Going to drop off this short post on way to gym ... having problems with feelings of terror :( Video uploading ...
Good morning. We’re writing on a Friday morning from home because we didn’t go to work this morning. Hmm, or yesterday for that matter. We’re on a medical break. If you want to hear of the medical, you should play the first 10 minutes or so of the video. Basically, we have to go in to the hospital overnight tonight to have sleep apnea tests done. Hmm, think we wrote an email to Dr. M. yesterday, maybe that would help explain our situation, wait … let me check that out.Dear Dr. Marvin,
This is an update. We went home after the appointments. We made the appropriate calls. We're not feeling so good. I think part of that is that we got off schedule with our medicine, food, and coffee this morning, because of the fasting test. I didn't think it was such a good time at the U. Right now I'm just being sore because it took them three needles to find blood and they were doing that thing where they are searching around for a vein after they put the needle in your arm. They were complaining cuz I have small veins and then it was snowing out. I was also tired because of the walking. We took all the tests you ordered.
We were the first one at the Nutrition clinic, but it took them an extra 30 minutes past my appointment time. That played on our nerves. And, because the people at the reception desks were so noisy and gabby. They didn't act like professionals at all. And, one of them took a call and said to somebody not to worry about coming in late, because they only had one patient anyway. That made me feel crabby. We had a pretty nice technician, who was much bigger than us so we could talk to her about stuff. Mostly though we were just answering questions. We gave her a copy of that medical paper we sent you, which she seemed to appreciate. She said that a lot of questions she would ask are on there. She said that I had the symptoms of the sleep apnea and that I'd have to come in the hospital for tests and then the doctor came in and he looked ok, but was a very grumpy person. He had a quiet intern with him.
I don't know how to explain the shut-down we had as he talked. He was asking questions, but we don't know what he was saying, but we remember him asking/saying that he would like to keep the sheets. I remember being helpful and cooperative ... studious like with the lady and to start the dr part, but then that switched to the part where we were looking down and saying yes sir, no sir. Somebody in our system said out loud trying not to be panicked ... remember he's the good guy, but he butted in and said, no I'm the bad guy. He was saying stuff, especially about the computer and how I'd have to turn it off when I went to sleep. And, I remember thinking who is this person? Why does he think he can come into my life and change things. We couldn't figure it out because we were there for a medical reason and he got into our lifestyle. It was like a bad germ attacked us and we couldn't think how to get it off. He was saying like there was probably many things wrong but that we were going to just start with the probability I have sleep apnea and they might be putting me on some machine for oxygen that night. And, he said something about a micro chip in some kind of machine that would tell him if I was doing something wrong.
I didn't like him at all and he said he would meet me at the hospital tomorrow night. They were talking about bunches of tests and wires and and connector things on my head and we got pretty mixed up in our thoughts. The nice lady said I could bring dog, but I'm pretty sure he would be scared of the bad doctor. He couldn't decide to lock us up on 8 East could he???
I think we knew in our heads that we were probably going to have to go for the overnight tests, but mostly we were scared cuz of not smoking or having our computer. But, now we're not smoking, but they were saying stuff past my head and we just got confused and depressed feeling again ... I remember telling Our friend when he stopped by in the morning that we were not feeling good again, but now it feels terrible. I don't want to go to the hospital with a mean doctor. What happened to my head?
Co-worker answered the phone so we didn't get to talk to Sister ... Co-worker was complaining about doing lunch, then we wrote four or five lines to The Intern, then we called Our friend, but he was at work I guess and he figured we weren't. He couldn't talk to me and V's not on line either cuz he said he had to go do blood tests too today. He made me schedule another appointment in a couple of months, but he said he'll set earlier appointments according to the tests. He gave me something to read, but I don't know what about. Maybe I should look hold on.
He was saying something about sleep hygiene and that we had terrible sleep hygiene. I didn't know what he meant, but it sounded pretty terrible. I see the papers have some information about the tests. It says stuff about before you get there and when you get there. The lady said we need to get there at 8:30 pm. It says we get done at 6:30 am and they don't feed us so we have to bring in our snack if we want them.
It says they are going to monitor my brain activity, eye movements, chin muscle tone, heart rhythm, leg muscle activity and breathing and there will be a video camera on at all times and a two way intercom. They say it is going to take 45 minutes to set up and there will be electrodes stuck by our eyes, chin, chest, scalp, legs, belts around our abdomen and chest, and a probe to monitor oxygen stuck on our finger. There is absolutely nothing here to say this is going to be an enjoyable experience...
Hmm, read the rest of the information ... nothing wonderful about it at all ... just general mumble jumble of learning to establish regular sleep patterns.
....
Times gone by ... being distracted ... reading and watching news on computer ... tired.
