Hi again. I really had not intended to disappear but it feels like I have done just that. And in the time away do I have anything to show for it? The answer would be a resounding NO!
Personally I was really looking forward to beginning the treatment for my sleep apnea and could not wait for all of the benefits that I had been told I could expect to "kick in" that I jumped right in without looking. However within a very short period of time I have gained weight (supposed to help me lose weight), I've had a bit of a problem "adjusting" first it was the machine now it's the mask & yes this has been & still is an ongoing issue. My skin seems to be on the sensitive side (which by the way I knew & told my CRT) ~ I know he is doing what he can to help but so far I wish I could just go back to the first mask and never had any issues with pressure points/sores at all because now that we have the right machine for me I really would like the right mask to go with it.
TMI right? I'm sorry but here's the upswing ~ before all of these complaints ~ which basically means before I began treatment for my OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) ~ I would sleep all night and when I woke up in the morning I felt like I had not slept at all. I would sit at the computer and discover that I had dozed off (& no I do not have a laptop) and still felt tired. Go about my day & while I was "active" felt ok but could rest if time allowed. Once able to sit a bit to crochet or read or watch tv etc would find 'napping' does exsist. Often doze off rather quickly when I was able to sit for a bit. Now although I am not "happy" about the issues I've been whining about I must say it does feel good not to be falling asleep moments after I've awaken for the day. No more day time naps unless I really want one & I use my machine for any of those.
So if you have sleep apnea & were afraid to go get tested or you've been tested & you have not been dealing well with your machine/mask please be encouraged to keep working on it until you have the best possible fit for you. I do believe once I'm set up with the right "fit" mask that my other issues will actually begin to be resolved or at least be in the process of resolving.
In case you wondered (I'm sure you must have) why if the mask was so good before the machine was a right fit for me what happened .... the mask was good the machine was good but for me it didn't do what I needed it to do so that took a while to discover. The second machine same thing. Once the 3rd (& so far final one) machine was put into use and quickly proved to be a good fit for my needs the mask for the first time really did what it should have been doing and almost immediately I developed a pressure point/sore (most likely this only happened because I have had cold sores / sun blisters in the past that have left me extremely sensitive and now that that mask was sitting on top of one very hyper sensitive location it brought on a fresh sore) ... I don't blame the mask and actually wish I had not returned it because although I like the idea & feature of the nasal pillows I now use I find that I don't get the same sleep as I had with the previous mask.
I share all of this to say I'm still working on getting the right combination for me in order to have the results all of this treatment should be providing.
On a crochet note ... almost finished with the dress for Abigail. Just need to complete the shoulder straps but since I had gone from a 0-3 months size to about a 12 -18 months size I need to measure a child about that age to get the shoulder strap right. So hopefully next week I can show pictures of this completed.
Still lagging way behind on Carter's sweater ... but I am confident that will be accomplished soon.
Well off for the day ... hope you all have a great day & if there were comments I would not stay away so long.
Wishing you all a "frog free" day :)
Wave hat
An original design of mine in the works
Showing posts with label sleep apnea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep apnea. Show all posts
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
When will the warmth begin???
Yeah I went there... the weather usually reserved for "small talk" when running into acquaintances we are polite to but really don't want to get into anything "serious" when "asking" them how things are etc.
So anyway it's been cold, damp & just to tease us we get a really nice day sandwiched inbetween. Today however was yet another rainy day ~ can you even picture it? I mean afterall it is April ... you remember the lovely little saying "April Showers bring May Flowers" don't you? Well I think they really mean it ~ Literally!!!
I rarely bother to listen to the weather reports (after all I can easily look out my window or open the door & actually go outside to determine if the weather requires a jacket or heavy coat or whathaveyou... but I had the tv on while in another room & over heard these words "80 degrees on the weekend" ... now I dare to hope that we will actually have such lovely warmth this weekend. Of course I only heard those words & had not been watching so have no idea if I misheard or if it will be as lovely as they stated.
OOhhh I'll get off the wet, damp, cold weather that has been here on & off most of this month thus far.
