INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014

    Paws HAPPY BIRTHDAY :). Nice to be able to chalk up another one :) YAY :)

    Enerva and Chevy, sorry about your sad memories of your furbabies passing.

    Blessings, Your description of your Dh's OSA was perfect. There should be a diagnosis "Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Proxy". It would be all the problems that a sleep apneic has, but is manifested in their sleeping partner. OSA can cause obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, memory issues oddles more. This is why it is taken so seriously. OSA can kill, slowly, but your still dead from the diseases that it causes.

    This link is from Mayo Clinic. It discusses the complications of OSA. It, also, discusses the problems of partners AND children of sleep apneics. The affect on children is new information for me, bummer.

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/complications/con-20020286

  • FierceBluebird
    FierceBluebird Member Posts: 758
    edited June 2014

    Great pictures from everyone. Looks like a Cliff Swallow Enerva. How cool to be nesting on the rock wall. Love min pins.

    Tang, you poor thing. Sending lots of germ-free hugs and positive healing. I had a miserable time for months after my flap construction and you will get through this! We are all with you girl!

    Nettie, I had good luck with a TENS unit also. The electrical impulses help break up the nerve pain cycle. I also used an egg crate/memory foam mattress topper that helped my sciatica when I had it. Good luck finding some pain relief.

  • Nettie1964
    Nettie1964 Member Posts: 759
    edited June 2014


    I appreciate all the suggestions and concerns!  But the one thing that you do not understand…I
    can NOT sleep other than in my own bed! 
    I’ve tried,  it just doesn’t work
    and we are not financially able to buy another bed identical to the one I sleep
    on!  Now that being said, I can force the
    DH to sleep in another room although he could quite easily adjust as he can
    sleep anywhere.  However, he absolutely
    refuses although he is only in “our” bed approx. 4 hours per night!  In other words, he comes in after I’m asleep,
    which wakes me, I struggle to get back to sleep, which by the time I do, I get
    about an hour before his alarm goes off at 4 am and then I’m awake again!  I then, try to sleep a little more, but find
    that this just makes getting up even harder! 


    Our house is small and therefore, any movement or light
    affects my sleep also!


    I’m trying to get us an appointment with a counselor to try
    to convey to him how important it is that I get my rest, but so far, no luck
    getting in.  I will pursue!!


    And Chevy, how wonderful that you don’t have pain!  I hope to be so lucky one day!


    Happy birthday Paw!!


    Tang, hope today finds you more comfortable and resting!


    Edited to say:  I have no idea why the above post spaced out like that!  and not enough time to fix it right now!

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited June 2014

    Chevy, Preempt your Orlando DD by offering to foster a dog for a shelter. Then there's a dog on the premises, so you clearly don't need another. We fostered dogs for several years before moving on to cats. It's such a joy to see a young dog go to a family with children.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2014

    Good morning all! Many pages behind as this has been a very busy week. Job hunting continues, job fair Tuesday, should be getting ready for one instead of stopping by here, one on Monday,..... Hoping something good comes of all this. Glad I get notifications on my cell...

    Want to wish all those having pain some relief. Pain sucks!

    Pawprint, want you to have a very happy birthday! 

    image

    Hopefully, will BBL

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited June 2014

    Good Morning or afternoon whatever it is.

    Oh Tang what a mess u've been having and ended up in the hospital oh that's horrible.I'm glad u'r home, now u have to take care of u'rself and plenty of rest.

    Nettie I wish we could help u more, I think everyone is trying to help u sleep better cuz maybe u'll feel better.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAW---Hey Chevy Paw said oh maybe now I could post on the old thread---well let's just say if I were 60 again and knew what was coming ahead--well I guess I'd still be in the same place I am now, so no sage advice.

    A little busy and so tired--no good reason.

  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited June 2014

    Tang – gentle hugs to you…

    Pawprint – wishing you a belated happy birthday! Only 60?
    You’re just a baby!!!

