New member with question

CrazyCrow wrote: I think there is a misunderstanding that is really being stressed out here. I don't believe I'm really having bloat or gas issues. It's heartburn of the worst caliber you can possibly imagine. I remember the last thing I ate before going to bed that night I used the machine I had falafal and I'm fairly certain that isn't greasy or spicy O.o
...
Does falafal have anything in it to cause heartburn? It's never given me it while I'm awake

Falafal is made from chickpeas---a type of bean. And beans are notorious for causing indigestion problems in general as well as gas. Lay off the bean products for several hours before going to bed.

I'm was hoping someone would have an idea on how to prevent the aerophagia since my doctor brushed me off.
I'll try laying on my side tonight with the mask on, but I wish to use the machine before I go to bed first as well.
I would like to know if the machine IS causing this horrid horrid acid.

Ok, asking for some clarification here.

You say you have severe acid pain. You also say you DON'T have bloating or gas problems and that you DO have aerophagia. But that's exactly what aerophagia is: Aerophagia is bloating and air (gas) trapped in the stomach caused by swallowing room air being pumped down your upper airway by the machine. And it hurts in the same way that really bad gastric gas bubbles hurt. With really bad aerophagia, the stomach often visibly bloated and often feels rock hard from the trapped air. The difference between aerophagia and gastric gas (indigestion based gas) is that the trapped gas in aerophagia is just plain old room air that you swallowed while using the CPAP machine. Gastric gas is the by-product of digestion. For the lucky souls who can burp or fart away the aeropghagia, the burps and farts are odorless since they are composed of nothing but room air.

Can you describe the pain which you are attributing to acid? Exactly where is it located? In the esophagus? In the stomach proper? In the small intestine? And how would you describe the pain itself? Burning? Or pressure? Does it feel like you've swallowed a basketball? Or is it a ribbon of intense fire? Can you walk with it? Or are you literally doubled over in pain? Does standing relieve the pain or make it worse? Does lying down relieve the pain or make it worse?

Can you burp or belch when the pain is at its worst? If so, does that relieve some of the pain? Or does it make it worse? Is there a noticeably bad taste in your mouth when you burp or belch?

It may sound like I'm asking for you to notice some really trivial, insignificant differences in the quality of pain. But those small differences are the key to figuring out what's behind the pain. And no-one can help you figure out what kind of things that might help until you can describe it more precisely.

As for fixing the long term acid/heartburn/aerophagia problem for good: The answer to your long term acid/heartburn problems will probably require you to make some very serious and long term changes in your diet---changes that right now you are NOT willing to make or even contemplate. And that's ok if you are willing to continue to live with the gastric problems. But there's not much more we can suggest for self-help management of these issues since you are not yet willing to make serious changes to your diet.

And I'll say this (as a picky eater myself): There are ways to train your palate and taste buds to tolerate and even enjoy foods that you currently are not too fond of. One trick is to take tiny bites of anything that you are skeptical about, but that you've not actually tasted in the last six months or so. A half-teaspoonful of something ain't going to kill you and you might just like it if you try it. Another trick is to not fill up on the tasty, but non-nutritious junk foods that you really enjoy shortly before meal time. If you arrive at the table genuinely hungry, some of those not-so-great foods will taste better.

But for now, you need to pay close attention to what foods disagree with your stomach and avoid them. And learn to read food labels to avoid those foods that contain things that tend to upset your stomach. Since things are pretty bad, you might even want to eliminate as many potential acid triggers as you can for a week or so even if you are eating a wildly unbalanced diet. And then introduce one food item back into your diet at a time. And wait a week or so between adding things back into your diet. That way you'll have a better idea of exactly what foods are causing the problems.

EDIT: question..is the mask doing this whole inflate and deflate thing because of the bubbled up cushion? It like moves going against and away from my face as I breathe. It's distracting and annoying.

The cushion should not have bubbles in it. If the cushion is not smooth and filled with air, that can create additional problems that can be very distracting and annoying.

But note that when your mask is properly fitted, the mask cushion should fully inflate with air. And yes, there can be some gentle movement with the motion of your breathing. And it can be distracting and annoying. Eventually you get used to it. But right now, it is a brand new piece of sensory information that your brain and body have not yet figured out what to do with. The correct response is "ignore it", but it takes a while to learn that response to many of the normal CPAP stimuli when you are first starting out.

