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Re: To Sandy, SleepyTimeGal and D. H.

Posted by SleepyTimeGal on September 08, 2004 at 10:08:06:

In Reply to: To Sandy, SleepyTimeGal and D. H. posted by Bre in MI on September 08, 2004 at 09:19:03:

No, Sweetie, it is not all in your head. Your body is telling you something is wrong. My personal opinion is that the setting of 5 is not delivering enough pressure to keep your airway open. Also, you didn't post your oxygen desaturation from your first test; sleeping blood oxygen level is supposed to be between 90%-95%. Most apneics drop below that, some substantially below, so if your airway is not being kept open and blood oxygen is falling, of course your body is going to set off all sorts of alarms.

If I had a dollar for every apneic that's been diagnosed as being depressed instead of having a sleep disorder, I don't think I'd have to worry about my retirement.

Some doctors will prescribe a dose or two of Ambien to help you fall asleep for your study; you might want to ask him. Anything to move your treatment along. If you still have problems completing the titration study, your doctor can order a one-week autopap trial at home, which was done for me when two sleep studies showed wildly different settings. The autopap records your sleep data which the doctor can download to a computer.

So far as counseling, some clinics will accept on a sliding scale ability to pay basis. Years ago my ex-husband's insurance did not pay for counseling, I did not work, ex-husband would not pay, the doctor wrote a strong letter of referral and I was accepted at $5 a session. Probably saved my life many months later.

The point is, there are many possibilities. Relaxation techniques and meditation can oftentimes go a long way to coping with anxiety and panic; one must be disciplined, but they do work.

But you are not crazy, you are not weak-willed or foolish, you are, indeed, as you first posted, very sick and desperately trying. I hope the doctors learn something from treating you.

I'll hold good thoughts for you. . . .

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