    Dwill – hope better days are around the corner for you…

    Notself – so glad the Alka Seltzer Plus works for you. I’m
    terribly allergic to several of the ingredients in it. However, when I’m having
    a bad reaction to something environmental or something I’ve eaten, I take Alka
    Seltzer Gold – it does have a high sodium count, but it somehow manages to
    alkalinize the blood to offset the acidic reactions that cause release of
    histamines. Crazy how some things work for conditions totally unrelated to what
    they were designed to fix!

    Susan – yep! Twin hubbies. Unfortunately, mine does more
    than twitch… I’m talking major karate kicks and chops. To end that would mean more medication… just what he doesn’t need. At least
    yours doesn’t remember much of the pillow tug-of-war!!!

    Enerva – beautiful picture of you and your furbabies! I feel
    the same way about my kitties as you do about your dogs. I put the last one
    down several years ago, and I miss them every day. But our house is very clean,
    DH has no more cat-hair allergy, and we don’t have to find someone to come in
    and take care of them if we travel. So wherever we are, when I see a cat, I
    yell “KITTY!” and have to go over and get my Kitty Fix… rubbing their ears,
    their bellies, whatever they let me do. For now, that’s all I get.

    Smaarty – that’s some party you’re planning! I will bring
    the sugar free Torani Almond Roca syrup to spice up my coffee!

    Chevy – Amen, Sistah!!! Keep that cast-iron skillet handy!!!

    Oh, Sassypants… you are such a…. NURSE!!!! And a dang good
    one at that. Thanks for the link to the OSA info. DH did his study last night;
    I will be requesting a referral from my PCP today. It’s so crazy… we have all
    these symptoms, and I am dumb enough to always think, “Well, A happened, then B
    happened, so it stands to reason that A caused B.” NOT!!!! Our health
    conditions can be peeled off like layers of an onion… one thing leads to
    another, and sometimes treating one symptom ignores the core issue completely.
    These days I feel like the medical Dick Tracy!!!

    Hi, FierceBluebird – how is it that I am just now reading
    your siggie line? I LOVE it!!!!

    Wren – Fostering furbabies – what a great idea!!!!! I would love to foster some kittens, but DH
    is not a cat – or dog – person. He’s very allergic. Plus, I would never be able
    to give any of the kitties back, and pretty soon Animal Control would be on my
    doorstep citing me for having 75 cats in my house!!!!

    2TA – you are in my prayers for terrific results on your job
    search. The perfect job is out there somewhere. You are awesome, and I believe in you!!!!

    Cami – yesterday was our anniversary. DH had a doctor’s
    appointment, so I lay down at 2 pm for a nap. I woke up at 7 pm, having
    completely missed dinner! Oh well, like my mom always used to tell me, “Your
    body must have needed it.” Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

    Nettie – did you see my question to you?

    ~ ~ ~

    BIG day today… haircut and color at 1:30…. And then…well, I
    guess nothing else is on my agenda.

    DH did his sleep study last night and should get the results
    in a week. He also had his first acupuncture session today. Said it went well.
    (He’s really a needle wuss.) I told him he wouldn’t be able to see anything. He
    said he felt relaxed.

    Have some yard work to do but it’s supposed to be 108 by the
    weekend. Whoopee! Maybe I can sweat off some of this excess poundage…. Kidding!!!

    Hugs to all my Owlettes, especially those I didn’t respond
    to personally!!!

    xoxoxoxoxo

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014

    Blessings---you are so sweet and good, we are blessed to have you here.

    In fact there are so many good people here, it makes me tear up.  Love you all, I need a good cry. :)

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Ohhhhh My Dog

    Each time I loose a pup I'm ready for the nut house. It hurts soooooo much. But I always knew, even before they were gone, I'd have another. I just can not imagine life without a dog. 

    My previous love was an Australian Shepherd. I always thought I'd have another. They are tied for first place with Border Collies for brains. Aussies do it all!!! Ring side, ranch work, couch potato, best bud, that's an Aussie. Champion shedder too. 