In turn I will mention that I still haven't begun a sweater for Carter (yes, he's arrived in March and I still failed to get a simple sweater ready for his arrival) ... the dress I decided on for Abigail will take a bit longer since I haven't just sat down to "work" on it... and I started the Charity Challenge for April project... I only pledged one item this month since I saw how far behind I was with my other projects! I belong to a wonderful yahoo group of crocheters and we have a charity challenge each month from Jan. to Oct.
Ahh the sleep apnea saga continues ... although the machine seems great I've now noticed (20 nights after getting the second mask) that I have a pressure point at the bottom of my right nostril. Pressure points are not good things. Also when I called to ask about it & my dry mouth the tech who ususally deals with me was not in so I spoke with someone else & she really did not address the pressure point issue at all but she said she'd send me a chin strap to help keep my mouth closed while I sleep so that I won't have a dry mouth. That arrived today & I just don't see how that will help since it didn't seem to fit me at all.
So I am off to have some fun with my darling lovebugs (yes all 3 of them) they've already requested I bring the discovery toys I have. I must say I absolutely love that they will ask for the "cuppies" (that's from Kamryn the 2 yr. old requesting the Measure Up Cups) and then from Kyla "bring the math game please" and then Adriana requested the "Busy Bugs" (another math concepts activity) ... just go ck it out and if you have any questions call Sarah (her contact info is on the website) Tell her that her mother sent you!!!! (not that that will save you anything but it will please her no end to know I sent you her way)
Okay off I go to play & hopefully get some crocheting time in (yeah I know it's a lost cause LOL) but I've got a new "camera phone" ~ yes you read that right ~ and I'll try to get some cool pics to share :) you never know! It is just possible???
Frog free projects are wished for all of you :) And nice restful sleep!!!!
So anyway it's been cold, damp & just to tease us we get a really nice day sandwiched inbetween. Today however was yet another rainy day ~ can you even picture it? I mean afterall it is April ... you remember the lovely little saying "April Showers bring May Flowers" don't you? Well I think they really mean it ~ Literally!!!
I rarely bother to listen to the weather reports (after all I can easily look out my window or open the door & actually go outside to determine if the weather requires a jacket or heavy coat or whathaveyou... but I had the tv on while in another room & over heard these words "80 degrees on the weekend" ... now I dare to hope that we will actually have such lovely warmth this weekend. Of course I only heard those words & had not been watching so have no idea if I misheard or if it will be as lovely as they stated.
OOhhh I'll get off the wet, damp, cold weather that has been here on & off most of this month thus far.
In turn I will mention that I still haven't begun a sweater for Carter (yes, he's arrived in March and I still failed to get a simple sweater ready for his arrival) ... the dress I decided on for Abigail will take a bit longer since I haven't just sat down to "work" on it... and I started the Charity Challenge for April project... I only pledged one item this month since I saw how far behind I was with my other projects! I belong to a wonderful yahoo group of crocheters and we have a charity challenge each month from Jan. to Oct.
Ahh the sleep apnea saga continues ... although the machine seems great I've now noticed (20 nights after getting the second mask) that I have a pressure point at the bottom of my right nostril. Pressure points are not good things. Also when I called to ask about it & my dry mouth the tech who ususally deals with me was not in so I spoke with someone else & she really did not address the pressure point issue at all but she said she'd send me a chin strap to help keep my mouth closed while I sleep so that I won't have a dry mouth. That arrived today & I just don't see how that will help since it didn't seem to fit me at all.
So I am off to have some fun with my darling lovebugs (yes all 3 of them) they've already requested I bring the discovery toys I have. I must say I absolutely love that they will ask for the "cuppies" (that's from Kamryn the 2 yr. old requesting the Measure Up Cups) and then from Kyla "bring the math game please" and then Adriana requested the "Busy Bugs" (another math concepts activity) ... just go ck it out and if you have any questions call Sarah (her contact info is on the website) Tell her that her mother sent you!!!! (not that that will save you anything but it will please her no end to know I sent you her way)
Okay off I go to play & hopefully get some crocheting time in (yeah I know it's a lost cause LOL) but I've got a new "camera phone" ~ yes you read that right ~ and I'll try to get some cool pics to share :) you never know! It is just possible???
