Living with Diabetes and Lapband

Sleep Doctor

Saw the sleep doctor today.  I really LIKE the new CPAP, especially since it gives such good reports to the doctor.

It showed that I sleep an average of 7 1/2 hours a day  and that I stay at "12" most of the time.  It's an auto CPAP so it adjusts and that it keeps me have having apnea events all night.  It also shows that my mask leaks 21 minutes a day on average.

I had shucked my new mask because it wasn't fitting right, and was using a REALLY REALLY old one.  Doctor fitted me for the new mask and it is a completely different size than the one I had.  I also asked for all new hoses and filters since it's been a year. 

The nurse fussed at me because it's full of dog hair, which is WHY I need the new filters.

They should be here in a few days.

A/C News

I had several people come out to the house, and I found someone who could replace the entire system for $4800.  I'm going to have someone cover my class from 12:00 pm on tomorrow and meet them at the house.  I want to make sure they do replace what I think I am paying for.

I don't trust my husband making sure of that.  We had problems before with workers when I made the arrangements and he let them in.

I can't wait.  Yesterday we didn't get TOO hot, but I have trouble sleeping with the street noise.

Hotel

I started this when I was actually in Houston. I did some really smart things hotel wise. I always have trouble sleeping at these things. First, just the stress of driving there -- I did not get to Houston until after 9:00 and it always takes me several hours to wind down after driving. Second, the stress of being there. This conference, every teacher in the room seems to be stressed out over the curriculum audit. I'm trying hard not to do that.

Anyway, the hotel I chose was Comfort Suites. It's not a real suite -- a real suite has a door between the living area and the sleeping area. One thing I find sleeping in a hotel is that I wake up anytime anyone walks down the hall. Having a bigger room, with some space between the bed and the door helped. Also, I ran the fan in the bathroom all night, adding some additional white noise. The CPAP white noise always helps too.

The first night, I got to bed really late, didn't get sleepy until after 1:00 pm and then woke up early, but laid in bed. And I even took a sleeping pill. The second night I was able to get to bed and sleepy by 10:30, but woke up once to go to the bathroom. Again, I woke up early -- it was normal time for me, but I didn't have to be up that early.

One of the reasons these workshops are so stressful, is that they just don't fit my learning style. My learning style is to go to class for an hour or so, then work on the topic in front of a computer for hours. Those workshops just aren't set up for that. You'd think after 14 years, I'd stop stressing over it, but there you go.

New CPAP Mask

I got my new Fisher and Paskel 432 mask last night.  I'm sold on the full face mask since I first tried one.  I let air leak of out my mouth so I need a chin strap which is really a pain literally -- thus I've got to full face mask.

And like all CPAP mask users, I'm on the search for the perfect mask.  The one seems closer than I had before.  At first I was disconcerted because it hissed, but I figured out quickly it was the rebreather -- the silicon was stuck.  Fixed that, and had no problems.

Was able to wear it through the night.  The biggest test will come in 7 days -- we're seeing 50 minutes of leakage every night, and the machine only shows a 7 day average.

Battery Backup for CPAP

When the DME brought me my CPAP last Friday, I made sure that he saw my emergency backup battery and cleared it with him for use. I did a test run last night, and was able to use BOTH the CPAP and the humidifer all night on battery backup.

While Pittsburg is in the same country, I will still bring the backup battery, in fact, I might very well use it on the plane -- I did call and clear it even though the person I talked with said -- it's not a night flight so you don't need it and I didn't contradict her.

Anyway, I'm thrilled it works well with the new machine. Primarily because it cost over $250.00 I haven't used it much -- in two power outages locally and when I tried to go to Monte Carlo. There were plenty of times I wanted it before I bought it, so it's been a good purchase. I try to remember to take it on trips, since once when I went to Austin they had a power failure and I ended up driving home instead of waiting for the power to come on -- I did wait an hour.

New CPAP Machine

I'm going to actually try it out in a few minutes.

I am the proud owner (leasee) of a Respironics Remstar Auto M Series. The DME brought it by at 1:00 pm and showed me how to use it. It even works with my emergency backup battery which is a super good thing. It is definately half the size of the loaner machine.

I'm looking forward to lugging it around the airports next week.

If this is true, I'm in trouble

Patterns: Sleep Proves More Elusive Than Many Believe - New York Times

Patterns: Sleep Proves More Elusive Than Many Believe

Naps?

Dr. Rack answers another question I've had (but haven't asked yet).

sleepdoctor: Short Naps are Better

PAP description

I'm the commenter who asked the question -- if you have any sleep issues this is a great blog to keep up with.

sleepdoctor: The difference between CPAP, BiPAP, and auto-CPAP

The difference between CPAP, BiPAP, and auto-CPAP

New APAP

Man, do new machines stink. Okay, any time you do anything different to a PAP, it stinks. But I took a short nap, and I feel better already.

My first sympthom of a non-working PAP (notice I'm changing initials already), is allergy symthoms. Very congested but very dry at the same time. It's awful. That's already better.

Plus the diet coke I drank for lunch is doing away with the caffeine headache.