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**Tigers Fan** · 24 November 2008, 11:10

The worst is over

Hi jillybean

Welcome to the forum.

The worst is over! Anxiety is always at it's highest level before we begin the journey. As you point out, we have done it - and so can you!

There comes a day when you finf Darth Vader jokes very tedious.

You ask lots of questions that only you can find your answer to. But I promise - it isn't that bad once you get started, and then come the good bits. When did you last have a good, relaxing, refreshing night's sleep. As well as the mask, you get them as well - and you don't necessarily have the mask for ever. One of our members has just been declared OSA free - he lost weight, is all.

Tigers Fan

**Sleep2Snore** · 24 November 2008, 11:46

Hi jillybean,

Welcome.

I dont know if I will be able to cope with it, I know that sounds pathetic as a lot of you seem to .

You will get used to it and you will cope. Some of the masks can be a bit claustrophobic at first, but don't accept the first mask they try you with. If it doesn't feel comfortable, it will only feel worse when you get it home.
There are a lot of various types of mask out there including ones that just put onto the nostrils.

How was it for you at the start? How did you tell your Husbands/ Wives that this is it forever?

It may not be forever, though there is every chance it may be. Some loose a bit of weight and they keep it off and do not need it anymore.
Most partners don't need to be told, they soon get to know you may have it for a long time.

How the hell do you sleep with these things?

Because we have to and they are a lot quieter than they used to be.
I saw one of the early machines and it was the size of a wet & dry vacuum cleaner and was just about as noisy, yet the man slept with it beside his bed and his wife beside him. How he could sleep was beyond me, but he kept it till it broke down. You do get used to having to use them and if you get the right mask it makes a big difference.

I suppose Im feeling a bit sorry for myself but there are lots of things I want to know how do your Kids react to you looking like something from Star Wars?
Im finding it all a bit scarey!!

Honestly, my kids don't think anything of it. Even the youngest one, I thought it would scare him being so little at the time, but he just accepted it and goes to waken his mother and leaves me sleeping. He used to waken me before that, but when I got a mask to start with he knew it took a while to put on again so used to go to his mother. Now i have Nasal Pillows which go on the nose and can be taken off in a second. He comes to me now

All good things come to an end

Even his mates just accept I ware head gear at night and they don't appear to think anything of it. They see the machine there, ask what it is for and just accept it, so don't let it bother you.

Do you really feel better, I get cramp a lot will that stop?

Yes, I feel 100 times better than I did and I can stay awake for hours and drive for hours without feeling a bit tired. I can drive for longer than most people that do not have the condition, but then I always could except when I first started to suffer from it. I was lucky if I could drive for 20 miles without having to stop. As for cramp, well I don't know, it is common for legs to move around and be oxygen starved during sleep, so this may improve.
If not, you can get pills from your GP for cramp.

Everyone is not the same though and your experience my be not the same.
Let us know how you get on.

I put the Nasal pillows on when I go to bed (if no other distractions) and take them off when I get up, even if I am awake I still keep them on. That is how comfortable I am with the gear I have now, though it took a while and a lot of visits to get it like this. But don't be put off, as you are mild you will not have to deal with high pressures like I have to.

Good Luck!

**leswaller** · 24 November 2008, 11:52

Hi Jillybean
I can only echo what Tigers Fan has said, the hardest bit is over! once you start getting a good nights sleep you will feel so much better about yourself. My teenage daughters thought it was weird initially but soon got over it and now jokingly refer to me as a 'hosepipe head'. There are several different types of masks you can try, just keep experimenting with them until you get one that is comfortable. There are also things like humidifiers and heated hoses which all help your comfort and sleep levels.
The end results will probably be:- more energy, less grumpy, better attitude with the children and your husband and a probable weight loss.
As far your husband is concerened, dont put the mask on until you are ready to sleep, and afterall it is easier than saying you have a headache

**musotech** · 24 November 2008, 22:49

Hi Jillybean,

I've had my Cpap for just a month and it's made a difference already. Like any new experience I was nervous and a little afraid as to whether I would cope. The first few nights were a little strange getting used to the mask, trying not to breath through my mouth and not pull the machine off the bedside table, but, like wearing glasses, you get used to it. My wife was a little nervous the first few nights but now sleeps better knowing that I don't stop breathing every so often & my daughters are fine likening me to the characters with gasmask faces in Dr Who!
One of the great things I've found is the wealth of experience and advice on forums like this, is a great help. Someone has usually had the same problems and worked through them and is willing to share their solutions.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Musotech

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