Doctors

[vaneramos]

I finally received results from the sleep study. I have moderate sleep apnea. I had sufficient deep sleep and REM sleep during the study but stopped breathing on average 22 times per hour.

Now I have to go back for another sleep study to check the pressure for a CPAP machine, which I will bring home in May if I'm lucky. The sleep doctor also wants me to lose weight and use a saline rinse in my nose before bed.

I heard back from the stomach doctor last week and he recommended staying on the gluten-free diet because he is more concerned about looking at reflux issues. I didn't know what to make of that, but now that I have another sleep study booked two days before the gastroscopy, I'll take his advice. The sleep study is important so there's no point in making myself sick.

Many factors are pushing me toward regular exercise. Do you feel my enthusiasm?

Comments

[ironbark.livejournal.com]

I am resonating so strongly to these issues. Sleep apneoa, overweight, lack of exercise etc ....

I even had the embarrassment last week of failing the fitness test for a scuba diving course the kids gave me for a xmas present. Aaaah! the shame of it all ... and I know what the solution is ..... MORE EXERCISE.

When I was teaching I was constantly on the move. The last ten years of my working life I spent at a desk slaving over a computer.

I really must get back to regular walking/jogging

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ah thanks for empathizing! I wish it came more naturally to me. I do enjoy lifting weights and walking, but other pursuits distract me too easily. I could use an exercise buddy. Too bad you're on another continent!

Sleep Apnea

[(Anonymous)]

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 11 years ago and have been using a CPAP for that time - so welcome to the "family". My first study showed that I had stopped breathing 46 times in an hour - not including the times that John shoved the pillow in my face - hehehe. Seriously - getting set up for a CPAP is not as bad as one may think. They will have you wear a mask for your next study and they will alter the air pressure to find out which works for you. My first study gave me a result of 6 ("cm under water" - that what it is called). I just had another study done before Christmas and due to the fact that I put on 25 lbs since stopping smoking my pressure is now 9. The company that I deal with for my CPAP is Home Life Care Services based in Pickering. They have been AMAZING and I would recommend them to you but I am not sure that will provide service in Guelph. I would suggest you contact them and see what they say - maybe the can recommend another company in the area. I was told about Meda-gas but I also heard "issues" with them as a company and their service "sucked". Home Life Care is amazing. Be warned - the price of a CPAP is not cheap - $1800 for the deluxe model that I have - OHIP pay only $720 of the cost - the rest was picked up by my major medical insurance - thankfully!! The regular package was around $1300-1400. Feel free to contact me if you want to talk - hugs. christopher