What will YOU do on March 8th ???

[Snoredog]

"I proudly wore it around for a couple hours to show it off... Of course they all made fun of me but they were also intrigued and full of questions at the same time.

Wear your mask to work day!! LOL That'll get the point across!

What point would you be trying to get across by doing so. I just see doing that kind of thing as advertising that I'm different and not only do I deserve, but I insist on, special treatment from my employer because I don;t want to do my share of the work.

I agree with OSAGuy. There IS a stigma that goes along with having OSA I wouldn't want to advertise. Many of you are so naive about that fact it isn't funny. Go into to the DMV wearing your mask or tell the person at the counter you have OSA before taking your drivers test. Tell your health insurance agent you have OSA while you are trying to obtain better coverage. Tell your Life Insurance agent while you are trying to increase your policy limits.

Tell your boss you have OSA? Well that's even dumber, that is a perfect ticket out of a job, discrimination and disability laws don't mean squat. Next time there is a needed cutback guess who gets put on the top of the list, some healthy 30yr old with no experience or you with OSA running around the office with your mask on?

In my opinion, it is a stupid idea, the ONLY people that are uninformed about sleep apnea are doctors. You tell them over and over at every visit, I'm tired, I wake up many times at night, I have night sweats, I get these shocks when I try to fall asleep, I snore, I have hypertension, I get chest pains and heart palpitations, I just had a stroke for some unknown reason. I must have put that down on at least 50 medical history reports, not a single Neurologist, Cardiologist, Hematologist, GI Specialist and GP picked up on those symptoms and said gee I suspect you may have Sleep Apnea. Then after spending $51,000 in medical tests they didn't have a clue. The last time I seen any of those doctors was when I went in with a copy of my diagnostic PSG. And I only got that because I insisted on it.

People that have symptoms of OSA already know they have them. Getting the damn doctors to understand what those symptoms are is the hill that needs climbing in my opinion.

[bookwrm63]

Whoa...who let the dog out? This whole thread just took another twist around the bend! It started off with "What will you be doing on March 8th?" and launched into something bitter and obviously personal. My boss knows I have OSA. She couldn't be more supportive and I feel very secure in my job. Just because some of us haven't suffered as long as you have, does not make us naive. I'm truly sorry you were so let down by the medical system you wanted to trust. That is indeed terrible but that story belongs on another thread. This thread was an innocent inquiry into what some might be doing on National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day. Snoredog, that may be a good day to distribute some printed material to those doctors who had no clue how to help you.
Be well.

Mary

[Lyza]

Some people need a little humor in their life.....

Some people need to stop analyzing every word in a post and read into it, something thats not really there.

Some people just need to stop posting for a bit and release their anger elsewhere.

[vdol52]

You are making me laugh out loud and my hubby wants to know what's up. I think we should all get together with our masks and have a "SNORE TREK"
convention. After all we kinda look like aliens with the masks anyway.

[vdol52]

Reply to self.... Get a life.

[Guest]

I love being analyzed. Actually I'm not bitter at all - Just see no need to attract attention to us as having a disability. It is our responsibity to seek treatment. If one seeks treatment trying all options and it is not successful then yes, they have my sypathy and should be protected. However, for those that will not seek treatment they deserve what they get. For those where treatment is successful it is not a disability. My style is very direct and not the politically correct style, as I do not like to write books. I know that many times that style offends people but it is my style and is what makes me successful and very productive.

[cajapato]

"
What point would you be trying to get across by doing so. I just see doing that kind of thing as advertising that I'm different and not only do I deserve, but I insist on, special treatment from my employer because I don;t want to do my share of the work.

[


OSAGuy,
There is nothing wrong with you having a style. There is nothing wrong with you being direct and forthright. Most people like to be dealt with in that manner. But your "style" and "forthrightness" in the above post was a huge leap into left field. It was neither stylish nor forthright. It was shallow and unfair assumption. It was a character attack. I sure hope when you are dealing in your work environment where you are "successful and productive" that you think before you speak. If not, then you may not be as successful or productive as you think. Of course, that's just my style making and assumption.
Further, I don't consider myself disabled. I have a medical condition that's being treated.

