Cinders meets an alien
 

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I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing. There are several
possible causes, but, in my case, I apparently have an inherited
tendency for my windpipe to "relax" too thoroughly when I am asleep,
collapsing all of the way shut. The result is that I cycle between
normal breathing, not breathing, and rapid breathing (forcing the
windpipe open again). This doesn't happen when I am awake.

The main problem with this is that it prevents me from getting deep
sleep, and the resultant stress aggravates other medical conditions
such as high blood pressure. This used to be treated with surgery,
but they now prescribe the use of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway
Pressure) machine, which blows air into my nose to keep the air
pressure in my lungs high enough to keep the windpipe open.

When I go to bed, I have to wear a mask, somewhat resembling a blue
rubber pig snout, that fits over my nose and is connected by a hose
to the CPAP machine. A net of elastic webbing fits over my head to
hold the mask on, and makes me look somewhat like the villain in a
pro wrestling match.

I got the equipment about a week ago, and Cinders was understandably
rather wary of my new appearance for a couple of days. She would get
up on the bed, but only at the foot end. Now, she has resumed coming
up to the head end of the bed to be petted, and I just hope that she
doesn't ever get ideas about playing "hunt the snake" with my
breathing hose.

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--
John F. Eldredge --
PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu
"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better
than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria

On Sun, 19 Sep, John F. Eldredge wrote:

---------------------snip----------------------
When I go to bed, I have to wear a mask, somewhat resembling a blue
rubber pig snout, that fits over my nose and is connected by a hose
to the CPAP machine. A net of elastic webbing fits over my head to
hold the mask on, and makes me look somewhat like the villain in a
pro wrestling match.
---------------------snip----------------------

I've had to use a CPAP machine for several years now. In time, you
won't even know it's there. Fortunately, my Lady Jane Grey still
loves me and lays on my chest most nights. I still get to fall asleep
while getting my favorite type of kitty loving, beard snuggles.

A piece of advice if you find it cumbersome to breath when the machine
wants you to. The prescription for the device is usually written as
something like 12, 6, 4. The first is the high pressure, the second
the low pressure number (in pounds/square inch for our international
friends), and the last is usually the frequency at which the machine
tries to get you to breathe. You may safely turn the frequency
setting to off and your body will regulate your breathing. Try it
only if you are troubled by using the machine's breathing cycle.

Aarrrggggh! (Still a couple of hours left of ITLAPD in CA's pacific
daylight savings time)
O J

On Sun, 19 Sep, John F. Eldredge wrote:

---------------------snip----------------------
When I go to bed, I have to wear a mask, somewhat resembling a blue
rubber pig snout, that fits over my nose and is connected by a hose
to the CPAP machine. A net of elastic webbing fits over my head to
hold the mask on, and makes me look somewhat like the villain in a
pro wrestling match.
---------------------snip----------------------

I've had to use a CPAP machine for several years now. In time, you
won't even know it's there. Fortunately, my Lady Jane Grey still
loves me and lays on my chest most nights. I still get to fall asleep
while getting my favorite type of kitty loving, beard snuggles.

A piece of advice if you find it cumbersome to breath when the machine
wants you to. The prescription for the device is usually written as
something like 12, 6, 4. The first is the high pressure, the second
the low pressure number (in pounds/square inch for our international
friends), and the last is usually the frequency at which the machine
tries to get you to breathe. You may safely turn the frequency
setting to off and your body will regulate your breathing. Try it
only if you are troubled by using the machine's breathing cycle.

Aarrrggggh! (Still a couple of hours left of ITLAPD in CA's pacific
daylight savings time)
O J

On Sun, 19 Sep, John F. Eldredge wrote:

---------------------snip----------------------
When I go to bed, I have to wear a mask, somewhat resembling a blue
rubber pig snout, that fits over my nose and is connected by a hose
to the CPAP machine. A net of elastic webbing fits over my head to
hold the mask on, and makes me look somewhat like the villain in a
pro wrestling match.
---------------------snip----------------------

I've had to use a CPAP machine for several years now. In time, you
won't even know it's there. Fortunately, my Lady Jane Grey still
loves me and lays on my chest most nights. I still get to fall asleep
while getting my favorite type of kitty loving, beard snuggles.

A piece of advice if you find it cumbersome to breath when the machine
wants you to. The prescription for the device is usually written as
something like 12, 6, 4. The first is the high pressure, the second
the low pressure number (in pounds/square inch for our international
friends), and the last is usually the frequency at which the machine
tries to get you to breathe. You may safely turn the frequency
setting to off and your body will regulate your breathing. Try it
only if you are troubled by using the machine's breathing cycle.

Aarrrggggh! (Still a couple of hours left of ITLAPD in CA's pacific
daylight savings time)
O J

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

On Mon, 20 Sep, Takayuki wrote:

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

Your description is classic for apnea. Your dad needs to get himself
on one of these without delay. It's covered by my health insurance,
so maybe your father will get that benefit if he's covered.
Seriously, he's risking heart attack and stroke, not to mention
falling asleep while driving.

Regards and Purrs,
O J

On Mon, 20 Sep, Takayuki wrote:

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

Your description is classic for apnea. Your dad needs to get himself
on one of these without delay. It's covered by my health insurance,
so maybe your father will get that benefit if he's covered.
Seriously, he's risking heart attack and stroke, not to mention
falling asleep while driving.

Regards and Purrs,
O J

On Mon, 20 Sep, Takayuki wrote:

John F. Eldredge wrote:
I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a medical
condition where you periodically stop breathing.

The CPAP sounds like a clever device! I'll have to ask my father if
he's ever considered it. He's a loud snorer, and has very obvious
sleep apnea. I don't know if it's caused him to suffer from insomnia,
but my mother would have trouble sleeping, what with his snoring, then
stopping, making choking sounds, and starting up again. These days,
they sleep very far from each other, on opposite wings of their
residence, and with their hardwood doors, nobody can hear a thing.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not quite - I don't want my dad to wake
up dead. :)

Your description is classic for apnea. Your dad needs to get himself
on one of these without delay. It's covered by my health insurance,
so maybe your father will get that benefit if he's covered.
Seriously, he's risking heart attack and stroke, not to mention
falling asleep while driving.

Regards and Purrs,
O J