Us
Ok, ok doing better … focusing on some stuff needs to be getting done. We talked to our oldest son in IM … he says good luck J pretty much a non-issue. It seemed like he knew about the connections of being over-weight, snoring and sleep apnea. He asked if we were going to be ok … we said yah, so that was pretty much it.
Thinking now about our kitty stretched out in his sleeping position as we type. It is kinda funny that both our kitties have adjusted to this situation so they could spend time with us when we’re home. Not to say we ALWAYS appreciate this, but times like now when we’re a little down, it is very nice to have the company and support.
It’s about 8:45 am now … 12 hours to go. V just signed off to eat some breakfast … Good V! He’s written this morning in his blog … a must see J
Ok, ok … what’s next. Any major world issues we have to resolve? We talked to Dr. M. last night about giving up work. That has been playing on our mind. We haven’t figured out yet how to pay for the cost of our life without working, but we’re thinking that work adds too much stress on us. We want to be able to do as we are now and just figuring out things one at a time. Dr. Marvin didn’t say no directly, it was more like well we should talk about this some more. That was fair enough. I agree needs some time, but we’re pretty much for it.
We were playing a tail game with our kitty … his tail was reaching up to touch my hand … I think it’s his way of keeping his bearings. He just got a little concerned. It is sounding a little windy out there. Ok, ok … we’re going to have to get somewhere solid here. We’re pretty much drifting. The time is 9 am. We should set our timer for the hour … good good … next hmm, hungry … might want to try some vegetables. Would mean a kitty switch. Feel a little dehydrated too. Not sure if we’re up to getting water or not. Maybe just the veggie tray. Hold on.
Ahhh … that’s the good stuff … just telling the video that we’ve got our standard cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots with fat free peppercorn ranch dressing. Very good. Mr. kitty had to leave though … he doesn’t like it when we snack over him.
What’s next? Think … Anywhere close to Dr. M. thoughts? Ok, ok … we got the part that we were crying. Seems we do that often enough to think we’re regulars. I don’t remember even what the main conversations were about. Probably talked about the visits yesterday …pretty sure we told him about the bad doctor. Don’t remember … hmm, there was something about Dr. M. having met the doctor and thinking he wasn’t all bad. Maybe we’ll have to talk to the doctor and remind him of that tonight. He may try to be scaring us, but Dr. Marvin wouldn’t let him beat us up. Mentally, that is … Maybe we could ask Dr. M. next week to look up on our chart and see what the Dr. said about us. We were thinking maybe he doesn’t believe in multiplicity … there are some of those doctor’s too. I think when the doctors have interns working with them, they are always hard pressed to come in forcefully instead of investigating the situation because they have to maintain their reputation of always knowing what they are doing. Yesterday, we said something to Dr. M. about why he would do what he did … the sleeping doctor. We thought that he was trying to establish his power and authority, but he like marched into our life where we hadn’t invited him. He started forcing that we change without us consenting to that being a good idea. AND, we are pretty sure at this point, that we’re not going to do something he’s goading or forcing us into by show of fear and authority. We worked too hard to get away from all that. We’ll recon with him … and we’ll go as far as being cooperative, but if he wants our respect …he’s going to need taming down his bedside manner. HMPF! At least now, we know more what to expect.
Hmm, seems like we’re focusing on pretty much this apnea stuff. But, if it were just the apnea stuff we’d be blowing it off more. It’s that fearful point where he said that “We’ll start here.” I took that to be more like a threat. I think it was the female technician that talked about the tonsils and the throat. She said that I have a narrow throat especially as is common to people who are big because I think we get fat cells or something in our throat. She said something about tonsils often getting in the way of breathing and that sometimes they need to be removed. That part gave us the jitters, especially after the doctor said, we’ll start here. He made it seem that we are not going to be done with him as if he were a specialist we were dropping by to see and then would leave. I didn’t like the idea of him staying in my life at all. I’ve gone through several doctors at this nutrition clinic and one of them is just as objectionable as the next. That is fearful, because I asked the scheduler for the most patient of the two offered. Hmpf … if this is patient what the blue blazes is the other guy like!
Hmm occurs that I haven’t read anything on sleep apnea yet. Maybe I better look that up.
Hmmm … ok that was enlightening. I just did about an hour and a half reading on sleep apnea. I have good infiltration of information to my brain *giggle.* I’m not sure whether or not we’re going to be relieved of surgical worries, but on our optimistic route we’re thinking that if we need to have our tonsils or adnoids, or fatty things removed from our throat … then we are at least going to require some good old fashioned ice cream, milk shake cures. Yes, I do remember reading about this while we were very young. So and so goes to the hospital and has a hurt throat afterward and gets ice cream … yup yup yup … that’s the ticket!
Ok, big breath … time to get to the gym before sweety stops by for a few moments. Hmm, better give him a quick call to make sure we’re on track.
Ok, be brave now … get going! Yes dear …
posted by Ann Marie @ 10/13/2006 11:17:00 AM
Comments: 0
