Ladies . . . this is a purely logistical question

Okay, is wearing rollers to bed completely out of the question now? You know the ones I mean . . . yes, the pink spongies. Anyone can answer this question, but I'm kind of hoping to hear from some ladies of the African-American persuasion who have experience with pressed and relaxed hair. I know wrapping is in now, but I've never retired my rollers (when I do put the hot comb to my hair) and I just wanted to know.

Went to the cardiologist yesterday, and I officially have hypertension now, but she was really receptive to my apnea diagnosis and wants me to come back in two months to see how it's affecting my blood pressure. Good news is I have lost over 20 pounds since the end of January - sheer terror will do that to you.

I'm looking forward to getting my prescription within the next week and finally getting some healthy sleep. I know I'll be getting the Ultra Mirage FF because that's what they used in the sleep center on me and I have confirmed with them that a heated humidifier is being included in my prescription. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, will I be able to curl my hair for Christmas???

I'm not Af/am. but do have curly hair, and yes, I do use those spongy pink roller things. By morning between the rollers, chin straps, and straps from the Swift, it's a miracle I have hair left.
But I can put all the straps behind the rollers I use starting one roller back from the hair line.

Hope this helps. It's a challenge isn't it.........
I also answered a question from a guy on makeup to cover up his poor nose, I think we need a topic on the cosmetic side of all this apap, cpap, bipap business. Maybe we girls can get a cottage business going on beauty tips! haha.

Keep rollin'''

divajojo wrote:Okay, is wearing rollers to bed completely out of the question now? You know the ones I mean . . . yes, the pink spongies. Anyone can answer this question, but I'm kind of hoping to hear from some ladies of the African-American persuasion who have experience with pressed and relaxed hair. I know wrapping is in now, but I've never retired my rollers (when I do put the hot comb to my hair) and I just wanted to know.

Went to the cardiologist yesterday, and I officially have hypertension now, but she was really receptive to my apnea diagnosis and wants me to come back in two months to see how it's affecting my blood pressure. Good news is I have lost over 20 pounds since the end of January - sheer terror will do that to you.

I'm looking forward to getting my prescription within the next week and finally getting some healthy sleep. I know I'll be getting the Ultra Mirage FF because that's what they used in the sleep center on me and I have confirmed with them that a heated humidifier is being included in my prescription. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, will I be able to curl my hair for Christmas???

Hi divajojo,

Likewise, I am not af/am, and nor do I have curly hair or wear curlers. But I do have thinning hair (much to my consternation). Every time I see hair in my brush and comb, I freak out and take inventory to see if it's gotten any worse. If only I could just glue it all back on!! Putting on that contraption every nite, I don't know if that helps or hurts my situation.

But I wanted to welcome you to the forum and encourage you to keep us posted on your progress.

Your cardiologist sounds great, so supportive and interested in all aspects of your health. I would keep going back to this doctor, if only for some good encouraging advice. Actually, I think regular visits to a cardiologist might be a good idea for most people being treated for sleep apnea. I started having high blood pressure a year before being diagnosed for sleep apnea. Although my primary health physician handles that medication, it might be a good idea to check in with a good heart doctor every now and then.

How's Atlanta in terms of help and information for sleep apnea and treatment? Are you getting good care? Are there any good support groups there? I'm glad you found the forum. I'm hoping it can be helpful to you. As for myself, other people's stories often help me deal with this. Hopefully you'll keep in touch.

Linda

Hi devajojo,

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but didn't the DME tell you about the hair thing?

I'm not an Af/am (first time I saw that abbreviation) and thank the lucky stars for me I'm not a female! It's because I have a socially accepted male condition - yep, I'm follically challenged.

The good news is, that after considerable adjustments, the DME was finally able to secure a multi strap, with only partial adheasives and some additional scotch tape, 42 ounce FF mask that does seem to work. There were not many leaks, which was good, but I still get a stiff neck every morning. I really didn't care about not having eyebrows anyway.

The technician, who was a black lady and really smart, told me she felt so sorry for some of the women who she had to shave strips and circles from their hair in order to secure the CPAP mask. Some, who had really thick curly hair... well she had to shave the whole head to get a fit. They all pretty much felt it was worth it though to get a good night's sleep.

So don't even worry about the rollers, there are other ways to make a fashion statement - just think, your baseball cap will fit much better!

Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to bring up the subject of baseball. You're probably still smarting from the way our Blue Jays thumped your Braves last time we met in the World Series.

OK. you can stop being mad at me - all of the above was a joke, I apologize, except for the baseball bit.. You may not have won but you drove us crazy with that damn chant!

Welcome to the forum, it's great to hear from you! Hope you get some valuable info from other posters like yourself and please tell us about your experiences.

Wishing you well.

Bob F

devajojo,

Some of us don't quite know what to make of crazy unclebob, but I'm pretty sure he's harmless. Strange. But harmless.

And Unclebob, yes, I am writing this at 4am, again. But you'll note that I'm not doing so as a guest. Happy??



Linda

Okay, let me give this a whirl . . .

Gailzee,

thanks so much for the advice on my pink sponge rollers. I don't use them too often because I just haven't felt like straightening my hair (unless you're familiar with the use of a straightening comb, you may not know what I'm talking about), but with the hopefully extra sleep I'm going to be getting, I was looking forward to having more energy and perhaps doing my hair on a regular basis.

Linda,
Thanks for your encouragement too. Atlanta's okay. Like most overweight/obese people, I have shied away from doctors unless I absolutely had to go. In this instance, I'm glad I went. Whoever said what you don't know can't hurt you was crazy. Not knowing how my heart health was added unknown stress to my life and now knowing that it's not nearly as bad as it could be has taken a weight off my shoulders (and a few other places . . .). Anyway, I have been fortunate to have good doctors, although I am looking for a new primary care physician because I just don't think I get the attention I need from her. She told me 2 months ago she would refer me to a cardiologist because my blood pressure was not responding to the medication. I was terrified and it's like she dropped off the face of the earth. The doctor I went to on Wednesday was one I found after researching and asking questions elsewhere following two weeks of no response from my primary physician. As far as apnea treatment goes, I've been pleased with Piedmont Hospital, I won't meet the doctor until June, I haven't met a DME yet, I anticipate getting the prescription within the next week. But I'm coming across more and more people who have sleep apnea. I haven't looked for AWAKE meetings or anything else in this area yet because I'm still new to this whole world and it has happened so quickly it seems, but I'll get my bearings soon I hope.

Uncle Bob;

Okay, I probably shouldn't say this, but I've never been a baseball fan. Personally I think you've got a bunch of grown (??) men being paid entirely toooooo much to play dressed up stick-ball. But what do I know . . . I haven't slept in five years. But I must hand it to you, you really did have me going. I was about to start crying when I got to your admission it was a joke. I do, however have a serious concern about the repeated use of the head straps and the impact they have on my hair and scalp. My hair has thinned, like many overweight people and my understanding is that will improve as I continue to lose weight.

To everyone;

Thanks so much for the feedback. Ladies, we really do need to get together on ways to overcome and cosmetic and aesthetic challenges associated with this treatment. There's an untapped market out there . . . hhmmmmm.