    Why did I get one that's a few (a lot) of fries short of a happy meal? I needed a small dog. She does exactly what her breed is supposed to do. Look pretty, not much else. 

    I guess my point is, I just NEED a dog or 2 in my life. And I think Vulfie would approve. 

    If you don't want a pup, go to your local shelter, give an older dog a chance for love! Or contact a rescue group. Kris, and Rooney before him came from poodle rescue. 

    Do it for a pooch, do it for yourself!

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014


    Officially on a downer. This should have been my 42nd wedding anniversary on the June 24th. Dh died of Lymphoma. But what lead to the path of his destruction was OSA. He developed it in the late 80's. They just came out with the assisted sleep apnea machine. The research was really taking off. In the early days OSA was believed to be caused by obesity. But that didn't explain the people that had OSA that were normal weight. It was a chicken and egg thing.

    He refused the machine. He yoyo'd on dieting. He didn't use me.

    His weight wasn't too bad then just over 250. He had a weight problem his whole life. I observed that each time he lost weight, he then would regain it, but with an additional 20-30 pounds. His apnea symptoms would appear around 220. I suggested he just stick to a goal of weight that he wouldn't have the apnea symptoms. Nope. He kept yo-yoing. Everytime he got heavier.

    His highest weight was >400. It was helped along by his diabetic specialist who put him on Actos. Biggest s.e. of Actos was weight gain. He gained approximately 60 lbs on the drug. At the time I wasn't studying his drugs b/c I figured a Board Certtified Endocrinologist would be intimately be aware of drug affects. Wrong. No idea what the doc was thinking. Dh dutifully went for all office visits. Doc evaluation each time.

    Progression of diseases from OSA. Obesity, hypertension, High cholesterol, diabetes, prostate problems, Gout, back & hip problems b/c he carried his weight in the belly. He was a mess

    Forget the exact year he started to use the apnea machine--around 2000. But the conversation included him saying he'd rather be dead than use it. I said okay you will be. He started to use it, but by that time so much damage had been done.

    The final blow was cardiomyopathy. Lipitor joined the party and dropped his cardiac output to 20 % from 65% in one month. Transplant time is 15%. He'd been on it for years, but the cardio doc tripled his dose. He was disabled at 55y/o.

    Thousands of details left out. I said in a previous post that OSA kills, it just kills slowly. The coup de gras was a Board Certified Internal Medicine doc who kept feeding him pain pills for the back pain without a single diagnostic test to determine origin of the pain. He never complained to me about the back or hip pain and I didn't know he was a narcotics for pain. He kept it hidden. Did he become addicted --yes. Probably why he kept it all hidden.

    On April 17th 2009, acute abdominal pain got him a Ct scan. The GI doc described " the lymph nodes in the space around the lumbar nodes as lighting up like a Christmas tree." Further testing, it was everywhere. Retrospectively, at the time I figured he had it for years. But all his doctoring failed him. There was a preset in the docs minds b/c of his weight.

    Where was I. DH wanted to NOT have me involved in his  medical business. I respected that when I could, and barged in when I did at times. Then he'd push me away once the crisis was over.

    OSA kills, it just kills slowly. Dh died on August 20th, 2010. Age 61

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited June 2014

    Well, guess that's a husband for you....  I would LOVE for mine to go get a physical at least once every 10 years.... But nope, he won't go.... even though it is free every year.  He will only go if he is really SICK with something that we can't fix.... Like the gout....  And the Doc, diagnosed THAT as a torn Achilles Tendon in his heel!  It wasn't that.  The pain pills didn't help much.... He was using a walker, then crutches...  We SHOULD have taken him to ER, so they could have tested something!  She only did blood-work, and it came back okay...  He didn't have an X-ray....  I think ER would have done that there...  But when you can't walk, you have to go somewhere, and you trust your Doc.

    BUT he started getting better within a week!  It had to be gout...   An actual tear of that tendon would have laid him up for WEEKS!    And he didn't hurt it!

