Does anyone ever just give up on cpap?

[Sluggish]

Talking about my issues with some folks at work and learned that a couple people eventually gave up on “therapy”. Got me thinking... I wonder how many people do this?

After weeks? Months? Years of trying to get a good nights sleep with no luck?

Because you feel worse with the machine than you did before?

After trying 20 or 50 different masks (at $100 a pop) in all sizes and still waking up with leaks or other issues because somehow you still haven’t found “the right mask”?

[LSAT]

Talking about my issues with some folks at work and learned that a couple people eventually gave up on “therapy”. Got me thinking... I wonder how many people do this?

After weeks? Months? Years of trying to get a good nights sleep with no luck?

Because you feel worse with the machine than you did before?

After trying 20 or 50 different masks (at $100 a pop) in all sizes and still waking up with leaks or other issues because somehow you still haven’t found “the right mask”?

A little exaggeration? Since you received your machine on May 14th....you used a different mask every night since then?

[Doug_Nightmare]

A little exaggeration?

Or speaking hypothetically.

About 1/3 of my acquaintances gave up sooner or later. I think some are led to have too high expectations, as of a ‘cure’ and not of a better lifestyle.

I know that there is no cure for my CSA-CSB.

[D.H.]

It's unfortunate, but I think that about half of those prescribed CPAP aren't using it. This does not include the large pool of undiagnosed individuals who are also (obviously) not using CPAP.

With proper follow-up, that number can be lowered. Some will not be able to use it no matter how good the follow-up. Those need to be further followed up with an eye towards alternative therapies.

[jnk...]

Talking about my issues with some folks at work and learned that a couple people eventually gave up on “therapy”. Got me thinking... I wonder how many people do this?

After weeks? Months? Years of trying to get a good nights sleep with no luck?

Those who do not receive sufficient education and ongoing help may give up. Some give up the first night for no other reason than that they feel starved for air at the pressure the ramp gives them, as set up by the DME. Unfortunately, the model of treatment of a sleep doc's job being basically done once he diagnoses and prescribes and his then handing a patient over to a DME provider from that point on is not a model that works that well for those of us who need more help than that. If not for the help from people on this board, there go I, perhaps.

After trying 20 or 50 different masks (at $100 a pop) in all sizes and still waking up with leaks or other issues because somehow you still haven’t found “the right mask”?

Some online providers offer mask insurance. And my understanding is that mask manufacturers give credit to DMEs for any masks that don't work for a particular patient. So, ideally and technically, there should be no "pop" for masks that are tried but that fail to work.

Masks and machines have come a long way in the last several years, and hopefully more users are finding the info they need online from fellow patients to make their therapy work.

But, yes, the simple fact of the matter is that no matter how amazing the therapy and tools--you can lead a man to the hose of life, but you can't make him mask up to breathe.

[HoseCrusher]

In order to improve the symptom it may be necessary to address the root cause...

[jnk...]

In order to improve the symptom it may be necessary to address the root cause...

Dude. Time for a new mantra. Hopefully one that actually has meaning. Breathing and sleep are NOT symptoms.

[HoseCrusher]

This is the new mantra... Observe the symptoms, note them, then look deeper and address the root cause. You can also treat the symptoms if that helps but don't stop there.

[jnk...]

The symptom of bad breathing and bad sleep is death. Treat it meaningfully before the symptom occurs.

The cause of not being able to breathe during sleep is an airway that is not sufficiently open. Treat that root cause with a stent, preferably the natural stent called "air."

[Goofproof]

I try not to hang with quiters. It might rub off. Jim

[jnk...]

How many people have given up on lifesaving CPAP because they thought there was some way magically to treat some imaginary "root cause" instead of addressing the real problem with scientifically established treatment?

[Midnight Strangler]

This is the new mantra... Observe the symptoms, note them, then look deeper and address the root cause.

There is only one treatment for the root cause - Bimaxillary Advancement Surgery - https://sleep-doctor.com/surgical-treat ... vancement/

Go for it:

[Sluggish]

It was all sort of hypothetical. I haven’t tried anywhere close to 50 masks yet but I am about to embark on that journey and I wonder how many I will need to try or how many before I go broke etc.. With any luck I’ll get it right early on.

Regarding the DME advice; Thanks but I’m not sure any of that applies since I am not involving my insurance in any of this. My understanding is that once I get my paperwork straight with Cpap.com I can order masks and return them but I’m not really sure how it works.

I haven’t given up on treatment. Although I’m not 100% convinced CPAP is the only treatment.

[jnk...]

MMA is the only surgery that makes much sense for the severe OSA patient who can't or won't do CPAP, but even that has not supplanted CPAP as the gold standard.

. . . 46.7% of patients obtaining an AHI < 5 . . . MMA should be considered as the alternative treatment of choice for patients with severe OSA who cannot fully adhere to CPAP therapy. . . . -- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4481052/

with Cpap.com I can order masks and return them but I’m not really sure how it works.

I think you just add the insurance to your cart, if it doesn't happen automatically, if I understand correctly, and I may not.

https://www.cpap.com/productSearch.php# ... 0insurance:::

The CPAP.com explanation is the following for their "free-return insurance" for some masks ordered from within the U.S.:

This insurance allows you to return this item to us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund of the product's purchase price. Return insurance makes sense if you are trying out new masks, new sizes of your current mask or if you simply want the option of returning the mask for a refund. Please Note: Free return insurance is only available within the contiguous U.S.

I have had good success with them, but I am not affiliated with them in any way.

[kteague]

I hear the failure rate is pretty high, and that's from reading here and personal experience with friends and family. One family member recently decided to try again and is finally getting good sleep with minimal mask issues. His solution was the size of the mask. At about 5 months in I decided to quit, but that didn't last long. My sleep without it was too scary. Prefer being aggravated to being afraid. That was when I found my way here. Finding a workable mask can be incredibly frustrating. Have been known to throw one against the wall in the middle of the night. The last mask I ordered from our host came with free return insurance. Some masks make available for purchase return insurance which is far friendlier to the budget than just eating the full cost of masks. You may be able to sell a used mask for a small fee, but if that's not worth the trouble for you, there's always people on here who could use a blessing of a free mask. I've seen people on here post a list of their unused masks that were available. Those resources helped me along my way.

Is there anything about your face shape that is making mask selection more difficult? Sometimes posting those issues will prompt others with similar face shapes to give input on masks that did/didn't work for them. For example a very small face, or high bony nose bridge, or slotted nares, or recessed chin. With any mask, review videos offered for proper fitting. It's amazing how much of difference a slight tweak can make. And different sizes with the same mask too. Post specific problems with a particular mask - someone may have already faced and resolved that. Good luck. Finding a well fitting and comfortable mask is worth the effort. Some of the ones I've tried, if that was all there was out there, I'd have failed too. Hope your search turns out to be a short one.

Oh, and the type of sleeping pillow can make a difference. I find a firm flat pillow is less likely to allow my face to sink into it and dislodge the mask. And hose management - the slightest tug on the hose can be an issue. There are management systems one can buy or ideas for DIY.