Frog free projects are wished for all of you :) And nice restful sleep!!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Lots of "New" things here ...
So much to say & where to begin??? Okay first my friend Heather had her baby girl Abigail on Sat. (I haven't had a chance to see her yet but knowing her parents I'd bet she's one beautiful baby)... thankfully the baby shower is in April so I have time to finish her gift. (I'm so close to finishing the baby afghan it should be soon.)
Oh I've started back to the YWCA ... which means I'm back in the water!!!!! I can't tell you how much I missed being in the pool. It's been way too long. I'll just leave it at I had a gain of 13 pounds with out my exercise. So first thing this morning I was back & I was in the water for 2 hours. Being in a pool is heavenly to me.
But the big news is my bi-PAP machine. First off when they advise you to allow 6 to 8 weeks to adjust to the use of it, they aren't kidding! So I would not describe this as the "honeymoon" phase ... it's more like the love/hate relationship just before the wedding due to all of the wedding details that can drive a couple totally insane.... I woke up from my second sleep study feeling very strange & weird to the point where my only way to describe it was I felt as if my brain were 'awake' or very alert... something I had not felt in a very long time. So I think that made me believe I would feel that way automatically once I started using my machine at home.
Well let's be honest here ... in the sleep center my sleeping was all monitored & if I needed more air pressure or less it was being controlled by the technician down the hall. Here at home the machine is set to the setting prescribed for me. However the truth is this adjustment period is to see if this machine & this setting is the right "fit" for me & my needs.
As for the use of the machine it's not too bad ... I will need to decide where I'm sleeping and set it up & leave it there ... I can't just fall asleep anymore without thinking about where I want to sleep & how I'll be able to set up my machine. You see any "planned sleep" including naps is to be done with the use of the machine. So it does present me with the need to "think" before I "sleep" ... which if that doesn't make you laugh ... WAKE UP it was too funny!!! But since I've been waking up with a terrible back ache (weight gain but don't tell my hubby I've been blaming the bed) I chose to sleep in my recliner and oh my I slept!!!!! I slept all night through!!!! Okay you may not realize this but I haven't slept the whole night through since I can remember. I slept last night from 11 to 4:45 am. For me that is a really big deal. I felt like I wanted more time with the machine so opted to go back to sleep for 45 minutes longer and when I got up at 5:30 I felt good. Not Great. But really good, and even now after having gone to spend 2 hours walking in the pool I'm not tired. That is really Big news for me ... after years of waking up tired and any activity where I would feel good afterwards was always followed by the need for a nap I'm really excited that I'm seeing this kind of improvement so quickly.
On the down side I did notice my sinuses are much drier than usual and I'm just concerned about this leading into any kind of sinus infection. The machine I'm using does have a humidifier but it doesn't stop the air pressure from drying me out this I've learned really fast. My view is that I'd much rather deal with the dryness than go back to not having real restful sleep.
Okay that's boring ... the class at the bead store was so cool! I made 2 bracelets. I could have actually completed a 3rd & begun a 4th but I really don't work with my wire often enough to have my hands /fingers in shape to have worked on it much longer. The other ladies who came to the class were making their bracelets and most had 3 done by the time I was leaving. Pictures to come ... I haven't had a chance to take them yet.
I loved the class & I will admit I think the larger beads would have been a bit better I used small ones & they look great but the others made theirs with larger beads & they just looked better (imo) and I think they worked up a little bit faster (just a bit) ...
Okay running out of things to share ... will continue to let you know what's going on with the sleep apnea/ bi-Pap machine ... and the love / hate relationship.
Wishing you all frog free projects & real restful sleep :)
Oh I've started back to the YWCA ... which means I'm back in the water!!!!! I can't tell you how much I missed being in the pool. It's been way too long. I'll just leave it at I had a gain of 13 pounds with out my exercise. So first thing this morning I was back & I was in the water for 2 hours. Being in a pool is heavenly to me.
