The Virgin!

[Sparticus]

That made you look

I sometimes browse this forum and other just like it around the world and it always makes me chuckle (Laugh). It's like being on a roundabout, the same problems the same questions, leaks, wind, sore nose, bunged up the list goes on. I'm not complaining about it as I was there once just like a learner driver. I look back now with very fond memories of how it all started from the sleepy head shouts from the family and the nudges to wake you up and finally after years of fog the doctor pipes up, you could have sleep apnea.

This for me was met with some excitment, (so Im not a boring 40ish year old) Sleep tests, trip to the hospital, machines to wear in bed, it all seem quite unreal. What about you? how did it all start? This is not about success but about the beginnings, there are plenty of cases of success but what I like to hear about is peeps looking back to them early days, how they found out and at what point of life did it all start to make sense of why your.....zzzzzzzzzzzz OY! Wake up! effected your every day life before you know what you know today (ignorance is bliss?)

I couldnt wait for my sleep test and overnight stay at the hospital (Scotland) but the fun side of it soon wore off while laying there staring at the ceiling wires comming out of my backside (They could have been lol) Another thing, no one told me I'd have to pee into a bottle (Several times) When your not allowed to go your body likes to say otherwise (NURSE! Bottle) I think during the night I slept for about 90 minutes out of 8 hours. When morning finally and so thankfully arrived I was told that breakfast was served and the doctor has been called out so you will be notified of your results (The nurse told me I had sleep apnea shhh) What would you like for breakfast?

I was out the main doors in 30 seconds flat reaching for my fags as I went (Thankfully I quit not long after this) It was a very very very very (Yes we get the message) long night. A few days later I went back to Edinburgh to get my machine and have a run down of how it all works.

Do you still remember losing your virginity? sitting on the bed with your mask in hand, machine set up and all you have to do is pull the mask on. Now come on own up, who had a disaster that first time

I remember it well, leaks, noises, breathing problems ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LAUNCH CONTROL as the mask flies across the room

[SIZE=5]2YEARS ON[/SIZE]

Perfection? not even close, still have problems some nights are better than other the only difference now is I laugh instead of scream, Im calm instead of stressed and if I have a problem I sort it out, no matter if its breaking any rules of my hospital as I believe that its my body and I know best.

So, what about you? Do you have a fond tale to tell to pass on to the newbies. I believe that the last thing a new start wants to here is how successfull we are but how we got there and how we first encounted problems and if you could give one piece of sound advise what would it be. For me it would be buy a mp3 player (IPOD) and some headphones because without this I would never have slept and dreamed of wearing my mask (Suba diving) and listning to whale song and sounds of the sea (Slept like a baby)

Whats your story?

[Kipper]

I found out I had a problem when I kept falling asleep in front of the computer at work. I had an outside job, but had to input my days figures, and that's when I used to drop off. After waking up to "WAKE UP BOB" for the hundredth time, I thought I had better see the doctor. Thankfully I saw one of the new ones, who immediately spotted what was wrong, and knew all about SA. Booked into hospital and tested, diagnosis confirmed and CPAP issued. All usual panic stations for first week or so, but thankfully found this forum, which, as you say, had all the answers. I do feel very fortunate that, locally, SA is recognised as an illness and the hospitals are geared up for full NHS assistance.

[ElleCee]

I never knew I had a problem apart from being under the GP because I was always tired. I had every blood test and even a 24hour urine test to find out why I was so sleepy all the time, all to no avail.
It wasn't until many many years later when I was hospitalised with respiratory arrest that some unknown doctor walked past my bed (I must have been asleep for a few seconds) and came up to me and said "I think you have sleep aponea, I will send someone to see you".
Later that day a man came up to my bed and said when you go to sleep tonight I want you to put this watch thing on and then switch it on like this. I will come back in the morning to collect it. Off he went.
That night I put it on and the following morning he came back, took it away and returned a few hours later with a machine, plugged it and and showed me how to connect it to a mask and put it on. He would come back in the morning.
Following morning he came back with another machine, said it was mine to take home.
That night they had to move me to another ward because there was no one on duty that had experience of the machine. Like I couldn't work it myself 'doh'.
On the other ward they had never seen one either LOL would you believe that they wouldn't let me use it that night in case there were problems with it! I did not get to use it until I was sent home alone with it.
Once home I soon got to grips with it and have used it amost every night since.
And the rest they say is history !
Lorraine

[Sparticus]

Nice stories

Some nice stories there, its always fasinating how people come to be diagnosed and what there first experiences was. Its easy to read a success story but I think its far more interesting how it all began