Just think.... maybe someday we can say good bye to our CPAP machines!!!

Good to know. Thanks for the info!

I have my surgery on March 11th as of today, I use a cpap machine at night and it has been a little over a year since I started using it. I am so hoping and praying that some point after my surgery I can get rid of the cpap machine. I thank God for it but at the same time I am sick of it. I see lots of people with cpap machines that are not overweight but I am still hoping anyway. Your picture is too funny, I know where you are coming from.

caspinelli712,

I think I am on the verge of not needing my CPAP anymore. I've tried sleeping without it and I am sleeping longer without waking up. I probably need to lose anther 50 lbs before I can wean myself off of it.

My sleep specialist said that apnea is common to people with short necks - she's seen skinny grandmas and football quarter backs that need the CPAP machine.

I didn't need the thing when I was at 275, hopefully when I get back down there, I won't need it anymore.

Great pic and CPAPS be gone soon!

OMG I just aquired one of those horrendous machines and no I wont use it. I hate it and I cant sleep. omg its barbaric I feel like im drowning.

OMG I just aquired one of those horrendous machines and no I wont use it. I hate it and I cant sleep. omg its barbaric I feel like im drowning.

I've felt that "drowning" sensation a few times when I didn't have the machine turned on before I put on the mask. But I was over a year suffering from severe sleep apnea. I had to take caffeine pills daily to stay awake and never ever felt like I was awake.

I spent all my time off work, sitting at my desk feeling half awake and no amount of sleep would leave me feeling rested. It always felt like I had stayed up all night and I hit that 7am brick wall. The feeling that you'd give anything to go to bed right now. I had that feeling all the time.

So it was a big relief when I had my 1st nights rest with the CPAP. I felt so rested that I didn't care if I had to wear the mask. I don't feel completely rested now days, but it beats the old days when I felt that life wasn't worth living.

I find out next week whether I need one or not. I'm not looking forward to sleeping with that noise and a mask on my face.

Thank you for the explaining the difference in the water. I never thought of that.

It takes some getting used to but considering the chance of NEVER waking up because your heart gives out in the middle of an apnea....I will take the mask. I use what are called nasal pillows on my CPAP so I don't have that huge mask just a chin strap and a strap that goes over the top and back of my head. As for "drowning" most CPAPs have settings for how much moisture it uses and puts into the "air" it sends into your nose....when I got mine, my whole face and pillow got wet....I learned really fast how to turn the moisture down....I can even go several days without the water chamber....but eventually the inside of my noise gets sore so I have to use it at least once in a while. I have found I cannot even take a nap or doze off without it now because I am so used to it. So Belladona, you might want to reconsider.....you would not have it if you did not have sleep apnea and the chance of NOT waking up.......plus as the others said you never realize how much your sleep is interrupted until you actually sleep well due to your CPAP/BiPAP, and wake up feeling so much better and more rested. Good luck with your decision though. :-)

As for "drowning" most CPAPs have settings for how much moisture it uses and puts into the "air" it sends into your nose....when I got mine, my whole face and pillow got wet....I learned really fast how to turn the moisture down....I can even go several days without the water chamber....but eventually the inside of my noise gets sore so I have to use it at least once in a while. I have found I cannot even take a nap or doze off without it now because I am so used to it.

I hadn't though of the moisture angle. I initially assumed she meant the feeling of breathing in and it feeling like you're not getting any air. When I first put my mask on, if the unit is off, and I breath in, it feels like I have a plastic bag over my head. I suck in, but no air. It is a scary feeling if you're not expecting it. I yanked my mask off the 1st time it happened to me.