I may choose to ignore you two and continue to try things out and seek help. Or I may give in to the irritation and rude rude comments you just made.
I've been around many people and you two do in fact since you went OUT of your way just to comment planned to be rude in the first place.

It's your choice of course.

But we've seen plenty of folks on this forum who start by posting about being in trouble and wanting help, but who ultimately reject every or almost every idea that is tossed their way. And eventually we get tired of making suggestions. There have been a few recent examples (sleepwithapnea being one of them) who have really gotten under people's skins. At this point, I ignore sleepwithapnea's posts because s/he has repeatedly ignored my advice about seeing her/his doctor about numerous serious, chronic medical problems. Or s/he has simply responded with non sequitur posts.

I'm not yet persuaded that you are a troll. Hence I keep helping---for now.

For your part, you could go a long way to persuade other long time posters that you are genuinely asking for help by not repeatedly telling us why every single suggestion anybody makes is so unworkable for you. You've repeated said you won't or can't try suggestions on sleep position, food choices, consulting a PCP for problems that appear to be tangentially related to the CPAP/OSA. Moreover, instead of saying, "thanks, I'll try that" or "I've tried that but it didn't work very well for me" or "I tried that and it backfired and made things worse" or even "It sounds like a decent idea, but I'm afraid it won't work for me because <fill in a polite reason>", you've had a tendency to respond to suggestions in ways that denigrate the suggestion itself---as if you can't believe that someone actually would make such a suggestion.

For my part, I have to say that I find your tendency to describe food/diet suggestions for managing your acid/heartburn/aerophagia problems as "gross" or "disgusting" as particularly bothersome and borderline rude. I understand what it means to be a picky eater as I've been one my whole life. But every time you describe a particular food as "gross" or "disgusting" you are insulting the folks who really, really like that food. And picky eaters disagree mightily on what they find "gross" and "disgusting." For me---cottage cheese and whole wheat bread have long been comfort foods---foods I can eat when nothing else tastes good. For you, they taste horrible. You appear to love the taste of tomatoes, even though you've begun to realize that you have to give them up. Me? I absolutely loathe tomatoes. They taste and smell almost indescribably foul to me. But I'd never openly post a bald faced, unqualified statement that tomatoes are gross or disgusting because I know way too many people who adore tomatoes. So if folks make diet suggestions that are not appealing to you, simply say warmly, but politely: "I'm not very fond of <the food that you find gross or disgusting>"

CrazyCrow wrote:I'm about ready to kill this piece of junk >:(
I've tried a few things online for resetting pressure but since I don't know which it is I had to try a few out. None worked obviously....argh
I really feel if I just went a tiny bit down on pressure it might make a difference. Guess I'm trying it at my normal pressure this time.

1) Use the ramp at the beginning of the night. That will help figure out if a lower pressure will help if nothing else.

2) Talk to the sleep doc and see if s/he will authorize a reduction in pressure. Then the DME will be able to reset the machine for you.

3) If you are unwilling to talk to the doc and you are comfortable with ignoring your official prescription, then post your equipment and we'll be able to tell you exactly how to get into the clinical menu. Lowering your pressure against doctor's orders is NOT supported around here since it can result in subtherapeutic treatment of your OSA.

Two hours later after eating >.o oh dear lord I want more food. I need to fall asleep asp.

This is NOT normal. You need to talk to your primary care doctor (not your sleep doctor) about why you are constantly hungry. My best guess is that you have another underlying medical condition that badly needs to be treated. It could be anything from a tapeworm to an ulcer to IBS to heaven only knows what else.

You know what.. after typing for like an hour with a lengthy reply...nvm. I'm a bit irritated today. I don't want to say anything unnecessary.
I noticed gas later that day. The pain is a burning in my chest/esophagus. Yadda yadda. I'm already making changes to my diet. I don't see how I'm not listening.
I've had enough today. The post I was going to make reminded me of things in my life I don't want to think about. at.all.
I'll say it again. I've been using the ramp every time.
I fooled with my machine last night. I guess it was indeed not a just a flook. I am indeed allergic to silicone..or at least the mask made my face red, burn, and itch.
I noticed if I stop breathing at a pressure of 5-5.5 it will force me to breathe. anything over that feels too overwhelming.
I'll have to make that cloth liner.
I'll try to be self conscious of my posts, but please be of yours as well. Insulting someone back unintentionally when they unintentionally insulted you should not occur. It's unnecessary and once again unintentional.

