Author Topic: Sleep  (Read 16040 times)

Re: Sleep
« Reply #75 on: 30 July, 2018, 07:16:11 pm »
Congratulations.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: Sleep
« Reply #76 on: 30 July, 2018, 07:24:58 pm »
Great news, Wowbagger. I think I’m going to have to get myself one of these CPAP machines.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #77 on: 11 August, 2018, 06:56:39 pm »
Last night was my 7th consecutive with a 100% score.

I get up to 70 for time on the machine ((10 marks per hour, maximum 7 hours), 20 for mask seal, 5 for the number of apnoea and hypopnaea evens per hour (apparently it is normal to have up to 5 events per hour) and 5 for keeping my mask on (I am allowed to take it off twice in a night before I start to lose marks). My events per hour are mostly well below 5: in the 29 days since I started using the nasal mask, there have ben 8 nights when my events per hour exceeded 4. Only once have I exceeded 6 in that time. That's in comparison to the last night with the full face mask when I suffered more than 17 events per hour.

My consultant is back from holiday on 13th. I will work on getting my driving licence back.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

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Re: Sleep
« Reply #78 on: 13 August, 2018, 10:15:33 am »
Quintuple fuck!

I spoke to a hospital person just now. It seems that I was down for an appointment for 18th October, which would have been the earliest that I could have got my licence back. It seems that under DVLA regulations there has to be a minimum period of treatment before they will reissue a driving licence. I have managed to reschedule that appointment to 20th September, but that is the earliest that I can reapply.

What a monumental pain in the arse!
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

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Re: Sleep
« Reply #79 on: 14 September, 2018, 09:15:30 pm »
One unforeseen (although it probably shouldn't have been) byproduct of having my licence revoked is that when we renewed our insurance, of course I couldn't be on it, not having a driving licence. My dear wife had to be the named driver. I thought (silly me) it would be a trivial matter, since LV sent me a marginally increased quote on last year's figure, that we would continue with them. I was assured that my NCD would be transferable to Janet. When push came to shove, their quote with Jan as the named driver was about £160 more than for me. We then decided to shop around and did so vie the website of moneysavingexpert. This lead to a quote from Privilege of slightly less than LV had originally quoted and, curiously, one from LV not that far from the quote I had initially been given. We decided to change to Privilege, given that LV had categorically assured me that my NCD had been transferred to Jan.

When we were in Vienna last week I received an email form Privilege asking for evidence of the NCD. After an online chat, we deferred providing proof until we arrived home, so we set about doing so this afternoon. LV denied having transferred the NCD, despite the fact that I triple-checked that the woman had done so. In the end Privilege got in touch with them and LV said they had no record of having had a customer of my name and address, despite only an hour or so earlier having sent me confirmation of NCD.

Very unimpressed with LV over this whole episode.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Sleep
« Reply #80 on: 20 September, 2018, 01:36:18 pm »
Octuple fuck!

Arrived for my 11am appointment this morning to be told it was 10.15. No letter, not text, just the phone call. "We don't always send texts if the oppointment was arranged at the last minute." As can be seen from my last but one post, it was arranged on 13th August. That's more than 5 weeks ago.

I now have an appointment for 1pm Monday. Rather than put Jan through the hassle and stress of driving there and the delay that is inevitable at hospital multi-storey car parks. I shall take my bike on the train.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Sleep
« Reply #81 on: 20 September, 2018, 02:12:00 pm »
How the hell do they expect you to know they rescheduled? This is really poor!
Awful they didn't just squeeze you in at the end of today's clinic.

What a waste!

Suspect you'll be listed asa DNA no show, even though it was their doing!

