Kath Hope's Comments

Thanks, Kath
I am involved in research into the problem of CPAP failure and what alternatives can be found for the surprisingly large number of patients for whom no form of PAP, not even APAP is of any utility in relieving their symptoms. i also ran a large chain of sleep labs for a time.

thanks for sorting me out Kath, I can now sign in, will do as you suggest re the profile change.

Thanks for the greetings Kath! It's nice to find a private place to discuss things. Some of the facebook groups have everything you say on your wall for all your friends and family to see!

hi Kath, thanks for the welcome, I'm sure I'll find out how to work this thing at some point, never having used f/b or any other forum before I'm having a little difficulty but having checked out the site I'm sure there will be plenty of useful info for me.  sleep well, Pauline

Thank you for your kind welcome 

Thanks Kath, I will indeed introduce myself properly when I get home this evening.  I was fortunate enough to work for a consultant physician, and one day during a meeting I fell asleep.  Jokingly he thought I'd been out partying the night before (I wish); I told him that no matter how much sleep I had I never felt refreshed.  He asked if I snored, I confirmed that yes I did, and he suggested I might have sleep apnoea.  I never did anything about it until November last year when I was diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic, already suffering from high blood pressure, I asked to be referred to the Aintree Weight Loss group, it was during my initial consultation that the subject came up again and the doctor suggested that my GP should refer me for further tests.  These tests came back positive and consequently I've got this machine for a week on trial, with a view to them issuing me with my own machine next week.  I came across you this morning via eBay having just purchased a CPAP Medical Travel Tag alert from you - which is turning out to be the best £10 I have ever spent!  When I return the trial machine on Monday I will certainly mention about having a full mask - although I don't mouth breath normally, if necessary I'll ask for a further trial with a different mask.  I'm going to stay with my son and his family for the weekend, hopefully when I'm with other people I might relax a bit more when using the machine, I think part of the problem might be due to the fact that I live alone and am not fully confident that I won't suffocate during the night.  Thanks once again for your helpful advice, I will read the other posts over the weekend and it is good to know that I am not alone, that others have felt like I do.  Best wishes, Joanne

Thank you for the welcome Kath, although I suspected I had sleep apnoea 5 years ago I have only recently been diagnosed.  I am currently on trial with a CPAP and am on night 4.  So far night 1 I removed mask because it got too hot, night 2 I had a panic attack, hyperventilated and ended up with a numb top lip, last night no matter which way I adjusted the nasal mask it leaked, first my left eye, adjusted mask, then my left cheek, adjusted mask, then right down my chest - took mask off and gave up... I'm going to perservere though, I'm wondering if I'll fare better with a full mask rather than a nasal one.  Only trouble is I cant bear to have my mouth covered up (nightmares of childhood dentist visits when they used to use the gas mask LOL); now even if I accidentally cover my mouth with bedclothes I panic!  Hope it gets easier with time... glad this site is here!

hi kath,its a very simple idea realy,i have insurted a heating wire which uses the same amount of electricity as a 35w lightbulb,it has a thermostat built into it and switches on off all night.it is hot to touch but with your sleve on makes it ok.

thank you kath,i dont know if you would be interested but i have made a heating devise for the cpap pipe which fits inside the hose and with your cover on the pipe makes warm air to my nose its great for me but i dont know about other people.i suffer with fibromyalgia and the cold air rearly disturbs me,let me know if you want more information.martin

Thank you for your welcome, hope to gain some information from this site

Thanks Kath,

I've been getting the newsletter but hadn't registered on the forum, sorted that now. I'm coming up to 1 year CPAP use in June, it's been a steep learning curve, but I have a very helpful clinic who have been great and I have 100% compliance, despite a panic attack on night 1. But as they stopped me driving as my condition was so bad and I had to inform car insurance and DVLA, so the incentive was there to use CPAP otherwise no driving! Simple choice, but hard.

Pippa

hi there and thank you for intrducing me to this site, i have had sleep apnoea for three years now and since i got my machine off the hospital i feel 100% better now apart from the usual marks on the nose,looking forward to hearing from you in the future,many thanks richard

thank you kath, im sure there will be a lot of use ful information on the forum  so looking forward to finding a niche!

Hi Kath,

Thank you for the welcome.  The site is great.  Would have posted sooner but as I've said elsewhere I've been having computer problems. Am now trying to catch up with all that is on here.  Site is growing fast!

Lisa

Hi Kath,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I think if we help  each other from time to time its good. It's also nice to know that your not the only one out there with sleep apnoea.When I was first told that I stop breathing while asleep it worried me. I have read a few books on the subject and spoken my doctor and hospital and armed with more information the I can swing a hose at  I was revealed.

Just happy to help Kath its not much fun not being able to see very well.

All the better to see you, my dear.

hello Kath, thank you for the warm welcome we sure do need to help each other from time to time and its nice to know that you are not the only one out there with sleep apnoea. when i first got told that i stop breathing when I sleep it worried me but when I got more information and was told it could be treated I was revealed.