Backwards

Hi Julie - I do have a severe thyroid problem - been dealing with it for years. For many of those years, with medication my TSH number hovered between 3 and 4 which is great. Last September the number jumped to 11, and it has been all over the place since then. I am under immense stress each and every day with rarely any slack - job pressures, caretaker pressures and then trying to create a business of my own to alleviate the job stress (oh the wicked web we weave!). Cardiac - it's been about 6 months since checked - I have had pains for a few years but the tests only come back that something is abnormal, nothing definitive and nothing they can do until something happens. Since I started Cpap, except for a racing heart when it's time to go to bed (which is probably caused from stress and fear), I have had only one day with chest pain and even that was far less severe than I had had the last couple years. Maybe not cured, but definitely happy to not have that pain anymore. Sugar has not been checked in quite a while to my knowledge, but I have lived with hypoglycemia for years and it is treated simply with diet. Best headache cure - peanut butter on a spoon!

Do I want more in life? Of course I do, but I am the one to make it happen and I work very hard on my goals. I just reached a major milestone just prior to picking up the Cpap, which technically dampened the joy I should have been feeling for my achievement, but I have started the journey for my next goal - plenty of joy to come in the future.

Glad to hear such an optimistic outlook, but you do have some serious issues and should keep looking into them, possibly even with new MDs.

Thanks Julie and funny you should mention that. I have been giving some serious thought to a new MD as for the thyroid issue alone, I do not believe he is treating it as serious as he should. For the sleep doc, can't answer that one yet - never met him, let's see if we have a face to face when I arrive for my appointment and if I do ask questions, is he honest or evasive.

Rebamom wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:16 am

...Prior to Cpap, I can not tell you the last time I wasn't positive, motivated and happy and I really missed this.

...Yes, I love to daydream

Keep it up and and daydreams are the best medicine

How is going the Backwards ?

Thank you Esel!

How are things going? I suppose that is in the eyes of the beholder. Today I feel better than I have felt in a very long time. How I arrived at that - not everyone here would agree it was right, but at least for one night, it was right for me. The exhaustion since starting Cpap was really getting to me - I sleep, very few events but I'm not resting. Last night I decided I needed rest - so I laid down a wee bit early, put on my mask and away we went. When I woke up around 2:15 I allowed myself to give in to the urge to remove the mask, went back to sleep for the remaining hour and a half and I can honestly say I feel rested this morning AND no chest pains. So at least temporarily, a combo of therapy and rest may be what I need. I am thrilled to feel so good today - I feel like the old me!

Hi Rebamom,
I find that sleeping part of the night with my machine, and the rest without has worked the best for me. At some point I am not tired enough to sleep with a mask on my face, it will keep me up. Then the following day I don't feel well.
Do what works for you.
In my opinion, 6 hours is not enough, but if it works, I won't argue.

Thank you Mogy! I truly do believe, at least for now, that is going to be the best solution for me - 4+ hours on, the balance off. To me, rest and being relaxed is as important as sleep, and just because I'm sleeping, does not mean I am resting. I did finally relax one night instead of laying on my side like a board and wouldn't you know, as soon as I relaxed, I rolled and pulled the dang machine off the nightstand - now that was an awakening. I actually started to dream one night, which turned out to be a nightmare, so I have no desire to do that again either.

I understand that six hours of sleep is probably not enough, even for me, but due to my schedule, the best I can do - and being consistent is important, therefore even when I'm not busy, I keep the same schedule.

To make the day more interesting though, the clinic called today to see how things were going. I told her pretty much the same things I've asked about in here, especially being able to relax and she did suggest I look into a longer hose. It's a maybe. I also found out that I do not have a compliance clause from my insurance - so that adds a new twist. I do enjoy not having the chest pain, so I do believe I will continue, even if it is only a partial night. The last interesting thing she told me, because I asked, was that my events from my study were 26 - didn't say if that was mild or severe, but did say that with therapy they are .5. That by itself I know is good. For now, I won't give up - but I think to make it work, a little more rest time like last night is on my agenda.

Mogy wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:07 pm

Hi Rebamom,
I find that sleeping part of the night with my machine, and the rest without has worked the best for me. At some point I am not tired enough to sleep with a mask on my face, it will keep me up. Then the following day I don't feel well.
Do what works for you.
In my opinion, 6 hours is not enough, but if it works, I won't argue.

Mogy has been spouting bad advice for a while now. It's a singular opinion on a cpap support board.

Thanks Palerider - will keep that in mind.

Rebamom wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:06 pm

Thanks Palerider - will keep that in mind.

You mentioned a longer hose... I've got a 10 foot one, it gives me "room to roam" on my 6 foot wide bed, without getting caught or pulling. it's not heated, but that's almost never been a problem (fortunately )

Thanks Palerider - it is definitely something I want to look into, maybe then I can relax, leading to a better sleep and rest. Like Dominoes, just need to let things fall into place to make this work for me. Heated or not, I believe it was Julie, but dont quote me, that showed me where to buy hose covers and/or make one. I'm also considering just crocheting up a hose cover, it can't take that long to make - even for 10 feet.

Rebamom wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:42 pm

I'm also considering just crocheting up a hose cover, it can't take that long to make - even for 10 feet.

Probably not... though it depends on how fast your fingers are

Round and round and round I'll go - less than 4 hours if uninterrupted!

Rebamom wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:08 pm

Round and round and round I'll go - less than 4 hours if uninterrupted!

Zoom zoom! Are you doing it on the hose, or gonna slip it on later?

I'll slip it on later. Cleaning will be easier that way and a nice way to use up some of my scraps - a "coat" of many colors!