Wow. Just wow. I wasn't going to say anything, but well, the Italian side of me takes over... LOL

You have been given excellent advice from some of our most intelligent and knowledgable members. Others, and especially Robysue, have been painstakingly trying to help you. Nothing they have posted so far has been even remotely insulting. It seems you are reading what you don't want to hear and getting upset that no one wants to join the pity party. Understand that no one quite sees your situation like you do.

It is up to you to try. No one on this board or in your real life can do that for you.

It's no wonder you feel overwhelmed. You have a whole bunch of issues. In fact, you have so many of them that it would be wise to keep a daily diary on each one and find a doctor who will listen to you. That might take a miracle at this point. I have a feeling the doctors are blowing you off because you don't want to heed their advice either. If you're not going to try what your team of doctors suggest, you sure won't try anything written to you on a public forum. Heck, maybe you will, but it seems doubtful.

Your whole attitude might need to change before you can really listen to suggestions that may help. That wasn't typed to be mean - it's the truth as I see it. Agree or disagree, but you are coming across like a drama queen. Maybe you don't want to change to feel better because you enjoy being miserable. I know people like that in the real world. Your own friends have started not hanging out with you. That should give you a big hint.

Good luck in finding whatever it is you seek and I wish you luck in your CPAP therapy.

If you should truly want to try to get to the bottom of all your health issues, you may need to seek information from separate forums dedicated to those specific health topics (as in, stay here to get advice on coping or getting past any CPAP issues; join a heartburn/reflux site to get advice there on your stomach issues; join a TMJ site to get info there, etc.) Trying to lump it all here is overkill.

*typed while Garbage's "Only Happy When it Rains" is playing in my head. If you don't know the song, google the lyrics. Seems fitting here...

CC, I think it's great that you're hanging in there and really trying with CPAP despite all the challenges. I suspect that until some of your underlying issues are resolved your benefit from CPAP is going to be marginal at best, and your underlying issues are far outside the scope of this board and all the good people here who are honestly trying to help. We can certainly continue to give support and help with the CPAP issues.

As for the rest, it sounds to me that your metabolism is the unifying theme beneath all of the various issues. You might do well to find a good naturopath in your area to help. Allopathic MDs are woefully ignorant in this area. Meanwhile you might want to take a look at the GAPS diet--you should read the book and look at Internet support sites to see what kind of benefits you might achieve from getting your metabolism straightened out.

notyorz wrote:Wow. Just wow. I wasn't going to say anything, but well, the Italian side of me takes over... LOL

You have been given excellent advice from some of our most intelligent and knowledgable members. Others, and especially Robysue, have been painstakingly trying to help you. Nothing they have posted so far has been even remotely insulting. It seems you are reading what you don't want to hear and getting upset that no one wants to join the pity party. Understand that no one quite sees your situation like you do.

It is up to you to try. No one on this board or in your real life can do that for you.

It's no wonder you feel overwhelmed. You have a whole bunch of issues. In fact, you have so many of them that it would be wise to keep a daily diary on each one and find a doctor who will listen to you. That might take a miracle at this point. I have a feeling the doctors are blowing you off because you don't want to heed their advice either. If you're not going to try what your team of doctors suggest, you sure won't try anything written to you on a public forum. Heck, maybe you will, but it seems doubtful.

Your whole attitude might need to change before you can really listen to suggestions that may help. That wasn't typed to be mean - it's the truth as I see it. Agree or disagree, but you are coming across like a drama queen. Maybe you don't want to change to feel better because you enjoy being miserable. I know people like that in the real world. Your own friends have started not hanging out with you. That should give you a big hint.

Good luck in finding whatever it is you seek and I wish you luck in your CPAP therapy.

If you should truly want to try to get to the bottom of all your health issues, you may need to seek information from separate forums dedicated to those specific health topics (as in, stay here to get advice on coping or getting past any CPAP issues; join a heartburn/reflux site to get advice there on your stomach issues; join a TMJ site to get info there, etc.) Trying to lump it all here is overkill.

