I had an appointment this morning with a Respiratory Therapist who carefully reviewed all of my new CPAP equipment with me and fitted me with my first mask. I can get new masks every six months.

The equipment fits into a neat travel bag a little larger than a backpack; it includes:

the CPAP machine itself (smaller than a portable radio I used to have)
the humidifier and heater
the tubing
the mask (small and light weight) and filter
the documentation (several manuals, booklets and brochures)
the "card" that holds my settings and readings
the power cord

total weight is around 8 pounds and it is quite portable. I'm definitely looking forward to using the equipment and finally feeling rested when I awaken. I haven't been rested for so long I've forgotten what it's like.

That's the best way to describe my emotional state yesterday. I recently had my annual physical. Part of that examination included my taking home a portable sleep monitoring machine on loan from the doctor's office to do a sleep apnea study at home. The other option of going to a sleep lab seemed less appealing than being in my own bedroom, by far. The Physician's Assistant in the office showed me how to set up the equipment and explained how to perform the test, and a guide to follow at home was included with the equipment. I did the test on a Friday night. I felt as though I barely even closed my eyes that night, let alone slept...yet I must indeed have slept. I turned the equipment off when I got up the next morning, repacked it in the travel case, and Jay took it and the disk containing my readings back to the doctor's office. He sent the disk off to be read and evaluated by a technician. Then, on Monday of this week, I got a call from the doctor's office asking me to please come in before my next scheduled appointment because the doctor wanted to discuss the results of the study.

It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out what was about to happen. As I saw it, there were two possibilities: Either I did the test incorrectly the first time and there was no data on the disk and I would need to do the test again . . . or the doctor was about to tell me that yes, the test was positive for sleep apnea and we would need to discuss options for treatment. I know this doctor very well after having worked with him for eight years, so I knew he would not ask to see me sooner than my scheduled visit untless there was a good reason. In other words, he would not call me in just to say the test was negative.

So, I went in yesterday morning, and sure enough I have sleep apnea. The doctor told me that it is "severe". His description was, "you are basically strangling in your sleep, over and over again." No wonder I'm exhausted when I awaken; it's impossible to get any rest when I'm waking several times per hour to catch my breath. He gave me a prescription for a CPAP machine and the phone number of a group of Respiratory Therapists he works with, and told me to call and set up an appointment. I called, and the RT who answered the phone asked for the doctor's prescription and my insurance information, which I provided. Next step is to meet with the RT (likely next week) to receive training on the use and care of the equipment. I will likely be getting the machine around the same time as the appointment with the RT.

It seems ironic. I suggested Jay be tested for sleep apnea because he snored terribly, and is overweight. Those are classic factors that contribute to sleep apnea. He returned the favor by suggesting I get tested myself for the condition, and my doctor agreed it would be a good idea, if ony to rule it out.

Jay is also diagnosed with sleep apnea, and already has a CPAP. He generously offered the use of his CPAP to me, and I declined the offer, with thanks. He needs it himself. The miracle here (and I am famous for looking for silver linings behind dark clouds) is that the condition has been diagnosed, and can now be treated -- and I haven't had a stroke or heart attack because of the condition. I'll take my blessings where I can find them.

I work full time, in the office one day per week and from home four days per week. I am pretty tired by the end of my shift each day, so I don't get to post here as much as I'd really like to. I generally develop a "to-do" list during each week of tasks I want to accomplish in my free time on weekends, since that is the best time for use of the computer other than for work. Thanks to a little challenge from a friend, I've decided to create a new website on one of my favorite topics. (I'm withholding details until the new site is up and running.) So out comes my text editor early Friday evening, with quick notes and a mini-list of tasks. Super; I'm set to begin work on the new site. Then I was asked to work late Friday evening. I agreed, and did put in the extra time, since it wasn't all that much....but my momentum for starting the new site and its associated tasks seems to have vanished into the winds. I just do not have energy to devote to it right now. I'm so exhausted all I really seem to want to do is curl up in front of the television. I hate it, but I guess it's my body's way of telling me to slow down. Nobody's holding a stopwatch on my new project (except me!) so it won't hurt anything if it doesn't happen "yesterday." Just my own impatience. Man, I hate getting reminded (forcibly) that I live in human skin that has more limitations than my mind does....

On a brighter note: the new online Babble resource site I created is a huge hit, and the owner of the site has linked my resource site with the Babble site. This is wonderfully gratifying. The same friend who challenged me (gently) to create my new, upcoming site was positively gleeful when I mentioned I had taken my personal Babble resources page and put it online; he said, "you gots a website now!" He's been chuckling ever since.

Jay's got a job all week working security from midnight to 8 AM. Kind of strange, but it won't last forever. The girls are not happy without him here; they seem restless until he comes home, and neither of them are sleeping much.

I just had my yearly physical, and have some new prescriptions. I still need some other medical stuff done, and it's pending. One of the new prescriptions is helping with an irritating (but not illness-related) issue I've struggled with for a long time ( I don't need to "go" every 15 to 30 minutes any longer), and it doesn't seem to be causing problems as far as side-effects, so that's a plus. I'm about to begin taking a prescription form of niacin (a B vitamin) for lowering cholesterol. The doctor says to avoid over the counter niacin, because it is so slowly absorbed and it is unsafe since it builds up in the bloodstream/body over time and can be toxic.

The visit with the doctor was overdue anyway, so it's a good thing it's done. He did prescribe a new wheelchair, since this one is worn to the point it's beginning to feel unsafe. So on Tuesday of last week, I had an appointment with a physical therapist who did a thorough assessement (90 minutes worth of discussion and measurements of all kinds) for a new one, which should be here in May once the insurance gets done and the chair is ordered. Perhaps by that time we will also have received our tax refund.