My trip to the ER this morning

[erikmannie]

Off topic, but I am on vacation from my UPS job, halfway through a 2 day drive to see my granddaughter in Benton City, WA. I only go on one trip a year, & it is always this.

Here is the view from our hotel room: a UPS Center (what are the odds of this?), & Klamath Lake, OR:

 

[Janderso]

I've had a CPAP with a nose only mask since 1996. It took me about 10 minutes to acclimate to it. When the power goes out at night it gets a little weird, sometimes dreaming that I can't take a deep breath, but it's never caused a real problem. Glad you got checked out!

I guess if you have the nose machine you sleep with your mouth closed.
I remember one sleep study the gal tried to put this scuba mask on me. My heart rate went up, my blood pressure went through the roof. This was after 30 minutes of wiring up my entire body. Just relax, right.
I walked out. No study for me.
It's not an easy process!!!! It takes a while to find the right machine, the right settings.

 

[Janderso]

Off topic, but I am on vacation from my UPS job, halfway through a 2 day drive to see my granddaughter in Benton City, WA. I only go on one trip a year, & it is always this.

Here is the view from our hotel room: a UPS Center (what are the odds of this?), & Klamath Lake, OR:

View attachment 442976

View attachment 442974

Today was a beautiful day. The snow level was really low. Lots of water in the valley, the soil can't absorb one more drop.
I'm curious to see how the orchards do this year. Between root rot and the heavy winds and rain during pollenization it will be interesting.

 

[erikmannie]

Update:

I cleaned everything, loosened the straps as much as one can, & I tried to calmly wear this “mouth and nose” mask again. NOPE!! **Total panic**. Never going to happen; I am no longer capable of having this mask over my mouth.

I had a phone appointment with Kaiser, and they were great. They said that is fine to switch to a “nose-only” mask. I am going to pick one up in a few days when I get back into town. They’re also going to give me a new machine because my current machine is 4 years old and is quite grungy…yuk!

I told Kaiser that I won’t tape my mouth or wear a chin strap because I won’t do anything to prevent my mouth from being easily able to open if I start to suffocate.

They said that the surgery is used as a last resort.

I am also *very highly motivated to lose weight*. That is how this story will end, with me getting my weight down to where I don’t have sleep apnea any more.

All of this makes me feel very sorry for people who have COPD, emphysema, etc. Not being able to get enough oxygen is a recipe for panic, and when you panic it makes it worse.

 

[Inferno]

Update:

I cleaned everything, loosened the straps as much as one can, & I tried to calmly wear this “mouth and nose” mask again. NOPE!! **Total panic**. Never going to happen; I am no longer capable of having this mask over my mouth.

I had a phone appointment with Kaiser, and they were great. They said that is fine to switch to a “nose-only” mask. I am going to pick one up in a few days when I get back into town. They’re also going to give me a new machine because my current machine is 4 years old and is quite grungy…yuk!

I told Kaiser that I won’t tape my mouth or wear a chin strap because I won’t do anything to prevent my mouth from being easily able to open if I start to suffocate.

They said that the surgery is used as a last resort.

I am also *very highly motivated to lose weight*. That is how this story will end, with me getting my weight down to where I don’t have sleep apnea any more.

All of this makes me feel very sorry for people who have COPD, emphysema, etc. Not being able to get enough oxygen is a recipe for panic, and when you panic it makes it worse.

Opinion:

Kaiser sucks!
I just got off the phone with them. My insurance switched to Kaiser at the beginning of the year.
They want to change my medication to a less expensive "equivalent".
Last time they did that I ended up with a condition that never went away. It's just a chronic tickle in my throat but, still.
This time it's my heart they're talking about.

 

[Aukai]

I yawn through the ace bandage I use, cutting it, and using a single layer may feel non restrictive. If your mouth opens with a nose device you will have a very poor experience, your mouth, and throat will be so dry you can't swallow.

 

[maspann]

I guess if you have the nose machine you sleep with your mouth closed.
I remember one sleep study the gal tried to put this scuba mask on me. My heart rate went up, my blood pressure went through the roof. This was after 30 minutes of wiring up my entire body. Just relax, right.
I walked out. No study for me.
It's not an easy process!!!! It takes a while to find the right machine, the right settings.

What is interesting is that I don't sleep with my mouth closed (according to my wife....), but apparently the auto titration feature of my CPAP compensates enough. I recently bought a chin strap to hold my mouth closed, but she says it doesn't work. I guess I was fortunate that the first system they tried on me worked. I'll be 69 in May and most nights I go to bed at midnight and wake up at 6:30 or 7:00 well rested.