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #82 on: 20 September, 2018, 07:34:05 pm »
I suspect that the woman I spoke to on Aug 13th just read off the wrong time from her screen. But why there was no written communication I really don't know.
I intended to phone them yesterday to confirm the time but I had a day running around for Phyllis, who needed some antibiotics picked up form the doc/pharmacy and a urine sample to be taken to the hospital. it just slipped my mind.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Sleep
« Reply #83 on: 20 September, 2018, 07:53:35 pm »
I get reminder texts from Queen Square and NPH a few days before my appointments.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #84 on: 24 September, 2018, 09:34:51 am »
Still no text message but I phoned to check and have had it confirmed that my appointment is at 1pm. My good pal Jon is giving me a lift there.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #85 on: 24 September, 2018, 05:26:04 pm »
Back with a clean bill of health, FAGVO. I have just posted my driving licence application to DVLA. Despite the fact that my licence was last updated in 1994 when we moved to this house, and this new licence will be my first to bear my photo, there was no charge. This surprised me.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Sleep
« Reply #86 on: 24 September, 2018, 05:36:21 pm »
Good news.
Get a bicycle. You will never regret it, if you live- Mark Twain

Re: Sleep
« Reply #87 on: 25 September, 2018, 07:19:07 am »
excellent

Wowbagger

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Re: Sleep
« Reply #88 on: 03 October, 2018, 10:57:22 am »
Still waiting for the driving licence...

When I was at my hospital appointment last week I asked about a symptom which has developed since I have been on the CPAP machine. Every so often I feel an unpleasant burning sensation in my throat and upper chest. Of course, it could be totally unrelated to using the machine, but if it is then it's very coincidental. The nurses I spoke to looked at me blankly and suggested that if it happens again I should consult my GP.

I reckon it has happened about once a week and a couple of times has been so unpleasant that I have had to stop (on both of those occasions I was walking at the time, once up Howarth high street, the second, last week, between Baker Street and Marylebone stations) and concentrate on the pain. I quite often have a somewhat bloated sensation, which I attribute to my thoracic muscles having to work harder to exhale when wearing the machine.

I had a doc's appointment this morning. He thinks it's unlikely to be cardiovascular as I get quite a bit of exercise. He's given me omeprazole tablets and arranged for an ECG.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: Sleep
« Reply #89 on: 03 October, 2018, 01:32:49 pm »
as someone who has not done upper GI for years, it could be reflux.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Sleep
« Reply #90 on: 03 October, 2018, 01:42:45 pm »
as someone who has not done upper GI for years, it could be reflux.

Me neither but I'd concur...

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #91 on: 04 October, 2018, 10:59:13 pm »
I think that this was his thinking. Is it possible that the extra pressure and volume of my lungs is actually squeezing my stomach and forcing small quantities of semi-digested food/acid up? The machine definitely leaves me feeling "stretched" and bloated. The pressure must be pretty high to keep me inflated like this.

My nightly results seem to be improving. Only once in the past 30 days have I had more than 3 events per hour overnight, and that was 30 days ago so that will drop off the graph tomorrow. All of the past fortnight have been below 2 events per hour, and 4 nights of the last week have been below 1 per hour.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Sleep
« Reply #92 on: 05 October, 2018, 08:18:43 pm »
I would have thought some of this air is going down the gullet into the stomach, rather than the windpipe & lungs so you're 'swallowing' air and the resultant belch comes mixed with stomach acid. This would burn the base of the gullet, possibly painfully.

Mrs Pingu

  • Who ate all the pies? Me
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #93 on: 06 October, 2018, 04:00:24 pm »
If you Google CPAP and GERD you do get a fair few hits.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: Sleep
« Reply #94 on: 12 October, 2018, 03:13:07 pm »
Given that it will be 3 weeks on Monday since I sent my application off, and that I hadn't heard anything, I phoned DVLA just now. They didn't give anything away - specifically I asked whether they had heard from my consultant. Whereas the woman I spoke to didn't answer that question directly, she did say that "everything was now in place for a decision to be made". I sincerely hope that this isn't going to drag on any longer. Jan really doesn't like driving.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Sleep
« Reply #95 on: 17 October, 2018, 11:55:14 pm »
A follow-up from the ECG. Went to doc's this a.m. He reckoned the ECG was OK. We discussed the burning sensation and I described that I sometimed feel "stretched". I'm not belching after being on the machine so I'm doubtful about that. Also, burning the base of the gullet would surely give some sort of indication when swallowing? Swallowing is fine. No pain at all.

