I would like to talk to you about cpap machines.

Dear Doctor

I would like to talk to you about cpap machines. They used to be hulking great beasts that made a hell of a racket, I know. But I KNOW it is on me correctly when you can’t FEEL any air coming out the sides or top and bottom of the mask and there is no noise.

Trouble is, when you put a cpap on a person with sleep apnea, you are either putting a tool that can be REALLY helpful for the patient or one that causes them more issues because the pain gets so bad they throw it off some point while they are asleep.

You know, as well as I do that there are HUNDREDS of different types not only of mask itself but the headgear. OOOOOhhhh the HEADGEAR! And I had SO MANY difficulties because of how I am. I was fortunate to have someone willing to try again a few times until we discovered the correct one FOR ME.

But honestly? Can I say something here? If someone is TELLING YOU they CANNOT WEAR the thing through the night = why isn’t the VERY FIRST THING to try another mask and headgear? Why would you tell them they HAD to use it and not offer finding what suits them? I am puzzled here.

Sleep apnea combined with lack of sleep and exhaustion is a DIFFICULT thing to face day after day and year after year. I have been there. I have done it.

Thank you so much to the health professionals that actually DO a good job and research WHAT you need. I had no idea what I needed!

Thanks again

The Invisible Patient