Three More Good Things

1. I just discovered the hashtag #ShareGoodThingsToo

2. A consultation with an #apnea specialist thinks my issues can be largely addressed non surgically — and I learned a lot about how the nasal cavity can be involved with apnea, not just the throat and mouth

3. My frozen shoulder from September is nearly completely healed (aka thawed) and I can put my coat on with hardly any pain

Rápido, poned la 2.
#apnea #freediving

@samhainnight

For me, my apnea became bad enough that it was like each time I dozed off, it felt like a gremlin would slowly pinch off my throat and suffocate me.

It was just the anatomy of my throat.

I never found any way to prevent apnea through positioning or a pillow.

The first time I tried a CPAP, the slight positive pressure held my airway open, and I was able to sleep fully and wake rested.

Hola Titánicos, la apnea del sueño es un trastorno del sueño potencialmente grave en el que la respiración se detiene y vuelve a comenzar repetidas veces.

Descubre cuales son sus síntomas y detectar sus peligros.

https://somosdisca.es/que-es-la-apnea-del-sueno/

It's my second night on a #CPAP machine and I'm already actively avoiding bed. I hate this thing. I hope it gets easier. #apnea sucks.

Primed for pain by sleep apnea
2/2
#Hypoxia activated peripheral macrophages in the circulation and promoted their recruitment into sensory nerve tissues, the sensitivity of which was increased by macrophage-released cytokines. The findings identify a target to potentially reduce chronic #pain in patients with sleep #apnea.

—Leslie K. Ferrarelli
Sci. Signal. (2024)

Primed for pain by sleep apnea
1/2
Chronic #pain is associated with both obstructive sleep #apnea and sleep deprivation, which is a consequence of sleep apnea. Chivers et al. found that mice exposed during sleep to chronic
episodes of hypoxia, but not those merely roused from sleep the same number of times, were more sensitive to heat and touch.

—Leslie K. Ferrarelli
Sci. Signal. (2024)

In reference to the post from earlier today where I discussed my silly food experiment, I have finished my lunch. I had a little bit of chicken, a protein cookie, a little sugar free chocolate, and a handful of Ritz crackers. No peanuts for me.

Now we wait and see how I feel this afternoon including if my stomach requires me to eat on the drive home, and how I feel when it’s time for dinner, probably around 6:45-7:00pm. Will there be gassy pain in my stomach like there often is when I work in the office and have peanuts with my lunch? Or will I be pain and discomfort (and brutal, violent farts) free (please excuse the TMI, but I included it for the benefit of scientific research, you understand)?

In other health-ish news, I used my CPAP machine again last night. It went well. No issues. More importantly, the SleepWatch app on my Apple Watch tells me that the ratio of restful sleep vs light sleep increased. Yesterday it was 67% restful, which wasn’t bad, I don’t think, but today it was 79% which is pretty wonderful. I like seeing that number in the 70’s, but when it pushes 80 it’s extra special. It had my sleeping heart rate dip at 21% too. Anything above 20% is excellent. Unfortunately, I failed to get six hours of sleep in total (only by a few minutes though) and the older I get the less functional I am when the total is less than six hours. Oh well.

So as far as medical experiments go, we need to see how my stomach feels by the time dinner rolls around, 4-5 hours from now, and how tonight’s sleep goes. There is just so much data to collect. The statistics nerd typing this post is giddy with antici…

…

…

…pation.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/07/03/and-now-we-wait-and-see/

I think it was May 22nd. The last time I used my CPAP machine before breaking it down and packing it up to take to Florida. I didn’t use it at all on the vacation. I didn’t even take it out of the case. When we got home I had a nasty head cold and the thought of sneezing into the CPAP machine’s mask was gross enough to stop me from setting it up and using it.

On the 19th of June I used it. The next four nights I tried to use it, but had to shut if off after a couple of hours. I’m not sure why. I was still coughing up phlegm quite often and I just couldn’t find a way to be comfortable with the mask on and it kept waking me up. From June 24th on, I didn’t use it at all.

Then last night, July 1st. I used it again and it went pretty well. The questions I have now are these:

Do I need to use it anymore?

Is it doing anything for me?

Sleep apnea doesn’t really seem to be an issue anymore. At least I am not snoring at 100 decibels and waking my wife up every night. I was hoping that when I checked the sleep stats my Apple Watch collected last night it would show me that my percentage of restful vs light sleep would be higher. It wasn’t. At least not compared to the previous few nights’ worth of numbers.

So… am I wasting my time with this thing? Am I putting that huge alien face hugger over my nuggin’ for nothing?

I’ll use it for a few more days and see how the numbers look. If, after a week or so, the restful sleep percentage doesn’t go up, or I just don’t feel as rested come the morning, then I’ll talk to my doctor about maybe returning the machine and moving on with my life.

Healthcare… am I right?

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/07/02/the-return-of-mr-cpap/

Got my sleep test results today. Severe obstructive sleep #apnea. Feeling kind of freaked out.

... Ommetaphobia ...
#fear #phobia #eyes #eye #occular #sleep #apnea #nightmare #dream #sleeping #surrealart #surrealism #aiartcommunity #dalle3

What doctors wish patients knew about sleep #apnea | American Medical Association

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-sleep-apnea

We’re having parallel experiences, my friend. My CPAP arrives tomorrow. Did you go with the nasal or full-face mask? #Apnea

Source: @atomicpoet
https://mastodon.social/@atomicpoet@atomicpoet.org/111886528107640730

ADD and Sleep Apnea: How Sleep Issues Can Look Like ADHD
https://www.additudemag.com/add-and-sleep-apnea-problems-solutions/