Employment worries!

Hello,

This is my first post, though I have been reading since I was diagnosed. You all seem to have this stuff down cold, and I am so lost.
I was told I had OSA about two weeks ago and have not yet recieved my CPAP.
My main concern is my ability to do my job. For the last five years, I have been an air traffic controller in the Marine Corps. That's all I've done, and honestly all that I want to do. In the Corps, my OSA put me in a status where I am no longer able to control without a waiver. I have yet to have any problems concentrating, or staying awake. I am so frustrated over the whole thing. If anybody has any information about the stipulations regarding this, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am trying hard to embrace this new aspect of my life and run with it. It seems as though I'm just sliding in a downward spiral. Masks?....Machine?......Pressure?.....Seal?......How Long?....Will it work?......humidifier?.......the list goes on and on.

help..........please.........

Vader-ish,

First off thank you and all the other fine men and women in your service to our country!

It's a plus as you start your treatment that you have not felt the effects of OSA. I had years of undiagnosed OSA and wasn't aware of how it saps your focus and your stamina.

Yes, it can be overwhelming when you first start on xpap and the first few weeks are going to be the toughest. I'm sure that boot camp was a lot tougher than this will be for you. It does get better as you fine tune your sleep environment and your equipment.

Do we all have it down cold? After almost a year of being a hosehead I can say that you will eventually experience more good days than bad.

Welcome to the legion of hoseheads!

Rob

Vaderish,

Do you know why you have not received your machine yet? Where are you getting it? Is the DoD providing it? Are you incurring any out-of-pocket expenses for your machine? Has the Dr. written a prescription? Has anybody told you anything?

Give us some more information about your situation, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of good advice.

As for your downward spiral comment: From the moment you decided to do something about this, your life is starting an UPWARD spiral. (Or, the tower has handed you off to departure, who will soon hand you off to Sleeptown Center direct to the wellrested VOR).

Once you start your treatment, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it!

Good luck!

Feelings of uncertainty are strong when we are over tired. As you get equipped, you’ll learn like most of us through the experience of each night. In the beginning it certainly feels like your sliding down the rat’s hole and aren’t even leaving skid marks. There is a T-shirt for that feeling and most of the people here have their share. With that said, this is time where it takes courage and faith in the results of xPAP treatments. It also helps to have experienced support and product information. For both of those you are in a good place.

If you were ever wondering if there is a secret to life’s changing events, my experience shows it is best to just take it one day at a time and trust that the questions you need answered first, will surface when you need them so don’t worry too much about the items you listed. Just as important, you’ll more than likely find the answers to questions or concerns that don’t get handled well by your DME, sleep lab or sleep doctor by just making another posting. People here really try hard to help.

As answers and experience begin to accumulate on your side, you’ll start having faith in the process. However, until then you’ll need to believe you’ll be fine by reminding yourself, but sometimes I find I just need to suck it up until time helps us out. As that happens, you’ll begin to feel as though the cloud hindering your insight into what is important will show in subtle signs of clearings as you begin to arrest the sleep deprivation that created the need for the waiver. As each night of treatment accumulates, your ability to get a good nights rest should improve and I suspect your need for a waiver will fade away.

If you are getting the machine through a sleep lab or a sleep doctor, make notes of what they tell you. When what you find doesn’t feel right or isn’t clear, just post here. With help things will work.

I wish I could give some insights into the waiver process as to what it means, but with OSA being a medical condition I would assume the Marines will treat it like other injuries. When you're repaired, your cleared for the active. With that in mind, I'll bet it doesn't feel great waiting for clearance to push the tin around on your own.

Good luck!

Actually, if your apnea isn't yet on your military record, you may want to keep it that way. A friend said the military would go easier on you if you have a missing limb, than apnea. Apnea diagnosis will likely result in a medical review, and possilbe discharge if you are "cpap dependant", especially if you are considered deployable.
I have read that some military personnel seek alternate treatments such as pillar, dental appliances, etc. to not be classified cpap dependant.
Just check out all the facts before letting it become part of your medical records, use your cpap, but don't discuss it at work until you are sure of your rights.

Thanks for all of your support, it really helps to know that I can come to you guys with my questions. Sorry it's taken me so long to reply been kinda busy with the whole separation process.

I have been informed since my last post that the reason I had not received my machine was that due to some clerical mistake,(big surprise) I had not been enrolled in the primary insurance provider. I have since remedied that situation and was told that they put a "rush" order for my machine.....due to the fact that my apnea index was 106.9. For some reason they were surprised I was still alive . When I did my initial overnighter when they first hooked me up to the machine, they told me that with pap my index dropped to 4.8. I guess that's a good thing. They also told me that my titration was "a 10 or so I suppose".

Now I am well on my way to being swept under Uncle Sam's rug and on my way to a "normal" life. I have filed my claim with the VA and they should be able to help me with further treatment. My only problem now is that I am going to have to come back to CA to do my MWT in a month in order to completely satisfy them. I still fear that this will hamper my ability to be a controller in the "civilian sector". If anybody out there is a hosehead and an Air Traffic Controller, I have a few questions that I just can't seem to get any insight to.(GeoCom?)

Once again, sorry for the delay in my postings, and thank you thank you for your support. Until next time...........

Well, I'm not military and I just can't figure this out.

Was this a happy ending? Actually seems like we are still in the middle of things, but are things going well? Oh, I HATE it when I miss the plot of a good story!

Jan in Colo.