Well, Here Goes Nothing, Part 3.

As we discussed before, the results from Kent were not good. He told me that I would definitely need to be put on a CPAP Machine to help me breathe by forcing air into my lungs. He told me that he would send a copy of thge sleep study to Dr. Munoz before March 14, and to expect to have it for my appointment.

My Mom and I were very happy. We now had something to work with and there was hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. We began to pray that I would get approved for the CPAP and the antidepressants (MAO inhibitors) which would free me from this sleep apnea. It was quite simple-get thew CPAP and the MAO inhibitors, and your life would change for the better. There would be side effects, but hopefully the benefit gained by the MAOis would outweigh the risks.

I was now falling asleep four or five times a day as well as sleeping at night. By the Grace of God, I had not gotten drowsy behind the wheel since December 26, but there were other problems that could be associated with the sleep apnea, including soreness in my joints and muscles due to extreme O2 deprivation, an inability to walk more than one or two blocks at a time, depression and a ravenous appetite, all of which could be associated with sleep apnea (Jeff Seidel, Machine Stops Snores of Sleep Apnea (newspaper article). Monterey, CA, Monterey County Herald (newspaper), Thursday, March 24, 2011 and discussions with medical personnel). And on March 4, someone who knows me well enough to know told me that she has seen signs of this in my sleep patterns since 2003. This means it it has had a major impact on my life and has affected all of my life activities, including my work at MDS and my Seminary training, both of which may have been made easier if I had bgeen able to treat this earlier.

So on March 21, I went to see Dr. Munoz, hoping and praying that he would do everything that Kent told him to do. He came in and definitely told me that I would need a CPAP machine. However, he refused to give me the MAO inhibitors, saying that he would have to send me to a Neurologist before he would do that. Send me to a neurologist?!!! What did he want, to send me to every doctor in Bakersfield?!!! He told me that he wanted to have a follow-up appointment one week from today (April 25).

Irritated, I started home and waited for the CPAP. Three weeks later, I was given notice that the CPAP machine was approved, and that i could get it that week, but no neurologist. I went back and began to sleep again (it was noon). Two days later, I was sitting in a Respiratory Therapist's office and receiving instructions for how to operate my new CPAP machine.

I tried it for the first time on April 7, and I did not sleep well. It had been eleven nights since I started with the CPAP machine, the quality of my sleep has yet to improve and I am beginning to get a little bit frustrated with the mask and I may need to get a new one with a better fit; but that needs to be seen.

Next time I will talk about the impact of this sleep apnea on my life.