LSAT wrote:I'm beginning to think Ldrakekat is a fake....he's just found an outlet for his many lonely hours.

nanwilson wrote:So why are you posting on this forum...........its for those of us who are trying to better our health....we HELP each other overcome our difficulties with this disease. Or are you just trying to piss one of us off so you can get your jolies listening to us rant and rave like an idiot.

Don't discount him so fast. Remember, we are dealing with people who aren't sleeping. They are frustrated, angry, and they aren't thinking clearly, and none of it is their fault. I know fakers will come along but try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Also, don't lash out back at them. Their anger and frustration is a SYMPTOM. You have to read between the anger. The fact that he's still here 2 pages deep is an indication that he WANTS the treatment to work but he is losing faith. Reassure him, don't discount him. (Besides, if they are fakers, getting you riled up is their goal anyway. Don't give them what they want in this case.)

My machine has given me added energy, helped me lose weight, made me less of a threat on the highway,
and more than likely delayed or prevented my having a heart attack or a stroke.
Of course, it's a nuisance, but it is now as necessary as a mattress for me to have quality sleep.
I used to wake up with a splitting headache, night sweats, and disturbing nightmares many times a night.
I have dozed off at my computer at work.--and been written up.
I had not seen the end of a movie for years--I couldn't stay awake for the whole thing.
I was exhausted all the time.
Thanks to CPAP, this is a thing of the past.
I only wish I had been diagnosed earlier.
As you might have guessed, some forum members have less patience with people
who refuse to get past the anger stage of their acceptance of this disease and its treatment.
For your own sake, try and use whatever resources you can muster to work on this.
We are ready to help; but registering and filling out your equipment will help us help you better.

Alshain wrote:

LSAT wrote:I'm beginning to think Ldrakekat is a fake....he's just found an outlet for his many lonely hours.

nanwilson wrote:So why are you posting on this forum...........its for those of us who are trying to better our health....we HELP each other overcome our difficulties with this disease. Or are you just trying to piss one of us off so you can get your jolies listening to us rant and rave like an idiot.

Don't discount him so fast. Remember, we are dealing with people who aren't sleeping. They are frustrated, angry, and they aren't thinking clearly, and none of it is their fault. I know fakers will come along but try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Also, don't lash out back at them. Their anger and frustration is a SYMPTOM. You have to read between the anger. The fact that he's still here 2 pages deep is an indication that he WANTS the treatment to work but he is losing faith. Reassure him, don't discount him. (Besides, if they are fakers, getting you riled up is their goal anyway. Don't give them what they want in this case.)

Good post Alshain. Assume the person is telling the truth and venting their frustrations. If they're really feeling horrible from not sleeping, calling them an idiot is not going to help.

The people who should understand most how horrible it can feel when you're not sleeping is someone else who's been through it.