    So he won't go Sass... And I can't make him... good thing he is pretty healthy!   He is stubborn.... even more stubborn than when he was younger.    Sorry about your DH, but I know how it is.... they won't let us try and talk them into anything, even if it is for the good of them!    So no tests....  

    Sass, tell me what OSA is....

  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 3,162
    edited June 2014

    Spookiesmom stopp lol I am not ready you make me feel bad :( but I am in not place to get a baby just now, I mean even if it is an older dog it's just going to be my baby 👶 n I promise in the future maybe I will ;)

    blessing thanks I really appreciate all the knowledge you provided me ;) 

    Here a cute one !

    With that face I could just give in all the treats in my home lol 

    image

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Oh Sas, so sorry. Yes, they can hide things well. As for the narcos, I think mine is abusing too. DD has noticed some changes too, it's that or dementia. 

    Enerva, don't feel bad, get one when you can!

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Chevy

    Obstructive Sleep Apenea

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014

    Thanks spookie

    Chevy, Dh was soooooooooo stubborn it eventually led to his demise with a little help from his docs. The OSA is what we've been talking about the last few pages. Nettie's husband is disrupting her sleep with his problem which is causing much of her problems. He won't leave her bedroom.

    Nettie be outright blunt with him." Dh you are killing me. Is that what you want?". Sometimes use of certain words can get them to change their behavior.

    I remember this one patient one time that was bleeding allot from the rectum all over the floor. He wasn't doing anything the nurses wanted. Refusing blood transfusions. One look at the situation as I walked in the room and I could tell he was going into shock. He was mottling---very bad sign. Everyone's worried about wiping the blood up and changing the sheets. I ordered them to get him down. His nurse said just a minute we'll have the sheets changed. "Down now" They all, even him responded. I asked the charge nurse if anyone had told him how bad his condition was. She says "we told him he was taking a turn for the worse". I  said "has anyone told him he's going to die if he doesn't do what he's told?" He became very cooperative. He needed to hear the words----he was a lawyer with an attitude that he could control everything.

    Nettie is he that selfish? Well if he is, you need to get it through to him he is causing you to be ill. You can do this. 


     

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014


    Spookie one of the long term outcomes of  obstructive sleep apnea is dementia. Has to do with the long term lack of oxygen getting to the brain.

    Whooheee big storm a comin`

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014

    Chevy, the test for gout is Uric Acid. It's a special order. Gout can't be picked up with regular labs

    Spookie ---no luck on the china pattern. But the company is still in business. I went through replacements .com.

    Try calling replacements.com and ask if they charge for pattern identification. I talked with a thrift seller that was wanting to sell stuff to replacements.com. There requirements for selling to them are off the wall crazy.

  • Nettie1964
    Nettie1964 Member Posts: 759
    edited June 2014

    Oh sas, I've said that believe me, he just looks at me, rolls his eyes and says "oh please" and just continues with his ways!  and yes he is that stubborn!  I don't really know how to explain him to you so that you will understand!  He doesn't "do" doctors accept for a kidney stone!  and then he only goes to ER for meds!  He is either really convinced that I"m ok, or he is in complete denial!  and I can't get through to him!  He tells me that he hurts all the time and just deals with it and so should I!

  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited June 2014


    Sass-thanks for the advice, I'm gonna make some calls tomorrow.

  • Nettie1964
    Nettie1964 Member Posts: 759
    edited June 2014

    I think my biggest issue is just not knowing what is causing my pain and the mental worry and then the lack of sleep is just compounding everything, so I'm going to try to have faith in my doctors and try to stop worrying and maybe if I can stop worrying then the lack of sleep will not affect me as bad!

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014

    Tang I hope it was enough. There's a fine line between scaring you and getting you the info you need to protect yourself.