*typed while Garbage's "Only Happy When it Rains" is playing in my head. If you don't know the song, google the lyrics. Seems fitting here...

No. I started upset that day. I read the message. Didn't mean to upset anyone. I got hurt from the passive aggressive comment. I'm trying to avoid saying I find certain foods disgusting or gross.
The are certain things I can and can't do. I'm become more increasingly stressed out due to diet changes right now. I'm fairly certain (I did leave a message for an appointment. they didn't pick up) I ahve reactive hypoglycemia.

Thanks for the doctor comment that was REAL kind.
"Maybe you don't want to change to feel better because you enjoy being miserable." LoL wouldn't of come here if I did.
"our own friends have started not hanging out with you. That should give you a big hint. " oh.my.god. That REALLY takes a horrible person to say something like that. She had been wanting to hang out.
Thank you for the enlightenment. It REALLY hurt me. I already had a break down yesterday and couldn't stop crying. I've been trying to avoid foods that "hurt" me. I ended up noticing I was having trembling low-blood sugar like attacks because I was avoiding eating. I can't find anything that tastes good.
Now I'm crying and shaking.
You MAY not have been trying to be rude which you were a tiny bit. More hurtful than anything. You should consider other people's feelings when making posts. I'm not sure what to do with myself at this point. I'm waiting for the 4th doctor I called today to call me back.
I tried very very hard to say it without hurting rob that she as well hurt me. It wasn't meant to hurt anyone let alone..really there is no better word than a cuss word here -__-
It describes it well.
I will look at the GAPS diet, but I was checking out the diet for reactive hypoglycemia. Took almost everything else away from my diet. I've fallen into major depression because I can't eat what I love. In fact, everything tastes so...dull?

I don't really regret coming here since I got good advice and I understand things better.
YOU really really really need to think. When someone stays on here this long and tries to find other possible solutions that may be easier to handle as a transition you should take a hint that they are trying to get help NOT I REALLY REALLY REALLY mean NOT attack the emotional side of their life saying their personality is dog shit pretty much. and that even their friends don't want to be near them.
I want to scream and cuss at you really bad right now because that was destructive rude mean criticism that helps no one.
I have TMJ. can't use a chin strap so there goes that advice. oh wait it's my fault? oh ok. screw me for having tmj.
I can't tilt my bed because of my spine. oooooooooooooooooooooooh F me for living with a f'ed up spine
I have a problem eating certain foods. I well go right a f'ing head and shoot me.
There are foods I have TRIED eating recently before this and failed hard hard core on.
I felt more hurt and betrayed in a couple different ways by the comment that I'm completely rude when I had no idea I was upsetting rob.
Could of said something like. Please don't say that. It upsets me. Nope we LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to blow up on this forum. Keep it in and wait till we can't take it anymore. Thus may be the nature of people who talk on the internet.

I really did get hurt badly. I can't believe moderators would let someone talk to someone else like that. Rob and Jan thanks for the kind help and comments. I know you didn't really mean to upset me rob. It just did. I'm squishy, can't help it.

As for a naturopath. I asked my parents for one for the fibro. since it's not covered by insurance they won't pay for it. So I can't.

Please close this thread. I am not coming back to a place where someone told me that even my best friend thinks I'm just sooo horrible to be around.
And thus my help here ends. Thanks to those who tried. Italian side? really? you say later that you were not trying to be mean, but you don't start a post with "the Italian side of me takes over... LOL" and know that you are not about to say something nice.
I really hope I meet some nice Italians to get that bad taste out of my mouth.

CrazyCrow,

I understand you're in pain. And upset---over a whole bunch of things concerning your health. And that you really do want to get well.

But part of getting well is sucking up and doing what's necessary to get well in spite of how you feel about it. Ranting is OK---grieving for your previous life is part of the process and ranting is part of the grieving.

But---there is a polite way to let well meaning souls know that their advice is off the mark. And whether you want to admit it or not, you've not been particularly polite at times. And that's more than likely the pain and discomfort talking and not you.

So---let's try to make a fresh start. I'll help. You write:

CrazyCrow wrote: I'm trying to avoid saying I find certain foods disgusting or gross.

