Health update

[beowabbit]

First of all, my mother does not have a blood clot. She does have pneumonia, and might have something else on top of that, but the scariest thing has been ruled out. Still in the hospital, but doing generally OK, for someone who’s in the hospital with pneumonia.

Secondly, my sleep-specialist appointment today went very well. Both the resident (?) who spent most of the time with me and the attending were very, very friendly, helpful, and informative. And the resident said that what sent me to the ER a couple weeks ago was almost certainly hyperventilation, which is a word I wish I’d heard from the staff who saw me (not docorion, in case anybody was wondering). I was aware of having trouble breathing that morning, so I was making a conscious effort to get enough air, so that makes perfect sense.

Anyway, they say that it’s pretty much guaranteed that I have obstructive sleep apnea.

The sleep center had an appointment available tonight for a sleep study, so I get to sleep with the fishes electrodes tonight. Given how bad my apnea is, the specialist I saw today said they’d probably be able to determine I had it quickly, and fit me for a CPAP machine tonight as well. Then my appointment for a follow-up isn’t until December (unless there’s a cancellation earlier), and I’m guessing that would be when I’d actually get one.

They told me that my energy level should come back right away with treatment, but the memory, learing [EDIT: and speling and typeing], cognition, and attention problems will probably take something like six months to go away, because that’s basically brain damage that has to heal once I start getting enough oxygen at night. Six months or so to get better from something that’s been getting worse over at least the better part of a decade doesn’t sound so bad, but it can’t start soon enough for me.

Comments

[lilbjorn.livejournal.com]

but the memory, learing, cognition, and attention problems

... not to mention typing ... ;-)



Seriously, though, I'm glad to hear this is moving along well. Good luck with it.

[agaran.livejournal.com]

No, he _meant_ learing. Uh huh. /me nods vigorously

[agaran.livejournal.com]

Jay, been there, done that, and for the last 15 months my life has been dramatically improved, according to not only me, but also according to my partners, who think I'm a lot more "myself" and in a generally better mood. I have love/hate r'ship with my CPAP. :)

[beowabbit]

Thank you! I didn’t have any trouble with the CPAP machine (except that it was too tight after the last time it got adjusted), and I feel a lot more energetic this morning.

I have to say, though, if I end up in a generally better mood than I am with sleep apnea, I’ll probably be so rainbows-and-daisies that somebody will bump me off as a mercy to my friends. Maybe with my brain back I’ll be able to see the world as it really is and get depressed instead. :-)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear they ruled out the scary stuff with your mom.

And good luck tonight! Or should I say, sweet dreams. :-)

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Wow, sounds like pretty good news all around.

[derien.livejournal.com]

drain bammage!? I didn't know that was a possibility. *wonders if she should get checked* I can't afford any brain dammage, I'm not so bright to begin with.

[ayse.livejournal.com]

Yeah, anything that denies oxygen to your brain can cause brain damage. I had a few months of slowly escalating asthma that I left untreated because, as it turns out, it was making me too stupid to do so until I had a serious attack and ended up in the emergency room. It was months before I felt like I had my brain back again. If you're having breathing problems, do go get checked out.

[dancingbrat.livejournal.com]

wishing you sweet dreams and sending smiles and hugs for both you and your mum :)

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your mother doesn't have a clot and that you're finally going to get proper treatment for your apnea.