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I did to Trevor. I hadn't yet broken down and checked the email address, but I was starting to lean toward Anne Kate. Not a bad person to be confused with Sara!
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Sara, I like the new persona. The apnea's about the same. It hasn't gotten any worse. I'm learning to sleep on my side, but it'll take some time. I'm doing alright. How about you? Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I'm hanging in there. I'm also waiting patiently for that email. If you've already gone to bed, I guess it can wait until tomorrow. Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Well, I've applied for AHCCCS, but haven't been accepted yet.
There are some other things in the email that don't pertain to sleep apnea. Those I'd rather discuss via email. It's nothing personal, just something I'm not cofortable sharing with Hatrack at the moment.
Thanks for the help and for being a part of Hatrack. Sara
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Oh, sure enough. Let me see if I can pull it up.
(We use GroupWise Access program, and sometimes if I can't get it to launch directly from my laptop, I can get to it through the main department webpage.
Posts: 2919 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Ah the joys of using a network. I hope you can pull it up from home. I would hope you're not still at work this late. Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Got it. Moving to email. (we can also talk tomorrow -- don't lose any beauty sleep. ) I'm at home, thank goodness.
Posts: 2919 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I'm not losing sleep. It's only 8:48 here in Arizona. If it wasn't my day off, I'd be at work right now.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I have apnea as well. I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and am on CPAP. I also have other sleep disorders, too.
Do you have any questions? Is there anything I can help with? You can contact me off list if you like.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quidscribis, does sleeping on your side help? I don't have CPAP yet because I don't have health insurance. I'm working on fixing that, though.
Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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It's individual. But yes, with me, sleeping on my side lessens my apnea. Sleeping on back or front is very very bad for my apnea.
Until you get a CPAP machine, you could also consider sleeping either with pillows to prop you up at an angle or a reclining chair. Both will help to counteract gravity on the throat tissue so it will be less likely to collapse.
I have heard of people who sew tennis balls to the back of their pyjamas to prevent them from rolling over onto their back during sleep.
The other thing is - if you're in a bad enough state financially, some of the respiratory equipment manufacturers may provide indigent help. My respiratory therapist (in Canada) would get the manufacturers to donate used or refurbished equipment - they can't sell it anyway. You might want to check that out.
There were sleep disorders newsgroups a few years ago. They're probably still around. You can check them out. There might also be sleep disorders support groups in your community. And the thought just occurred to me - someone at one of those groups might have an older, used machine to sell/give away if they're insurance keeps buying them a new one every two or five years. You can check that out as well if insurance doesn't pan out.
I didn't have insurance - I had to pay for mine out of pocket. I was lucky, though, in that my respiratory therapist offered payment terms. Very unusual.
By the way, CPAP does and did make a huge difference to how I feel. Adjustment took about six months for full adjustment, and it was completely worth it. You can expect to have some problems getting used to sleeping with a CPAP machine, but don't sweat it. It gets better to the point where you don't notice it anymore nor do you care.
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