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Cinders meets an alien
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Hash: SHA1 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. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 7.0.3 for non-commercial use http://www.pgp.com iQA/AwUBQU5XTzMYPge5L34aEQLEIwCeMOJIsVtkYoX9yU167/RWT3DSrugAoJ8M gmM3tMepcZQG36NOlMkHvbG9 =D8+l -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- 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 |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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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 |
#5
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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. |
#6
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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. |
#7
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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. |
#8
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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 |
#9
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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 |
#10
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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 |
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