Hi,

For Pam and others, here is my update.

I had two sleep studies.

1. Study one was horrible but I slept 2 hours -- long enough for the doc to determine that I have moderate sleep apnea

2. Study two went better perhaps because I knew what to expect. Also because the tech who took care of me all night was a lovely enough person and good at her job.
I did fine and slept 6 hours.

The tech told me that the medical supply company would contact me in a day or two and they did.

Next, I am supposed to schedule an office visit with the doc exactly two weeks from the last sleep study to see how I am doing with the equipment. (the machine will have a computer chip of some kind so that the doc can get a reading of how my nights are going.)
I have not made this appointment yet.

The company said that my particular mask is "on back order." I've got no idea what that means. I could apparently hear from the company any day and they could possibly get the mask out to me fairly quickly.

I feel like staying home this week and waiting on the machine and mask.

I don't want to miss any calls.

=-=-=-=-=-

But I am still having the skin reaction that started when I got home from the lab after study #2.
Right now I feel tingling / itchiness on hands, arms, face.

I'm not in a hurry to actually use the mask until I see my acupuncturist on Saturday and talk to her and let her help me get past the anxiety and whatnot.

These sleep studies and office visit with the doc took an enormous amount of emotional energy.
I have been hopeful that each step (hurdle) would bring me closer to being able to check this task off my list of things to take care of.

It's dragging on and I am losing patience.

Also, I feel that going through this process is important to take care of myself and my relationship with hubby (somehow this apnea and treatment got emotionally tied in my feelings about being with him.)
This is the hard part I think.
I feel like I am following through with the sleep thing in order to stay alive for him.

And yes it doesn't help one bit that sleep was already a huge source of anxiety before these doc and lab visits.

I'm ignoring calls from my tdoc -- too many things to deal with. And too hot to go outside in daytime unless absolutely necessary.



M.