But the big news is my bi-PAP machine. First off when they advise you to allow 6 to 8 weeks to adjust to the use of it, they aren't kidding! So I would not describe this as the "honeymoon" phase ... it's more like the love/hate relationship just before the wedding due to all of the wedding details that can drive a couple totally insane.... I woke up from my second sleep study feeling very strange & weird to the point where my only way to describe it was I felt as if my brain were 'awake' or very alert... something I had not felt in a very long time. So I think that made me believe I would feel that way automatically once I started using my machine at home.
Well let's be honest here ... in the sleep center my sleeping was all monitored & if I needed more air pressure or less it was being controlled by the technician down the hall. Here at home the machine is set to the setting prescribed for me. However the truth is this adjustment period is to see if this machine & this setting is the right "fit" for me & my needs.
As for the use of the machine it's not too bad ... I will need to decide where I'm sleeping and set it up & leave it there ... I can't just fall asleep anymore without thinking about where I want to sleep & how I'll be able to set up my machine. You see any "planned sleep" including naps is to be done with the use of the machine. So it does present me with the need to "think" before I "sleep" ... which if that doesn't make you laugh ... WAKE UP it was too funny!!! But since I've been waking up with a terrible back ache (weight gain but don't tell my hubby I've been blaming the bed) I chose to sleep in my recliner and oh my I slept!!!!! I slept all night through!!!! Okay you may not realize this but I haven't slept the whole night through since I can remember. I slept last night from 11 to 4:45 am. For me that is a really big deal. I felt like I wanted more time with the machine so opted to go back to sleep for 45 minutes longer and when I got up at 5:30 I felt good. Not Great. But really good, and even now after having gone to spend 2 hours walking in the pool I'm not tired. That is really Big news for me ... after years of waking up tired and any activity where I would feel good afterwards was always followed by the need for a nap I'm really excited that I'm seeing this kind of improvement so quickly.
On the down side I did notice my sinuses are much drier than usual and I'm just concerned about this leading into any kind of sinus infection. The machine I'm using does have a humidifier but it doesn't stop the air pressure from drying me out this I've learned really fast. My view is that I'd much rather deal with the dryness than go back to not having real restful sleep.
Okay that's boring ... the class at the bead store was so cool! I made 2 bracelets. I could have actually completed a 3rd & begun a 4th but I really don't work with my wire often enough to have my hands /fingers in shape to have worked on it much longer. The other ladies who came to the class were making their bracelets and most had 3 done by the time I was leaving. Pictures to come ... I haven't had a chance to take them yet.
I loved the class & I will admit I think the larger beads would have been a bit better I used small ones & they look great but the others made theirs with larger beads & they just looked better (imo) and I think they worked up a little bit faster (just a bit) ...
Okay running out of things to share ... will continue to let you know what's going on with the sleep apnea/ bi-Pap machine ... and the love / hate relationship.
Wishing you all frog free projects & real restful sleep :)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Random thoughts or just rambling ...
I received a phone call to confirm my sleep study test for tonight & then about 45 minutes later I received a second call to cancel my appointment. Add to that news I was then told the next appointment time would not be until April. I'm rather disappointed to say the least. Knowing for a fact that I do have sleep apnea I was really looking forward to finding out if the use of the CPAP machine would help me at all. Telling the guy that I was scheduled for the second test with the CPAP machine in order to determine if it would help me did nothing to help the situation. Instead of him saying we'll do what we can to get you in he continues to tell me that next week will be my "first" sleep study and then "if you need" a second one we'll schedule you.
What? Didn't the doctor already determine he wanted me tested twice to determine if the CPAP machine would help me? Why then does a non-doctor get to act as if I would not need a second test with the machine? It just upset me.
