What lies ahead? And what to do about it.

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:22 pm

dr. bandage (wrote)

But what can each of us do, as individuals, in a grassroots effort to W.A.K.E. U.P. the people that need to know the severity and breadth of this problem?

Last Sunday i made a trip down to Southern Cal. to attend my Dads 85th birthday party at my sisters place, one of my sisters friends was there with her husband. Somehow we got on the subject of my OSA and my sisters friend said her husband stops breathing in his sleep for long periods of time and he flops around alot and he snores. I told them (the wife and husband) that these were the classic symptoms of OSA and proceeded to tell them how dangerous OSA left untreated is, citing example Reggie White the ex football player who died in his sleep. I said he should see a sleep doc and do a study. The husband made a few wisecracks and did not take me seriously, although i think the wife was listening and concerned, anyway I TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM. You would not believe the amount of ignorant people out there in the world when it comes to this (OSA) subject. I too was ignorant until i was diagnosed. I wish some folk's such as at my work did not know about my condition since they like to poke fun at me including my Azzhole Boss (I once asked my boss to check out cpaptalk and educate himself his response was that i must have too much time on my hands to be online etc.) . Bottom line is some people are stooooooopid and i feel sorry for them.

Dale

drbandage · Post by **drbandage** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:48 pm

shippy wrote:dr. bandage (wrote)

The husband made a few wisecracks and did not take me seriously, although i think the wife was listening and concerned, anyway I TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM.

I wish some folk's such as at my work did not know about my condition since they like to poke fun at me

Dale

Dale-

Sad but familiar story, right?

"Wisecracks" and "poking fun" would not be the order of the day if one were to be informed of the nasty bad stuff that befalls people like us who are undiagnosed are who are unable to remain compliant with therapy. So these people, like the great unwashed masses, are not informed yet. (Just like you and I were!!) That job falls to us. Keeping telling your story, rehearse it, know your facts, refer to SleepGuys new paper, and we will start chipping away at the culture of ignorance!!

People wouldn't laugh if you told them you had high blood pressure. High pressure is asymptomatic (unless VERY high). But it is a harbinger of a mulitude of horrible health problems that may be coming your way. It is, in fact, like OSA, a CAUSE of horrible health problems. People obviously shouldn't laugh if you're excessivly sleepy or are known to snore. They laugh out of ignorance.

Until people stop assoicating Sleepy and Snoring with the Seven Dwarfs, we will have a very tough time getting the appropriate response to what is a very debilitating and potentially deadly disease.

Please see my tag line below:

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:30 pm

This is such an inspiring thread, I'm bumping it back up. Grassroots action can be very powerful!

Thanks, DrB, wherever you are.

frete50 · Post by **frete50** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:04 pm

drb,

I have told my coworkers and they have not made fun of me. In fact when I explained the symptoms I was having, one of them actually went to their doctor and is going for their first study in about two weeks. So not all people are cruel. But I do realize that is not always the case and many of the OSA suffers have not been as lucky with co-workers.

Now with my family it is a different case, one of my sister-in-laws, a real moron, thinks that if I just breath better then this condition will go away on it own. The others are not so bad. Just her.

Becky

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:18 pm

neversleeps wrote:This is such an inspiring thread, I'm bumping it back up. Grassroots action can be very powerful!

Thanks, DrB, wherever you are.

Couldn't agree more! This is an all-time favorite thread. I'd say let's turn our attention and energy back to this and see what comes of it. DrB, what say you?

The timing is excellent--Sleep Awareness Week!

OldHippie · Post by **OldHippie** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:22 pm

I am by no means knowlegable about SA as I am newely diagnosed and new to treatment.

But it is frightening to me when I see stats regarding the number of people who are undiagnosed/untreated.

I don't think it was on this forum but someone posted, regarding not using your CPAP:
"You don't want to wake up dead."

I wonder how many undiagnosed/untreated people "Wake up dead".

What a sobering thought.....

