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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