Thank you for making the attempt to tone down your language about foods. It's appreciated. And it may get easier for you with practice.

The are certain things I can and can't do. I'm become more increasingly stressed out due to diet changes right now. I'm fairly certain (I did leave a message for an appointment. they didn't pick up) I ahve reactive hypoglycemia.

You need to be working with a doctor rather than attempting to self-diagnose in my opinion.

Thanks for the doctor comment that was REAL kind.

I've read and re-read the thread and I don't see what this is about. The fact is it will take some effort and luck to find the kind of doctor you both want and need. That's not your fault---it's the way doctors are trained in this country. They like and strongly prefer patients that are easy to diagnose with clear cut problems that respond as expected to the prescribed treatment and have little or no problems remaining compliant when the prescribed treatment is, shall we say, less than enjoyable.

You've got a complex web of difficult problems. And it appears that you don't always react to the prescribed therapy as the docs expect. And you've not yet reached the point where you're fully committed to making all the changes to your lifestyle that may be a part of the prescribed treatment. (It takes time to reach that point. And it takes some a longer time than others. And some people never get there.) So the upshot of this is that finding the right doctor for yo is going to be difficult But it still needs to be done if at all possible.

"Maybe you don't want to change to feel better because you enjoy being miserable." LoL wouldn't of come here if I did.
"our own friends have started not hanging out with you. That should give you a big hint. " oh.my.god. That REALLY takes a horrible person to say something like that. She had been wanting to hang out.
Thank you for the enlightenment. It REALLY hurt me. I already had a break down yesterday and couldn't stop crying. I've been trying to avoid foods that "hurt" me.

You are right These comments were uncalled for. And though I did not make them, I will apologize on behalf of the forum members at large.

I ended up noticing I was having trembling low-blood sugar like attacks because I was avoiding eating. I can't find anything that tastes good.
Now I'm crying and shaking.

You've got to take care of yourself. That means eating something when you know you need food even if nothing tastes very good. For now, you don't need to worry so much about nutrition as calories and whether the chosen food is going to cause further problems for you.

You MAY not have been trying to be rude which you were a tiny bit. More hurtful than anything. You should consider other people's feelings when making posts. I'm not sure what to do with myself at this point. I'm waiting for the 4th doctor I called today to call me back.

Here's a sincere wish that the 4th doctor did call back and that the conversation was a positive one.

I tried very very hard to say it without hurting rob that she as well hurt me. It wasn't meant to hurt anyone let alone..really there is no better word than a cuss word here -__-
It describes it well.

I'm assuming that I'm the "rob" here. I did not mean to hurt you, but I did think you needed to be told how harshly some of your language was coming across. Since I did inadvertently hurt you, please accept my apologies. I am trying to help you, and I really did not mean to offend or hurt you.

I will look at the GAPS diet, but I was checking out the diet for reactive hypoglycemia. Took almost everything else away from my diet. I've fallen into major depression because I can't eat what I love. In fact, everything tastes so...dull?

If you do have a systematic problem with your digestive system (and it seems likely that you do), then unfortunately standard medical treatment is going to include some pretty stringent dietary guidelines. Guidelines that will most certainly NOT be easy for a picky eater to follow. And some grief and depression over the realization that you are going to have to give up some/most of the few foods that you genuinely find tasty is understandable. And you may very well not be ready to do that yet. But when the pain of living with your gastric symptoms becomes great enough, you will find the courage to give whatever diet is eventually prescribed for you a chance. And if the prescribed diet turns out to make a positive difference in the quality of your daily life, you'll find the motivation to make the diet restrictions work for you.

I have TMJ. can't use a chin strap so there goes that advice. oh wait it's my fault? oh ok. screw me for having tmj.

A fair number of us here have TMJ. It's enough to say: Chinstraps are out because they make my TMJ worse. and move on to other suggestions. (For what it's worth, I've had the same "Why don't you try a chinstrap?" conversation with both here and with one of my former sleep docs.)

I can't tilt my bed because of my spine. oooooooooooooooooooooooh F me for living with a f'ed up spine

So the response to "try raising the head of your bed" is Sorry, no can do: I've got a bad neck and spine and have been told by the chiropractor not to do that.

have a problem eating certain foods. I well go right a f'ing head and shoot me.
There are foods I have TRIED eating recently before this and failed hard hard core on.
I felt more hurt and betrayed in a couple different ways by the comment that I'm completely rude when I had no idea I was upsetting rob.

First, I'm not particularly upset. But I do think it calling foods you particularly dislike "gross" and "disgusting" is a bit childish and indicates a certain closemindedness about trying to work with your body to find a collection of foods that will nourish it and not cause the gastric problems while at the same time taste decent enough to eat them.

I'm a picky eater. I know what it's like to find a particular food absolutely revolting and wonder how on earth anybody can eat it. That pretty much sums up my personal experience with tomatoes. But if some one on a forum suggested that I start eating tomatoes as a way of dealing with some kind of problem, I would not respond with: Tomatoes are gross and make me choke, so I can't do that. I'd either not respond at all or simply state: I really don't like tomatoes and I'd rather not add them to my diet.

Please notice: I have NOT repeatedly told you to eat food that you particularly dislike. Once you've said it's on the list of foods you don't eat, I've dropped mentioning it. If you aren't willing to eat a particular food, there's no point in repeatedly recommending it.

I did point out that some of the foods on your "dislike intensely list" just happen to be on my "favorite food list." And that's ok with me. Just like I'm sure that many of my "dislike intensely foods" are on your "favorite list." The point is you'll get more polite and more helpful ideas if you don't judge suggestions made in good faith with words like "gross" or "disgusting"

I really did get hurt badly. I can't believe moderators would let someone talk to someone else like that. Rob and Jan thanks for the kind help and comments. I know you didn't really mean to upset me rob. It just did. I'm squishy, can't help it.

This particular forum is essentially unmoderated by the conscious choice of the owners of the forum. In the almost two years I've been posting, I've never seen the owners moderate (edit or delete) a post by member or even a forum guest

Heck, I've seen only one person outright banned from the list---and he was banned not because he was an incredible troll (which he was) who was posting some rather nasty comments about particular users (including myself); rather calist (the banned troll) was banned when he was caught in an outright lie about who/what he claimed to be. And even with calist, the owners of the forum made it clear that he was being banned not because he was a particularly trollish troll, but rather because of the misrepresentation of his supposed credentials.

The owners of the forum believe in free speech---in all of its messiness and nastiness. They also believe that we should be capable of self restraint. (But sometimes we aren't quite as good as we think we are.)

As for a naturopath. I asked my parents for one for the fibro. since it's not covered by insurance they won't pay for it. So I can't.

Fair enough. We have to scratch that idea even though it would have been nice if your insurance had made it possible to try that idea.

Please close this thread. I am not coming back to a place where someone told me that even my best friend thinks I'm just sooo horrible to be around.

Threads are never closed around here.

I hope you do come back. But if not, well maybe other newbies might learn something from this response to your thread.

Here's some positive reinforcement for you, taken from a recent post of mine in another thread:

If YOU give it a good chance to succeed, then you will succeed.

You may need to find out what you need to do to help your progress along. Everyone is unique and what works for some may not work for you. The key is finding your own happy medium.

The denial and anger phases strike most people adjusting to this therapy. You will need to find ways to cope that work for you.

With perseverance and persistence, you can overcome and head down the road of feeling better.

I suggest breaking each issue or problem area you are having with your therapy into smaller blocks you can research or ask about individually.

The key is to ask specific questions and you'll get some very good tried and true advice on how to fix it, if you're willing to listen.

It WILL get better if you keep a positive attitude and don't give up.


I do not apologize for the comments I posted earlier. I stand behind every word written. If that blacklists me from this forum, so be it. I'll just go back to lurking in the shadows and pulling the information I need and keep any happy updates or questions about adjusting to therapy to myself. Not a big deal here.

It was very frustrating to read a post where there is excellent advice given and someone has taken major time to help someone, but yet they insist that it's everything and everyone else's fault without looking within and seeing that the one thing they may need to change is their committment level.

I said it before and I'll say it again - you have too many issues going on at once. Break it down into smaller pieces and seek the answers on each separate one. You're trying to fix everything by asking here, but this is a CPAP site. Your questions should be asked to medical personnel or to a site devoted to each problem. Certainly, you may ask here since many have their own experiences with a wide variety of conditions, but you need specific help.