Louise

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:46 pm

In a nutshell drbandage's comment is that today's medical community does not properly screen for sleep apnea. Rather, that sleep apnea is not even on the medical community's "radar screen" of awareness as he put it.

I couldn't agree more! I still plan on handing out apnea awareness literature to medical offices in my area. A very small and rather anonymous gesture on my part. Oh, how I would love that gesture to be multiplied by dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.

Grassroots movement? Why not?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:41 pm

The final decision to ask my Dr. to order testing was a brochure I picked up at my son's ENT office. Even if the providers don't read the material, if they just put it out with the glamour and sports magazines it may snag a few folks like me.

(It so happens that this particular ENT is very knowlegable and led the effort to talk his partnership (60 physicians) to add a pulmonologist/sleep specialist and an associated hospital to add a testing center.)

Chris

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:44 pm

Ooops, guested!

C

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:07 pm

-SWS wrote:I still plan on handing out apnea awareness literature to medical offices in my area. A very small and rather anonymous gesture on my part. Oh, how I would love that gesture to be multiplied by dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.

Grassroots movement? Why not?

Good idea, and simple enough to do. I think I'll do that, too.

track · Post by **track** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:26 pm

Love your mask and spread the word how much better you feel since you went on CPAP....take a positive approach and tell the world.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:23 pm

rested gal wrote:
-SWS wrote:I still plan on handing out apnea awareness literature to medical offices in my area. A very small and rather anonymous gesture on my part. Oh, how I would love that gesture to be multiplied by dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.

Grassroots movement? Why not?
Good idea, and simple enough to do. I think I'll do that, too.

Okay, count me in!!!

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:06 pm

If anyone else is considering distributing information for National Sleep Awareness Week, March 5-11, here is a link to the "Are You Sleeping With the Enemy?" article.

SleepGuy wrote:Thanks to everyone's help, the article is finally finished.

For a .pdf version of the article, please click this link: http://www.pur-sleep.com./uploads/SleepingEnemy.pdf.

You may note that Dr. Bandage graciously agreed to be listed as the author. Not only did he provide much of the content (right down to the title and the idea to create the article in the first place) but having him listed gives this just that much more credibility to the outside world.

So in light of all of the hard work that went into this, please copy it freely and distribute it far and wide--newspapers, magazines, doctors, family members, co-workers, radio stations! Just in time for Sleep Awareness Week!

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:42 pm

Hey, this is a great thread! It helps me consolidate and extend what I already have begun to think about. What a great group of people to be doing all these things!

I plan to do my part in my life, too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:11 am

Some comments:

1. Dr. Rosenberg's weekly show on Fox News Channel, called "Housecall" I believe, is excellent. He'll fill you in on all the latest studies and findings. It's a great way to learn new stuff and stay informed... I don't remember for sure (only my TiVo does) but I believe it's Sundays 10:30-11 AM Eastern.

2. My first primary care doctor never mentioned or probably even considered OSA. Hypertension? Here's a pill. Any other condition? Pills. He died recently, and I got a new doctor. He ordered a sleep study after the first five minutes of talking with me. Got treated. All those diseases and those pills went away. Many doctors are totally ignorant of OSA, and will merely push pills for conditions caused by it... find one who isn't like that! It can change your life.

3. Want to raise OSA awareness? Have athletes and pop music stars. That would have an enormous effect on males and youngsters. For the ladies? Oprah, but she already did an OSA show I think.

4. Be an OSA "evangelist". Talk to your friends, particularly your fatter friends, ask if they snore, ask if they get up at night to pee (a frequent sign of OSA if not a prostate issue instead), ask if they're tired all the time, ask if they have hypertension... if you get a few "yes" answers from a single person, educate them. I've done this, and by so doing I've gotten several people diagnosed and treated. You can save lives this way. Get out there and talk with your friends and acquaintances, and see if you can save some of them too!

Mask

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper

What lies ahead? And what to do about it.

Psychotherapy outreach