Then I was thinking about the reason why I sought this testing in the first place. I know I have sleep apnea (and anyone who has been on a trip with me as my roommate knows this too) it is pretty obvious when I'm snoring away & then suddenly stop breathing then jerk around a bit & begin breathing again. So yeah I have sleep apnea. So yeah I'm exhausted most days & nights & my concern is that I need help to get some real "rest" when my eyes are closed so that I don't just continue in a fog. The nurse in the recovery room told me I needed to be reevaluated so I wonder what she saw /heard etc. to make her tell me that?
Okay change of subject. While visiting with my daughter & son in love we watched an episode of Dateline. Bring Sean Home ... First off this particular episode totally s***ed in my opinion. My prayers are with that father who is (as far as we know) still seeking to be reunited with his son. I'm doing my best to recap this show as briefly as possible : Husband discovers marriage gone bad with no warning, completely caught off guard. Son stolen from loving doting father by mother who apparently had everyone fooled by her loving behavior. Son not returned to the father even though there is an international something or other law that is supposed to help parents in these cases, he's now divorced even though it wasn't what he wanted or even understands why she wanted it. (She was originally from Brazil & she went back to Brazil) She remarries, gives birth to a baby girl then dies & his son is still kept from him. The new husband claims he wants to adopt the son because he was more of a father figure to Sean then his biological father. I was so upset by the end of this show & that was a few weeks ago that I saw it and it has stayed with me all this time. I think it is horrible that things like this can & do happen. I find it most upsetting that there is no explaination for what caused her to do what she did. I mean not that I would agree with what she did but if she were so unhappy living in NJ wouldn't she say something to her husband? Wouldn't she ask him to consider moving to another location or country or something? Wouldn't she tell her closest friends how unhappy she was? They all seemed just as surprised & shocked by her departure as he did. No one seemed to have any clue what was behind her behavior.
Change of topic ... my prayers are with all of the families & friends who lost loved ones in the plane crash in Buffalo NY last night. I don't have any details as I haven't been watching the news (yet) but I have heard it was horrible and many lives lost due to this plane crash. It makes me doubly thankful my dear daugher's flights home went so well. And she is home with her hubby now safe & sound. My heart is broken for all of those who have lost someone due to this crash.
Okay one crochet related item & I'm done for today ... I gave the flower hexagon sweater to someone else (I just didn't have /take the time to finish a baby sweater that I wanted to give them & so I took the finished item and gave it away) ... it was intended for Heather's baby but not now. I am almost finished with the sweater I started for the gift (which then wasn't finished in time) but it can't be Heather's baby's gift since it is pink & yellow & Heather wishes for nothing in pink. I will make yet another one for her.
Okay off to try & finish this sweater and get another item underway.
Wishing you all frog free projects & trouble free days. May all your loved ones be safe today!
What? Didn't the doctor already determine he wanted me tested twice to determine if the CPAP machine would help me? Why then does a non-doctor get to act as if I would not need a second test with the machine? It just upset me.
Then I was thinking about the reason why I sought this testing in the first place. I know I have sleep apnea (and anyone who has been on a trip with me as my roommate knows this too) it is pretty obvious when I'm snoring away & then suddenly stop breathing then jerk around a bit & begin breathing again. So yeah I have sleep apnea. So yeah I'm exhausted most days & nights & my concern is that I need help to get some real "rest" when my eyes are closed so that I don't just continue in a fog. The nurse in the recovery room told me I needed to be reevaluated so I wonder what she saw /heard etc. to make her tell me that?
Okay change of subject. While visiting with my daughter & son in love we watched an episode of Dateline. Bring Sean Home ... First off this particular episode totally s***ed in my opinion. My prayers are with that father who is (as far as we know) still seeking to be reunited with his son. I'm doing my best to recap this show as briefly as possible : Husband discovers marriage gone bad with no warning, completely caught off guard. Son stolen from loving doting father by mother who apparently had everyone fooled by her loving behavior. Son not returned to the father even though there is an international something or other law that is supposed to help parents in these cases, he's now divorced even though it wasn't what he wanted or even understands why she wanted it. (She was originally from Brazil & she went back to Brazil) She remarries, gives birth to a baby girl then dies & his son is still kept from him. The new husband claims he wants to adopt the son because he was more of a father figure to Sean then his biological father. I was so upset by the end of this show & that was a few weeks ago that I saw it and it has stayed with me all this time. I think it is horrible that things like this can & do happen. I find it most upsetting that there is no explaination for what caused her to do what she did. I mean not that I would agree with what she did but if she were so unhappy living in NJ wouldn't she say something to her husband? Wouldn't she ask him to consider moving to another location or country or something? Wouldn't she tell her closest friends how unhappy she was? They all seemed just as surprised & shocked by her departure as he did. No one seemed to have any clue what was behind her behavior.
