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I was able to take Dad's BP and measure his neck today. Unfortunately, his knees are very sore from the fall yesterday, so I didn't ask him to step on the scale for his weight. I'm not even letting him use the walker and am insisting on the wheelchair for the time being. I think it's safe to assume he's still around 150. I'm hoping to put some weight on him in the coming weeks and get him back to his usual (166-168).

Mom hasn't been able to take his BP for awhile, since the shingles are affecting her dominant hand and three of her fingers are still numb/tingling. His BP today was 110 over 80, and his neck measured between 16.5 and 17 inches. He said that he used to wear a 15" neck in a shirt, but he's been retired for over 25 years now.

BleepingBeauty wrote:I use Google all the time ...

Great.

So I guess since by now you've Googled all the obvious stuff out of the way (and undoubtedly come up with at least a few "Aha! moments"), I'll try to come with a couple of semi-original thoughts:

• ACE inhibitors tend to make other drugs work better.
• The medication list suggests underlying cardiac stuff and strengthens the central argument.
• That old M-Series is of little help in differentiation obstructive from central, so the acronym STOPBANG may be of use.
• Contrary to popular opinion, CPAP is not harmless. If you take somebody with reduced cardiac output and/or low blood pressure and normal lung compliance, and stick them on CPAP (especially high-level CPAP) all night, their blood supply backs up behind right heart and if they jump out of bed in the morning they will promptly pass out.
• Citalopram destroys sleep architecture.

Morbius wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:I use Google all the time ...

Great.

So I guess since by now you've Googled all the obvious stuff out of the way (and undoubtedly come up with at least a few "Aha! moments"), I'll try to come with a couple of semi-original thoughts:

• ACE inhibitors tend to make other drugs work better.
• The medication list suggests underlying cardiac stuff and strengthens the central argument.
• That old M-Series is of little help in differentiation obstructive from central, so the acronym STOPBANG may be of use.
• Contrary to popular opinion, CPAP is not harmless. If you take somebody with reduced cardiac output and/or low blood pressure and normal lung compliance, and stick them on CPAP (especially high-level CPAP) all night, their blood supply backs up behind right heart and if they jump out of bed in the morning they will promptly pass out.
• Citalopram destroys sleep architecture.

Thanks for replying, Morbius. You know I value your help.

I'm not a fan of pharmaceuticals as a general rule (call me a healthy skeptic about them), but I realize why they're used. Just think we, as a society, rely on them far too heavily instead of looking for/treating underlying causes in different (more natural) ways. But maybe in someone Dad's age, it's the only way to go. (Mom and Dad both give me "the look" when I insist on buying organic and/or telling them some of the stuff they eat is poison - like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or microwave popcorn.)

I haven't had a chance to talk to Dad's doctor in-depth about anything yet and am hoping to get a more complete run-down of his issues at his appointment on Tuesday. Unfortunately, my folks are pretty tight-lipped with us kids when it comes to their healthcare/medical problems and don't tell us much (so they don't worry us, don'tcha know)... I understand where they're coming from, but I hate it.

I did find that he meets the criteria for STOPBANG, and it may be that he needs a more sophisticated machine than I'm using for him. I do have a spare ASV at home; perhaps I can have my neighbor (who's looking in on my house to make sure everything's okay) ship it to me. Or maybe Dad's GP will prescribe a sleep study (at home, because I don't think it's a good idea for Dad to be in a lab overnight with his confusion and poor memory) and then get him whatever he needs.

I sincerely hope I'm not making anything worse by having him use the machine. He does seem to have more energy since he started with it, but should I back off on it until I see his doc? I want him to feel better, not make his health more precarious...

Whoa, tarred today.

Maybe got a little UARS.

Or coulda been that cord of wood.

BleepingBeauty wrote:...a sleep study (at home...

That a great idea. Find out which one they use tho. We can try to get some EEG, but something like a Nox T3 will give plenty of info.

Morbius wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:...a sleep study (at home...

That a great idea. Find out which one they use tho. We can try to get some EEG, but something like a Nox T3 will give plenty of info.

I'll see what his doc says next week. Thanks again.