He said that the NHS takes all chest pain very seriously and if it happened again, to go to A & E. I suggested that, since my apnoea scores are now quite low (I rarely get a night when it's >3 per hour. Haven't had a 4 for weeks. Last night's was 0.3, the lowest yet) it might be worth getting Basildon hospital to turn down the maximum pressure on mu machine, which is currently set at 20 litres per second.

5.30 this evening it started again...

I've just got back from A & E. BP a bit high but not massively so. 2 ECGs, one of which showed an abnormality on one beat, the second was normal. 2 blood tests. I understand they are testing for the level of troponin. According to the doc, they are looking for a level >14 which indicates the possibility of a heart attack. Mine was 6. 2nd blood test was done, but I came home on the understanding that I would go back if it dramatically changed. I haven't been phoned.

I'm going to hear from some other dept which I think does exciting things like link me up to all sorts of gubbinses and them make me ride an exercise bike. I'll try and do 200k at WARTY speed...

All in all, a very satisfactory result, but I wish I wasn't getting the pains. The staff were excellent, as ever, although I would take issue with one of the doctors I saw who stated categorically that "chest pains aren't a side effect of CPAP machine use." I'd be OK with "There's no scientifically proven link between..."
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: Sleep
« Reply #96 on: 27 October, 2018, 07:20:44 pm »
Developments.

The good news is that the consultant has signed another form (the first went into a black hole somewhere between Basildon and Swansea) and will send it to me. I have asked DVLA to send me another set of forms to fill in (why they don't keep the last lot on file for more than a fortnight is beyond me...) and when I have them all under control I will send off another application. I might get my licence back by the end of November...

After last week's A & E trip, I had an appointment at the chest clinic for another ECG. A specialist heart doctor diagnosed the following abnormalities just by looking at my ECG:

left anterior fascicular block
first degree AV block

It seems that these abnormalities are not that abnormal and you can carry on without any obvious ill effects. They are to do with the nerves sending signals to the heart rather than the veins/arteries being blocked. He was impressed that I had been out for a 14 mile walk in the not-flat bit of Kent the previous day. I will be given an appointment for an MRI scan and ultrasound treatment to check the bits of my cardiovascular system that other investigations cannot reach.

Regarding the chest pains, I cycled to Waitrose today, the first properly cold day of the autumn. My lungs were burning from the cold air in a manner that I have never experienced before. The longer this goes on, the more convinced I am that it's down to the CPAP machine stretching or desiccating tissue. Whereas I was aiming for 100% or as close as possible every night, I am now adopting a policy of taking the mask off and going back to sleep without it as soon as I reach 6 hours on the machine - to try to reduce the side-effects - which medics tell me don't exist. In order to comply with the consultant's/DVLA's requirements, I have to keep up at least 5 hours a night. I don't think it's desiccation as I have the humidifier set to quite a high level. I'm inhaling at least a quarter of a pint of water each night.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Sleep
« Reply #97 on: 27 October, 2018, 08:12:26 pm »
Good luck WB.

In my case, not sleeping well at the moment, generally restless, abusing caffiene and too many things on my mind.

Need to effectively exhaust myself to be able to sleep.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Sleep
« Reply #98 on: 10 November, 2018, 06:58:18 pm »
I've been told that an excellent sleeping draught can be made by boiling a whole banana (or maybe just the skin) for 40 minutes then drinking the water. Apparently the skin contains tryptophan, which helps you sleep by promoting serotonin production.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Sleep
« Reply #99 on: 10 November, 2018, 08:16:24 pm »
I'm finding a combination of co-codamol and red wine is helping until about 3AM when the co-codamol wears off, I turn over in my sleep and get a shooting pain through my pelvis/left hip. 

That and the pain through the day are leaving me somewhat drained.  I've told my boss no more than 50% from me next week
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens