Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on October 14, 2009 at 8:15am

Welcome, Glenda,
I've been on CPAP for 18 months but only on this group for a little while. Everyone has sure been helpful so keep speaking up.
I know about the sleepy attacks- they really curtailed my activities for a while- couldn't drive, would fall asleep in my therapists office (when I had a ride there), get up at 8:00AM and falling asleep on my feet by 8:30 AM...
Plus sleep apnea is very serious - it's very difficult (was for me) to accept that my body had let me down in such basic and necessary things like breathing and sleep. I depend on a machine to maintain my quality of life and my health- that qualifies as a big emotional issue.
You've already helped me- I can't go back to being so sleepy I couldn't do anything else and it's good to get reminded of that.
Good luck, hang in there, and keep us posted.

Mary Zimlich

Permalink Reply by glenda brown on October 14, 2009 at 5:28pm

Thanks Mary :)
I have come a long way too now you bring it up, before my doc started taking me serious I would get soo sick at work.. not just the nodding and fighting to stay awake but the nausea that went with it. Once, while working a set of machines that involved walking up and down and some concerntration, i was aroused to find a gathering of amused workmates giggling and pointing at how i could 'run those machines in my sleep' I dont know how I drove without crashing. I did fall asleep on the steering wheel in the work car park a few times, and a few more in the garage at home. I never again want to feel that way every day!
I spent 5 hours trying to fall asleep with that *&%$ machine last night, took it off and.. zonk.
I will persevere though.. watch me win this one!!

I

Permalink Reply by Mary Castrovilla on October 14, 2009 at 11:07pm

Hi, and welcome Glenda,

I have been on CPAP since end of August...It's been series of downs, and downs...I just gave my first usage report for Medicare and was told I'm 100% "compliant"...Which is a big joke, because I don't FEEL much better...And now I have ridges on my face - and a blister in my nose (I use nasal pillow…). Just changed to another mask a couple of nights ago and it has made a difference.

BUT I AM NOT GIVING UP!! And this is what I say to you; ENDURE!!

The mask felt so weird to me, too...I was lucky IF in the beginning I lasted 4 hours with it. Now, after 6 weeks, I can use it the whole “night“...

directhomemedical.com 888-505-0212 - has several good accessories...a velcro hook up - attached to a nail - keeps the 6-foot hose from sliding around and waking me up (and scaring one of my cats every time it moved- HA) ...a fleece "snuggle hose" stopped the condensation in the hose...Carol Wright sells an inexpensive pillow specifically for us…

And come back to SleepGuide OFTEN. - I have learned so much from this site.

Mari



The mask felt so weird to me, too...I was lucky IF in the beginning I lasted 4 hours with it. Now, after 6 weeks, I can use it the whole time...directhomemedical.com 888-505-0212 - has several good accessories...a velcro hook up - attached to a nail - keeps the 6-foot hose from sliding around and waking me up...a fleece "snuggle hose" stopped the condensation in the hose...

Permalink Reply by Mary Castrovilla on October 14, 2009 at 11:08pm

Hi, and welcome Glenda,

I have been on CPAP since end of August...It's been series of downs, and downs...I just gave my first usage report for Medicare and was told I'm 100% "compliant"...Which is a big joke, because I don't FEEL much better...And now I have ridges on my face - and a blister in my nose (I use nasal pillow…). Just changed to another mask a couple of nights ago and it has made a difference.

BUT I AM NOT GIVING UP!! And this is what I say to you; ENDURE!!

The mask felt so weird to me, too...I was lucky IF in the beginning I lasted 4 hours with it. Now, after 6 weeks, I can use it the whole “night“...

directhomemedical.com 888-505-0212 - has several good accessories...a velcro hook up - attached to a nail - keeps the 6-foot hose from sliding around and waking me up (and scaring one of my cats every time it moved- HA) ...a fleece "snuggle hose" stopped the condensation in the hose...Carol Wright sells an inexpensive pillow specifically for us…

And come back to SleepGuide OFTEN. - I have learned so much from this site.

Mari

Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 14, 2009 at 11:59pm

Mary, your comment about "my body let me down in such basic and necessary things like breathing and sleep. I depend on a machine to maintain my quality of life and health-that qualifies as a big emotional issue" describes EXACTLY the way I feel since being diagnosed less than 4 months ago.

I just didn't have the words to describe the emotional pain I've been in. I've never been able to describe it--you just did. Perfectly. Oh.....my.....God......................I can't remember if I ever joined the Newcomer Group--If I didn't, I'll be joining tonight. If I DID, I'll be dropping in often after hearing THAT piece of wisdom. Thank you.

Susan McCord :-)

Mary Zimlich said:

Welcome, Glenda,
I've been on CPAP for 18 months but only on this group for a little while. Everyone has sure been helpful so keep speaking up.
I know about the sleepy attacks- they really curtailed my activities for a while- couldn't drive, would fall asleep in my therapists office (when I had a ride there), get up at 8:00AM and falling asleep on my feet by 8:30 AM...
Plus sleep apnea is very serious - it's very difficult (was for me) to accept that my body had let me down in such basic and necessary things like breathing and sleep. I depend on a machine to maintain my quality of life and my health- that qualifies as a big emotional issue.
You've already helped me- I can't go back to being so sleepy I couldn't do anything else and it's good to get reminded of that.
Good luck, hang in there, and keep us posted.

Mary Zimlich

Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 15, 2009 at 12:31am

Mary, I AM a member. I've just been absent!.......I'll be back!

Susan McCord :-)

Permalink Reply by Cathie S. on October 15, 2009 at 9:43pm

Hi Glenda... I'm also new to this sight... Just got my CPAP about a week ago and find it is intimidating at times... I'm lucky enough that my number is low compared to my husbands, so the air intake is not that hard to deal with... It did help me with sleeping and I did feel more rested in the morning... The first night ,my husband and I laughed at each other with our masks on til we almost cried...He didn't think I could do it, but I did! He under estimates me at times..Hahaha...

Permalink Reply by glenda brown on October 18, 2009 at 7:17pm

Hi all, I believe my husband is quite the cantidate himself too. He is up and down as much as me during the night, and him and the dog sometimes have snore-offs. (thank god im in my own room now)


Update- im doing much better now, im no longer frightened when I wake up, and its not trying to strangle me anymore either. I wake up with a feeling of having slept. When I do take off my mask and my airways normalise themselves i seem to snort and 'snore' I guess.. just for a minute or two. Is this a common thing?

Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 18, 2009 at 8:05pm

Hi Glenda--glad to hear you're doing better. We've been thinking about you!

I'm starting to think practically anything weird is "normal" with apnea!! Don't know about your a.m. snoring/snorting after waking up, but I usually cough some and am kinda hoarse. Don't really know why but I assume it's either CPAP or humidity-related.

Susan McCord :-)

Permalink Reply by ellen brann on October 27, 2010 at 7:12pm

HI
I BEEN USING ONE NOW FOR ABOUT 6 WEEK-S I HAVE A HARD TIME TO KEEP IT ON -DO YOU -BUT I FEAL IT-S MADE ME HAVE A BETTER DAY -AND NOT SLEEP DURING THE DAY !THIS IS A REAL BLESSING ;S
THANK YOU JANE