By: rustitobuck

rustitobuck — Mon, 03 Jun 2002 16:44:21 +0000

Sleep Apnea…
True to form, I called my doctor’s office about the predetermination for a bi-pap, and no, the insurance company hasn’t responded. Time for me to find my copies of the letter sent, and initiate the review process via work.
Good thing this isn’t a life-threatening disease. I’ve decided that I live in a sitcom. My life is a series of running gags and repetitive jokes.

By: badjahsensei

badjahsensei — Mon, 03 Jun 2002 13:44:30 +0000

Sleep apnea…
Having had several bouts of this condition in my life, I can give you a little preview of what to expect.
When I saw my doctor in 1997, there were three options for dealing with Sleep Apnea:
1) Surgery. The surgery was described to me as essentially roto-rootering the throat– carving out flesh to make more room for air to move in. The doctor said that this surgery had a low success rate, and a 2-4 week recovery time (I had a friend who had this surgery in 1998. He didn’t notice a big change, and was indeed out of work for a month with the recovery). The sleep tech also mentioned that most of the people who opted for surgery returned for a C-PAP anyhow. Granted, this was five years ago, so the surgery might have improved.
2) C-PAP. This is the common procedure for treating the condition. A filtered air compressor is hooked up to a humidifier, which feeds into a mask that you strap over your face. The air pressure keeps a satisfactory level of oxygen in the lungs. Some people swear by them. I hated mine. I’m a “free range” sleeper. I like to toss, turn and roll across my bed. Being tethered put a cramp in my sleep habits. Likewise, I found that my mask had a hard time keeping a seal on my face, even when I was cleanshaven. I’d often wake up in the middle of the night, with an air leak onto my face. On the upside, the machine is generally quiet and makes for a nice white-noise generator.
3) Weight loss. When you get overweight, you tend to put it on everywhere– including your throat. Picture a clogged artery, think of your throat like that. If you drop weight, that fat lining around the throat will also diminish. In my case, when I lost my weight, I lost a lot of fat in my throat. Judging by my leather collar, I’d say I lost a good inch judging by the “before” and “after” holes I used to secure it. Also, after I lost my weight, I found that I didn’t need the C-pap anymore. Everyone’s body is different, but I found that my “activation” threshold seems to be around 250 pounds. If I keep it under that weight, I’m fine. If I go over, I start feeling it.
Hope this helps. If you’d like any more feedback or advice, you know how to get a hold of me.

Comments on: The Big Weekend Wrap-Up

By: rustitobuck

By: badjahsensei