A salutary lesson and reminder

[Tigers Fan]

I spent part of Thursday talking to James and learning about stretching a RemZzzs in order to get a perfect fit in a full face mask. I spent Thursday night sleeping the best sleep I've enjoyed in ages, with stats to prove it. How a bit of quality cotton cloth makes such a difference, I cannot imagine - all I know is that it did. Fantastic addition to the CPAP armoury!

Looking forward to checking out it wasn't just a one off, I packed a bag and set of north to watch Leicester Tigers beat World Champions South Africa (22 - 17, in the event!!). But I didn't take shaving gel and - I didn't take a CPAP hose!!

So I slept without CPAP for the first time in fifteen months - not that 'sleep' describes the experience! I had forgotten how bad it used to be! Umpteen times to the loo, checking the time, please let it be morning, try to sleep - only ten minutes later I'm checking the time again!! On the road south by 7 am!!

From a perfect night with RemZzzs to a night of torment without CPAP. What a reminder of why I clamp that semi-octopus to my face every night!!!

Tonight I anticipate RemZzzs bliss again. When I pack on Thursday to fly south for a few days, I shall be very careful to make sure I take everything CPAP with me!!!

TF

[Simes2112]

2 months in and no looking back in anger

Good news on the Remzzzs TF. I am still on the fence with them - but I had a bad night last night without them i.e. lots of mask leaking. That said I did get about 4 hours continuous sleep from about 2am to 6am and then an hour until 7am just really losing my temper with the mask. But 4 hours good sleep is enough for me now that I am on CPAP.

And I shudder at the thought of a night without my face-hugger - as much as I have to fight with it at times, it has completely changed my life. I feel years younger - more alert, more energetic, happier, calmer, etc.

And the help I have had from the people on this forum has played a big part in me getting accept the CPAP by helping with every little niggle and question. Today is 2 months in for me.

Cheers,

Simon

[Tigers Fan]

On the fence

Hi Simon

On the fence but a bad night without them! Congratulations for giving them a try a therapy-year before I did (not that they were around when I started. 35 years, man and boy .........)

I'm well chuffed for you - two months CPAP and a changed man. It's true though - one missed night and I feel like sh.. - well, very tired. I swear your positive attitude is what has carried you through the rougher times and into the CPAP-light and re-newed life.

Congrats!

TF

[silvercarper]

I have been told by my hospital that not using CPAP for a night or two would have no effect.
Your experience, "Tigers Fan" ,would seem to contradict this advice.

[Tigers Fan]

Give it a go!

Hi silvercarper

Just go to bed without CPAP and see how it effects you!

Take my advice - have your CPAP close at hand, ready for when you can't stand it anymore.

Last night I used RemZzzs again and had a very long and deep sleep - good stats and dreams to prove it. One night without CPAP is one too many for me!!

TF

[Simes2112]

Not use my CPAP kit for just one night? You're having a giraffe!

I have been told by my hospital that not using CPAP for a night or two would have no effect.

I am still a relative newbie CPAP user - but I would always use my CPAP kit, unless I unfortunately forgot to take it (or part of it) with me on a trip - using TF's example.

My understanding (which is not necessarily correct) is that CPAP treatment prevents the circumstances which give rise to Sleep Apnoea events. The CPAP treatment uses forced air to keep the airways open to reduce the number of events significantly (once you have the settings right). Other pleasant side effects are greatly reduced snoring - some people report none at all, my wife says that I sometimes do snore still, but only gently compared with my previous nickname style - Chainsaw.

Sorry - I am writing much more than I intended. But - in a nutshell - take the CPAP kit away for one night and you are right back where you started. Collapsing airways - stopping breathing - lower blood oxygen levels - more snoring - etc., etc.

I think of like my Salbutamol inhaler that I use when my chest wheezes (I have asthma). Salbutamol doesn't cure my asthma - but it deals with the symptoms and gives me relieft from them. If I don't use it I suffer - regardless of the many thousands of Salbutamol inhalations I have taken since I was about 18 years old.

I am not sure if this is helpful or not

[silvercarper]

I want to start night fishing again and was considering buying a battery pack.
I was told that as using CPAP reduces the inflammation in the throat and it takes a few days for it to return then a couple of nights without CPAP would not be a problem.