[neversleeps]

Snoredog, you make a good point. People have come to this forum and talked about being unable to get their driver's license renewed, or have had their premiums increased, or have been refused life and/or health insurance because their OSA was reported. We walk a fine line here... wanting to spread the news about sleep apnea vs. protecting ourselves.

I believe many people are naive to the negative consequences of making their OSA public knowledge and I think Snoredog's word of caution is very important; no matter what thread it appears in!

[littlebaddow]

I'm still in the embarassed stage I'm afraid...anyone else feel that way?

Hey, bethlori, I'm sure you're not alone, but please ask yourself what there is to be embarrassed about?
Even if you can't tell some people, such as work colleagues for fear of hassle from your employer, then please do tell people you care for.
If they care for you too they will celebrate with you, celebrate your recovery, imminent or actual, from a serious life-threatening condition and rejoice in the fact that this is treatable and you can live a full live with it.
Please at least take comfort from all of your friends in this forum.
All the best.

[-SWS]

Snoredog, you make a good point. People have come to this forum and talked about being unable to get their driver's license renewed, or have had their premiums increased, or have been refused life and/or health insurance because their OSA was reported. We walk a fine line here... wanting to spread the news about sleep apnea vs. protecting ourselves.

I believe many people are naive to the negative consequences of making their OSA public knowledge and I think Snoredog's word of caution is very important; no matter what thread it appears in!

Agreed, Neversleeps. These are very valid considerations, IMO.

Getting the damn doctors to understand what those symptoms are is the hill that needs climbing in my opinion.

I agree with Snoredog: that's the hill that truly needs climbing. On March 8th I plan to hand out sleep-apnea awareness literature to various medical offices in my area. I hope that little gesture helps in some small way with a vast awareness problem that exists in today's medical community. At the same time it's a fairly anonymous gesture on my part.

[bookwrm63]

NeverSleeps and SWS....I don't disagree with Snoredog. He does indeed make very valid points. However, I mainly object to the manner in which he presents them. As I mentioned earlier, this started out being a very innocent thread. But please don't jump in and start calling people naive or dumb because they want to help enlighten people in some way, shape or form. Of course I'm not telling the DMV I have OSA. Life insurance? Heck, I just send them a check every month. My boss knows because she's seen the strap marks occasionally on my face in the a.m... She has no problem with it or my job performance.

Everyone has the right to comment but there are ways to make a point without the snideness.

Mary

[-SWS]

Mary, I also like the original premise of this thread: "What will YOU do on March 8th?" I've been on the message boards with Snoredog for years, and I honestly think he means well. I think the issue of apnea disclosure versus privacy is a delicate if not touchy topic for many. And so far those reasons are well outlined in this thread. I'm glad they are for the sake of newcomers.

But back to the original premise of this thread! What will be done on March 8th? What will be done by those among us who don't mind disclosing their apnea?

And what, then, can be done by those who understandably prefer anonymity?

[rested gal]

On March 8th I plan to hand out sleep-apnea awareness literature to various medical offices in my area. I hope that little gesture helps in some small way with a vast awareness problem that exists in today's medical community. At the same time it's a fairly anonymous gesture on my part.

Excellent idea. That will be a good way for me to spend part of that day, too. Getting some exercise going to a few doctors' offices to ask if I may leave a few bits of literature about "sleep apnea."

[-SWS]

On March 8th I plan to hand out sleep-apnea awareness literature to various medical offices in my area. I hope that little gesture helps in some small way with a vast awareness problem that exists in today's medical community. At the same time it's a fairly anonymous gesture on my part.

Excellent idea. That will be a good way for me to spend part of that day, too. Getting some exercise going to a few doctors' offices to ask if I may leave a few bits of literature about "sleep apnea."

Very cool! Thank you so much, Rested Gal!

[hayeswildrick]

Well, I'm HOPING that I'll be starting CPAP therapy by then!

So far, a week after my titration study, the sleep lab still hasn't sent a report to my doctor. She's called them, and I've called them. They tell me that the report can take two weeks! I've told them that at $4500, two weeks is about 12 days too long to generate a report, and that their delay is keeping me away from a medically necessary treatment.

By the way, I've told the people at my church that I have OSA. The response has been so supportive and encouraging, with several members coming up to me and my wife to share their own OSA experiences.

Jeff