Just a bit disheartened tonight

[kteague]

I'm usually a glass-half-full person, as I've come soooo far. But right now I'm looking at what's not in the glass. Before cpap my brain power was severely compromised - incapcitatingly so. With good cpap treatment I've gotten a lot back, but I'm still quite scrambled from poor sleep due to limb movements that don't respond well to treatment. Now and then I'm forced to face all I've yet to regain.

One quirk I've developed is getting mental blocks. If something is initially difficult for me to grasp, a wall goes up, and it's over. I've been waiting for several days for the wall to come down in hopes I'll be able to figure out how to use my new oximeter. Just ran into that wall again. Yes, there are directions. Might as well be written in greek when I get like this. Tomorrow I'll break down and ask my daughter or son-in-law to help me. I shouldn't have to do that. I used to write specs for data conversions daggone it! I want the rest of my brain back.

Ok. I'm finished with my little hissy fit now. Just needed to voice my frustration.
Kathy

[Krazy Kat]

Wow, am I ever glad that I'm not the only one!!! I've hated to admit it because, again, I thought I was the only one. I totally understand what you mean and it's so darn frustrating to hit that wall when it's something that should be almost natural. another kathy

[rise&shiner]

The fact that you realize that you were a bit on the brain fuzzy side is good that means that you will be able to have good days. Its when you don't even realize that the fuzz is there that yu should be concerned. Sleep deprivation works in mysterious ways and if you think about all the years you went through that it isn't going to get made up 1...2...3...

[KatieW]

I get those too...where it just seems too hard to figure some things out. So frustrating!

Just wondering, what kind of oximeter did you get? If it's the CMS 50-E, it is Greek...actually, it's Chinese, translated into English poorly. It does work pretty well though, for the price.

[rested gal]

The fact that you realize that you were a bit on the brain fuzzy side is good that means that you will be able to have good days. Its when you don't even realize that the fuzz is there that yu should be concerned.

What fuzz???

[-SWS]

Kathy, if you have one of the CMS models, realize that some functions go with short button presses while others are associated with long presses. That's extremely counterintuitive IMHO. But that's how one button manages to pull double duty in lieu of what might have been two buttons: short versus long button presses.

BTW, I still get lost in my home town of over twenty years. Not to engage in "mental fuzz" one-upmanship...

[Patrick A]

Kathy
I just thought that I had drank too much coffee and old bushmills the last time I was like that...a couple of hours ago.

[DreamOn]

One quirk I've developed is getting mental blocks. If something is initially difficult for me to grasp, a wall goes up, and it's over.

Yup, I know exactly what you're talking about! It's like your brain is staring out into space.... I've spent a lot of time in that place.

I'm sorry you're going through a difficult time, Kathy.

~ DreamOn

[Patrick A]

One quirk I've developed is getting mental blocks. If something is initially difficult for me to grasp, a wall goes up, and it's over.

Yup, I know exactly what you're talking about! It's like your brain is staring out into space.... I've spent a lot of time in that place.

I'm sorry you're going through a difficult time, Kathy.

~ DreamOn

I agree with this statement...my previous post meant as a joke Kathy..I really hope you feel better soon.

[mars]

Hi Kathy

You will find all the user manuals at

http://www.semedicalsupply.com/user_manuals.htm

Yours should be amongst them. These are written by Americans for Americans, they are not in Chinglish.

Doesn't take away the mental block, but if the mental block is about the Chinglish manual, you will have no trouble with this one.

If I had a couple of hours I would tell you about all the peculiar things I do, and all the things I do not do, because of brain damage. I am still using my old mobile, I got a new G3 one a few years ago, took one look at all the stuff I had to learn, and kept on using my old one. One day I may get to it, if not - who cares

Any problems - PM me - and we will sort it out step by step.

cheers

Mars

[jnk]

Judging by your posts on this forum, Kathy, you are one of the most mentally on-the-ball and emotionally in-tune people I know. I think we all have mental blocks about some things some of the time. Our job is just to be the best we can be with what we deal with and go through. I have found I get stuck for words and lost in the middle of a thought now and then. I twist words up and say the wrong number when I'm looking right at it sometimes. My good friends make allowances. Aquaintances don't know I used to be different. The rest don't matter.

Sometimes I think those stupid manuals are written confusingly on purpose. That's just one of my many conspiracy theories, though. I always seem to be able to formulate, understand, and remember THEM!

jeff

[Pad A Cheek]

Boy Kathy, can I relate.

Even though I am positively thrilled at the fact that the brain is trying to come back, I still have glitches when I get frustrated.

Your brain is much more on top of it than many people I know. The main frustration is that you just remember when you could do things without glitches. You still do many things well, just try to be kind to yourself Kathy.

Give yourself a break, and remember that we are all in this boat now. It is a better boat than we were in before. That one had major leaks, if you know what I mean.

Give yourself a hug and it is from me.
Karen

[Catnapper]

In another thread Kathy, you said you love an opportunity to write a poem. Maybe you could rewrite the directions, one step at a time, into one of your terrific poems. Basically you would be writing the directions in your own words in a way that you could follow.

I find it very easy to become disheartened too. Just Monday it happened and held me back for the rest of the week. I hate those roadblocks. I am sorry you hit them too. At least you know you are not alone, for all the good that does for you.

Best wishes, friend. It is always a good idea to ask for help if it helps you find a way to either go around or over the rough patches a bit more quickly. I think of you as so very resourceful and helpful to others.

Catnapper - Joanie

[carbonman]

Ok. I'm finished with my little hissy fit now. Just needed to voice my frustration.
Kathy

Just like aerophagia, this too will pass.

[BlackSpinner]

One quirk I've developed is getting mental blocks. If something is initially difficult for me to grasp, a wall goes up, and it's over. I've been waiting for several days for the wall to come down in hopes I'll be able to figure out how to use my new oximeter. Just ran into that wall again. Yes, there are directions. Might as well be written in greek when I get like thi.. I used to write specs for data conversions daggone it! I want the rest of my brain back.

Kathy

I can relate - back before cpap I would be in tears trying to understand new programming concepts I needed to do my job. I learned to practice my relaxation techniques as I sat at the keyboard, get up have a cup of tea, empty my mind and look again, or do something I can do successfully and on that high try again. BUT it has gone away (mostly). I am still working with a therapist to get my bad habits from pre-cpap out of my mind. Mine right now mostly have to do with dealing with my emotional stress - sometimes it feels like the Berlin wall is there. Then I talk to her and I can see a mole hill but I am still building the WALL in my head.