My Story by Puffin

[puffin]

Jusy a few lines about my OSA story. I have always been a night owl, late to bed, late to rise. My body clock seems to have been set about 8 hours out. I do most of my best work from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Anyway I had always had the idea that I was burning the candle from both ends, hense being always tired. You know the feeling.

I worked for 15 years for a pain in the neck ex navy signalman. Everything had to be 110% perfect all the time. I would get more and more tired over a few months, making increasingly more and more minor pain in the bum mistakes. I was a graphic designer working with text and a small mistake may have been a spelling mistake or a maths error when dealing with customers bills. The boss would really get upset. After a few months of this I would be so tired that I would spend the weekend in bed "sleeping it off". Refreshed, I would go back to work Monday morning, the cycle would start over again.

At this time I lived at home with my parents so had no one watching me sleep at night. One day about 12years ago, I saw a TV programme about OSA, and a light came on! Told the boss about the programme, I had the feeling that he did not believe me, prehaps I was creating an excuse for my errors and tiredness! Went to the doctors and mentioned the OSA programme. The answer I got was "Yes, I know about OSA, no, we do not have the money or facilities to treat it, live with it!" So I was stuck with a problem with no way of doing anything about it.

I was finally made redundant around the millenium when the boss retired. By this time I had moved and had gotten married. The wife was having a difficult time sleeping in the same room as myself due to snoring and laying awake wanting for me to start breathing again. She now sleeps in the back room . Meanwhile I had had half a dozen jobs in five years, being made redundant form at least three of them. The silly mistakes were still happening but I managed to get away with most of them. Finally two and half years ago the wife and I were both made redundant at the same time, so we took the year off. Then eighteen months ago we started our own business and are much happier for it.

Last year, 2006, I was rushed into hospital with gall bladder problems at 1 a.m. Christmas morning. Spent three days in hospital before being kicked out with an appointment for six weeks later. Well I did not last the six weeks before I was rushed in again. "We'll have that out for you, before you go home" said the consultant. When the Consultant "knock you out with gas Doctor" came around. We got talking about OSA, he suggested that I talk to my GP as the hosital had a sleep clinic and they could do someting about it.

This is just what happened, result, a few months ago I got my machine. I now feel much better for it, not only do I have much more energy the wife does not have to hide from me for the first two hours of the day, bear with sore head syndrome! Ironically my brother who it appears, also is a sufferer, still lives in my home town and still can not get treatment! Post code lottery again.

I think I have bored you with my poor english, by brifley telling my story. Some of you may be reminded of some of my symtems. If you have not yet seen a clinic, push your doctor. Remember with the N.H.S. "He who shouts loudest, gets".

[Joe McManus]

One day about 12years ago, I saw a TV programme about OSA, and a light came on! [...] result, a few months ago I got my machine. I now feel much better for it...

That puts you in the same category as a lot of OSA patients, only you had more of an idea you had it. A lot suffer for years before something (the wife mostly, also major health problems or indeed getting sacked) triggers a "let's sort it out" attitude. Often by that time, a lot of the secondary damage has already been done.

Hopefully, the NHS' soon-to-be-announced revised stance on OSA and CPAP will mean more people can get treatment, faster. Up until now, it has been poor indeed.

For those who have doubts about their symptoms, I made this online sleep screening test. A tell-a-friend form allows you to bring this to the attention of a fellow snorer/sleepyhead.

One potential way for your brother to open up the way to treatment could be home sleep screening. When Michael at CPAP-Europe asked how the contest was going, he mentioned they started doing in-home tests with Respironics which means the postcode lottery can be avoided completely.
Perhaps worth checking out.

[puffin]

Thanks Mr Admin for the information, I will pass that on to my brother. He is a tight bugger so may so may not follow it up.

[katiemcewan]

Last year, 2006, I was rushed into hospital with gall bladder problems at 1 a.m. Christmas morning.

Here is an interesting link for you: http://www.worldwidehealthcenter.net/articles-25.html I hope it's not applicable to you anymore though!

[puffin]

Thanks for the link, wish I had seen it before they removed my gallbladder along with 60 odd pea size stones. Rushed in on Saturday afternoon, operated 4.00pm Monday, back home for 11.00am Tuesday with my stones in a jar. Yes they do give them back to you. So far this year, what treatment I have had from the NHS I can not fault.

Tip, if you do get gallbladder problems, don't go to your GP, just go straight to A&E, they have to see and sort you out as an emergency patient!

Gallbladder pain is classed as 8/10, 1 is tooth ache, 10 is passing out. Its a morphin injection or two just to knock the edge off. Unless you have had that amount of pain, don't comment about how I had to have it sorted.

Just glade I had the talk with the "knock you out with gas Doctor" about OSA.