Again, good luck to you and your issues. I sincerely hope you find a way to overcome.

nanwilson wrote:I'm out of here, I'm beginning to think we are being had again...another or the same one.... sickwithapnea type......
We are not medically trained people, we are patients trying to help each other out and if someone does not want help,..... we are not helping as this person is not "listening".

Yes. You have a whining baby who will perversely enjoy and encourage all the attention he is getting.

Goombye, goombye.

I sat back and watched this train wreck unfold. I wasn't surprised at the outcome I am sorry to say.
Some people either can't or won't accept well intentioned suggestions for whatever reasons they have deep within their psyche. I remember this thread from a while back. We get people from time to time that just can't be helped no matter what we say or do...it is always wrong.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44168&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=yeah+but

It's sort of like me and my need to rescue things...it is a tough pill to swallow but I can't save them all and I have to know when to accept that cold hard fact. I saw a little dog running down the road the other day. Obviously lost and in need of help. Dirty, scared and painfully thin but it wouldn't come to me no matter how gentle I tried to be to reassure it that I was a good person. I had to let it go. People are like that too. No matter what we do to try to get their attention or how kind we are or how well intentioned we are...some people just can't get a hold of it and help us help them. If they can't/won't help themselves than nothing we can say or do will matter.

Thank you, thank you, CrazyCrow (great nickname, how'd you get that?). Whew!!! After reading all your posts (you're so young)... All I can say is :"You make me glad to be me". Hope you sort it all out!

I went to a conference called "Dealing with Difficult People" that was far more useful from the usual seminar of this type last week. We all broke a cardinal rule, I think--including me--which is to focus on the topic at hand and redirect the individual to what we can really help with. I think we got caught up in all the other stuff that was going on with the OP, and what we are here for and we are really good at and able to help with is issues with sleep apnea, most particularly learning to live with the CPAP machine.

The aerophagia became a bit of a red herring because of all her other digestive, sensory, and metabolic issues. And we should have stayed away from all the other issues, those are not things we can help in the limited scope of this patient support forum.

There are a lot of personalities, here, but if we can try to be collectively more focused when the next one comes along (and there WILL be a next one!), maybe we can help more and be less frustrated by our efforts.

And, I've made a rule for myself. I won't waste any more time with people who decide in advance that nothing suggested will ever work. (No more "yes butters"!) I make one suggestion if any, after that, if the response is "yes, but", I'm done.

I'm not a shrink(although I could probably use one), but it just came to me that when people are angry, frightened and without a good support system, then even ranting and raving with faceless forum strangers is a form of company and better than being alone. I may be off base.

Pugsy wrote:I sat back and watched this train wreck unfold. I wasn't surprised at the outcome I am sorry to say.
Some people either can't or won't accept well intentioned suggestions for whatever reasons they have deep within their psyche. I remember this thread from a while back. We get people from time to time that just can't be helped no matter what we say or do...it is always wrong.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44168&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=yeah+but

It's sort of like me and my need to rescue things...it is a tough pill to swallow but I can't save them all and I have to know when to accept that cold hard fact. I saw a little dog running down the road the other day. Obviously lost and in need of help. Dirty, scared and painfully thin but it wouldn't come to me no matter how gentle I tried to be to reassure it that I was a good person. I had to let it go. People are like that too. No matter what we do to try to get their attention or how kind we are or how well intentioned we are...some people just can't get a hold of it and help us help them. If they can't/won't help themselves than nothing we can say or do will matter.

Good post Pugsy.

CrazyCrow, You came here for suggestions and you have been given many very detailed responses. It's not always what we want to hear nor is it easy. When I first started CPAP, I was nearly convinced I would never be able to keep the mask on an entire night for several days until I caved in and LISTENED and ENACTED on the advise I was being given on here.

I suffer from depression and anxiety to and am not always in the best of moods so I understand BUT in order better your CPAP/APAP treatment and find answers, we sometimes need to just take a deep breath, re-read the advise being posted and proceed to take charge of our treatment by accepting what is being said and trying to make the changes.

I wish you luck and please remember that these kind folks that are giving you extensive advise are only trying to help you!