Change of topic ... my prayers are with all of the families & friends who lost loved ones in the plane crash in Buffalo NY last night. I don't have any details as I haven't been watching the news (yet) but I have heard it was horrible and many lives lost due to this plane crash. It makes me doubly thankful my dear daugher's flights home went so well. And she is home with her hubby now safe & sound. My heart is broken for all of those who have lost someone due to this crash.
Okay one crochet related item & I'm done for today ... I gave the flower hexagon sweater to someone else (I just didn't have /take the time to finish a baby sweater that I wanted to give them & so I took the finished item and gave it away) ... it was intended for Heather's baby but not now. I am almost finished with the sweater I started for the gift (which then wasn't finished in time) but it can't be Heather's baby's gift since it is pink & yellow & Heather wishes for nothing in pink. I will make yet another one for her.
Okay off to try & finish this sweater and get another item underway.
Wishing you all frog free projects & trouble free days. May all your loved ones be safe today!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Getting back to the everyday routines
I brought my daughter to the airport yesterday afternoon. It was great having her home for a visit, although her husband was missed. (He had to stay home & work.) She made it safely home last night. So now we both have to get back into the usual everyday routines that comprise our lives. You have a "regular routine" don't you? Well for me I have been "off balance" for several months. Now I need to get my list of "must do", "want to do", "should do" etc. and then get doing all the things I need to catch up on.
I've still got to finish the order for Kathleen (thought I would have had that completed while visiting my daughter's home) and I need to get back to work on Heather's baby gift. I'll get my list worked on first then go from there.
I have sleep apnea ~ known this for years. However when I had my outpatient surgery last July the nurse in the recovery room suggested I be reevaluated. So I go for my first of 2 sleep tests this Friday night. Then my second one is next week on Friday. Then I wait a month for the results to be discussed with me. The idea is to find out if I would benefit from a CPAP machine. I suffer from chronic post nasal drip (ugh so disgusting I can't stand it ) and wonder if having oxygen keeping the back of my throat moist will help while I sleep.
Sorry it is a disgusting problem & nasty to discuss especially here where you would have to read about it so I apologize and am moving on...
Speaking of moving on I need to begin my day by getting ready to go to the Alpha Pregnancy Care Center for crochet class. Yay someone from my online crochet group sent me a bunch of crochet hooks & some dpn's for the ladies in this class. I can't wait to give them this gift.
Wishing you all frog free projects.
I've still got to finish the order for Kathleen (thought I would have had that completed while visiting my daughter's home) and I need to get back to work on Heather's baby gift. I'll get my list worked on first then go from there.
I have sleep apnea ~ known this for years. However when I had my outpatient surgery last July the nurse in the recovery room suggested I be reevaluated. So I go for my first of 2 sleep tests this Friday night. Then my second one is next week on Friday. Then I wait a month for the results to be discussed with me. The idea is to find out if I would benefit from a CPAP machine. I suffer from chronic post nasal drip (ugh so disgusting I can't stand it ) and wonder if having oxygen keeping the back of my throat moist will help while I sleep.
Sorry it is a disgusting problem & nasty to discuss especially here where you would have to read about it so I apologize and am moving on...
Speaking of moving on I need to begin my day by getting ready to go to the Alpha Pregnancy Care Center for crochet class. Yay someone from my online crochet group sent me a bunch of crochet hooks & some dpn's for the ladies in this class. I can't wait to give them this gift.
Wishing you all frog free projects.
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