Fun with CPAP
So A few years ago...(Like 5) I did a sleep study and found out that I stopped breathing 2 times every minute. So I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and given a CPAP machine. Well that machine stopped working about 2 years ago. IE Trouble ate it one morning when she couldn't wake me up. O.o So anyway we have been trying half heartedly until the last 2 months to get a new one. (Half heartedly in the fact that how do I explain to the insurance that my cockatoo ate my machine?!?)
So anyway, apparently we let enough time pass so that we would "need" a new machine anyway and a new sleep study. So off I went to try and sleep in a strange bed with wires stuck all over my head and body. Wheee! I didn't do too badly, slept alright with only one major nightmare that woke me up with a start. So when all was said and done, I still have Sleep apnea, and it is still severe, so a week went by and a nice man came over with a shiny new machine and face mask...a full face mask. Ohhh this was not going to work.
So I don the mask and fight the claustrophobia for about 2 weeks. Other then the whole OMG something is on my face moments in the middle of the night, I am also perturbed by all the gapping and leaking of air at my chin and the bridge of my nose. This thing can't work if there isn't some sort of seal, so Bear finally gets a hold of the company and arranges for someone to come over and help me figure all this out the next day... They never show up. >:(
Bear calls them again. They INSIST they talked to me... on the phone.. pretty neat trick since I don't have one. So a new appointment is set for yesterday. The guy shows up sees the problem, gets a smaller mask and...same problem. No seal. So apparently I have a freakishly abnormal shaped face and he has to get another special mask and try that. So we set up again for the next day.
So he returned today with the special mask and...it doesn't fit. *headdesk* Thank goodness he had a nasal pillow mask in his truck cause that fir and works AND he gave me 2 extras in different sizes just to be safe. Oye! This has been an adventure in frustration.
Morel of the story: When faced with my body trying to kill me by not breathing, it's good to know I can push past the Claustrophobia long enough to stay alive. ;)
So anyway, apparently we let enough time pass so that we would "need" a new machine anyway and a new sleep study. So off I went to try and sleep in a strange bed with wires stuck all over my head and body. Wheee! I didn't do too badly, slept alright with only one major nightmare that woke me up with a start. So when all was said and done, I still have Sleep apnea, and it is still severe, so a week went by and a nice man came over with a shiny new machine and face mask...a full face mask. Ohhh this was not going to work.
So I don the mask and fight the claustrophobia for about 2 weeks. Other then the whole OMG something is on my face moments in the middle of the night, I am also perturbed by all the gapping and leaking of air at my chin and the bridge of my nose. This thing can't work if there isn't some sort of seal, so Bear finally gets a hold of the company and arranges for someone to come over and help me figure all this out the next day... They never show up. >:(
Bear calls them again. They INSIST they talked to me... on the phone.. pretty neat trick since I don't have one. So a new appointment is set for yesterday. The guy shows up sees the problem, gets a smaller mask and...same problem. No seal. So apparently I have a freakishly abnormal shaped face and he has to get another special mask and try that. So we set up again for the next day.
So he returned today with the special mask and...it doesn't fit. *headdesk* Thank goodness he had a nasal pillow mask in his truck cause that fir and works AND he gave me 2 extras in different sizes just to be safe. Oye! This has been an adventure in frustration.
Morel of the story: When faced with my body trying to kill me by not breathing, it's good to know I can push past the Claustrophobia long enough to stay alive. ;)