I can do this now because of cpap. How about you?

[Froro]

Let's cut back to February of this year. I could barely function. I was grumpy, miserable, very short tempered with my kids and basically the worst I've been in many many years. It was all I could do to get out of bed in the morning before going back to bed after everyone left the house.

Treatment started in March and was initially a pure adrenaline rush. It went downhill and I while I had great numbers I was exhausted. I decided to take as much sleep as I needed to get my body all caught up on that long lost sleep. It took about a month or two to get back to my old self and fully functioning.

Last week I had to drive 5 hours north of here...not the least bit tired and I did it by myself!! Did some business and drove back home the next morning.

But what I"m really thrilled with is that I'm back in the kitchen. I'm loving it!!! Today I took on my most challenging cake to date for my little man's 8th birthday!

It took me nearly all day but I kept at it and am so proud of it. This is probably my best cake yet and my son is beyond excited to show it to his friends tomorrow.


Is there something you did prior to diagnosis that you've gotten back into and fallen in love with again?

[Marietjie]

I'm back in the kitchen

Ja, I'm also back in the kitchen .......and gaining weight !!! I bake and I eat ! ! !
I LOVE your cake - well done Froro - it's beautiful.
This is for the birthday boy. . . . .

[socalmonkey]

That is the craziest cake I have ever seen! Nice job... very creative! I love it!

[kteague]

Wow! That cake is a work of art! And on that subject, the artsy side of me has resurfaced. But I'm pretty sure not much of it will manifest in the kitchen. Will just wait to hear your stories on that front.
Kathy

[vipertec]

Is there something you did prior to diagnosis that you've gotten back into and fallen in love with again?

Yes ,I get work done around the house without being nagged ,I now how the energy to just get the job done ,before cpap ,I was always too tired to do anything especially when I got home from work ,now I just get it done.
Nice cake !

[BlackSpinner]

Last month I went to a doll conference in Ottawa (about 2 hours drive from here) I did workshops for 3 days from 9 to 4 (and finished the stuff in the lounge until 12 every night)
Before I got my machine I couldn't be bother to send the cheque in for it. After 3 weeks on the machine I phone in desperation to book my space because I suddenly realized that I really really wanted to go to it! I haven't done my art work for the last 2 years, instead I knitted ( for some this is great but I chose stuff which just basically went around in circles without thought - but it kept me sort of sane). Now I am designing and planning to get enough sculptures made to have a private show in about a year or so.

Evenings are back - I have lost interest in the TV and I am joining clubs again. I've been out to knit nights and my discussion group.

[Georgio]

What a tremendous cake....that's great that you're enjoying life again. My experience for those starting out: At one time I was athletic and enjoyed many sports.....apnea must have gradually put a stop to my activities. After 8 months of cpap, I feel like I'm rediscovering myself. I can bicycle several miles, or swim a mile, and started weight training again. My recovery with cpap is better than I could have imagined. I hope all of yours will be as good.

Georgio

[time2sleep]

I started working out again in the mornings 5 days a week, I don't automatically drop into the chair in front of the TV after work.

Great cake....almost a shame to eat it! Happy birthday to your little man.

[SaltLakeJan]

I wish every newbie could read your story and realize that sometimes (usually) it is hard getting started. But it usually works out well.

You told your story so well that I felt a thrill of satisfaction when I saw the cake you created for your son's 8th birthday. That was really an accomplishment. Congrats.

I consider finding Cpaptalk.com to be a success story inself. How many of us would not have succeeded without the help we have received here?

Jan

[Muse-Inc]

Is there something you did prior to diagnosis that you've gotten back into and fallen in love with again?

Writing. I've co-authored a murder mystery that's in the Kindle bookstore, written in 2004 (pre-xPAP) it's still looking for a publisher. I wrote it while on extended layoff following 9-11. As my undiagnosed apnea progressed, all of my creativity went into hibernation. After nearly 2 years on CPAP, I see glimmers that some is emerging: re-wrote the opening paragraph of the mystery and we made it available on Kindle and my co-author is again in the market for a publisher for it (he got disillusioned as I sank further into my apnea abyss, he went on to having at last count 5 more books published), wrote a poem the other day inspired by sitting quietly in the back of a chapel (I drove my mom to one her co-worker's memorial service) first one I've written since '05 and I used to be part of a performance group that had a local following, got inspired and re-read some unfinished work which I still haven't the energy to complete but I did re-read it which is a starting place.

My imagination is getting a workout as I am 'chief chef' in the household and eating very low carb and modest sodium -- this is the re-emergence of another of my loves...cooking.

I never lost my love of writing while apnea mangled my life, I lost the energy and focus needed to write.

PS Great cake!

[Froro]

That's great to hear!!!

Muse..I so get you on the lack of energy to create.

If I look back I can see when the apnea really started to take hold. I lost the passion for my business. I was in the floral industry and used to preserve and frame wedding bouquets. At one time I was finishing up to 8 full arrangments complete in frames a day, plus all the wholesale stuff. By the end I was lucky to get through one or two a week. I just couldn't get up the energy to continue. I thought it was because I was sick of the industry. I suspect it was because of the apnea.

I ended up selling the business before I ended up running it into the ground. I don't regret the decision but do sometimes miss it. I miss the extra income that came in but not so much to go back. Trying to think of other things to bring in some pin money without consuming my entire existence anymore.

I was getting really lazy with my cakes and again...I was just too tired. I love being back in the kitchen.