    Nettie, how about filling spousal abuse charges? I give. Unless you are willing to get him to take it serious, you are going to be sleep deprived. There is oodles on the web about sleep deprivation and the physical consequences. It is used in torture. It can be grounds for an order of protection for the disabled in Illinois(only state I looked at). Not sure where to go with this. Based on what you have said, you have 1. told him the problem. 2. you've asked him to sleep in another room. 3.he refuses to see that a problem exists. 4. your health has been affected. 5. he interrupts your sleep for sex when he has been told you are sleep deprived. Honey, you are being abused.

    Call a local abuse hotline and ask what you can do?

    in fact I'll call a local hotline and see what they say. BBL

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited June 2014


    Nettie I pm'd you

  • Nettie1964
    Nettie1964 Member Posts: 759
    edited June 2014

    Thanks Sas, but I'm ok!  Really I am!  If I can just figure out the cause of this pain!  I'm so pitiful I can even tell if it's muscle or bone pain and that's what scares me!! I do know that any pressure on certain areas of my back are very painful and if I mop or sweep the pain is worse!  I'm so confused as to how to distinguish bone pain from muscle pain!

    And you must understand, he doesn't care how much or when I sleep, it's just that I am so sensitive to everything that every little thing wakes me!  The point I was making is is that he doesn't even try to not wake me!  I was much more tolerant before the bc dx, heck I was even tolerant during treatment, but during treatment I was NOT in pain, the pain has come after treatment!!  So I think it's the pain that is making things so out of control!  and it's a vicious cycle!

  • dwill
    dwill Member Posts: 312
    edited June 2014

    notself,  that is why I am afraid to switch.  You are right the pain is the worst thing.  My bones ache so bad some days, I am using ice packs all day from my knees to my ankles.  I cannot take NSAIDS because of a bleeding problem so I only have the choice of Tylenol  or pain meds on  the upper end, Vicodin and Percocet.  My doctor has no trouble giving them to me. I just know not to take them at the same time.  Sometimes the Percocet won't let me sleep so try to stick to the Vicodin.   What kind of pain and SEs are you having on Arimidex?

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Sas, thanks for trying, I'll tell him. I'm the one with SOA, ask Phyllis! Yes confirmed, can't tolerate c-pap. 

    Nettie I have to agree with Sas, he needs help! Old school Southern mentality doesn't work in my book 

    All y'all, feel better!

  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited June 2014

    dwill,

    I had pain, osteoporosis, hair loss, weight gain, dry girly parts, mild depression.  After a year off of Arimidex (5 years on), my hair is thin and not improving but not getting worse; my osteoporosis has improved slightly; my depression is gone.  I am losing weight slowly and my energy is back almost to normal.  I am free of pain.

    Be sure to have regular liver enzyme tests if you are taking Tylenol or anything with acetaminophen in it.  It is rough on the liver.

    Hang in there.   


     

  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited June 2014

    Nettie - still wondering if you read my question to you...

  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited June 2014

    Pawprint......seems like there is a bunch of us close to the same age. I turned 59, three weeks ago......

    image

    Phylliswhenisit ???? Pocket Party???? Are you getting the biopsy on Friday? 

    Tangadang, so, so sorry. It all sucks... I cannot imagine how frightening this had to be for you. & DH...

  • susan3
    susan3 Member Posts: 3,728
    edited June 2014

    image

    happy birthday paw..here is a pretty picture for you :)

    image

  • JWoo
    JWoo Member Posts: 1,171
    edited June 2014

    HI ladies!

    I am so far behind, just read the last 2 pages. 

    Been thinking about all of you, just had a bunch of chit going on. 

    Tang- sending you healing thoughts. I know you can beat this infection!

    Nettie- Don't minimize your feelings, or the effect that sleep deprivation is having on you. You matter. Your health matters. 

    PawPrint- Happy Birthday!

    Enerva- that is the cutest puppy in the universe. 

    Sas- thanks for checking on me.  

    Chev, Cam, Phylo, HoleIn1, FBB, Susan, Spookiesmom, Blessings,   EVERYONE    <3<3<3   hope you are all doing okay. 

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