Sleep Lab Testing for a Second Time

I got an eye-witness view of what happens to make a sleep test work.

When DH (Dear Hubby) saw his doctor, the doctor said he still needed him to go through the sleep lab.  He would prescribe a sedative this time and he re-scheduled him.

Things were a bit different this time around.  He still got the call to remind him what to do. Rhis time the arrangement was different.  I drove him. I was able to stay overnight in a separate room for no charge. He had some idea what to expect. Ladies of my Bible study prayed for him and the test.

He had a different technician.  He showed us to a fairly large but quite cool room.  This technician sat down and discussed the test and why the testing is important. He mentioned the connection between breathing and high blood pressure and heart attacks.  He explained that to use the toilet DH must call him to take care of the wires.  With two patients he might have to wait if he was helping the other patient. 

He talked about why no cd or radio signals to help one go to sleep.   Such noise could cause a problem in recording the sensors signal. 

Before any wires were attached the tech had DH wear and use the breathing apparatus for about 20 minutes to accustom him to it. When the tech was out of the room we did some reading and talking. 

This technician put the tiny wires in the back instead of the front.  I was surprised to see what the wires looked like.  They were very tiny.  Each was a different color and they plugged in to a box about the size of a wallet with lots of holes. They reminded me of a miniature pegboard.  The other end was secured with some adhesive tape.  He pre-tested at least two sensors.  One sensor could tell if one’s eyes were open or closed, another sensed foot or leg movement.

Lights out was closer to our usual bedtime.  The tech explained that he needed enough time to be sure they got a good reading on all the tests. This time DH didn’t have to have the light out until 10 p.m. and I was in the room until then.

During the night DH’s throat did close up so he woke up as the tech placed a larger devise on him to keep that from happening. Other than that, he slept well.  I slept well in the next room until DH woke up.  We showered, dressed and went out to breakfast.

Renting A Sleep Apnea Machine

As the result of his sleep lab experience, DH (dear hubby) picked up his CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine and will be renting it for a month or two (at $18 per month) to see if that kind of sleep apnea machine  is effective for him.

The machine comes in a back-pack sized case with a compartment for the mask with its long clear tube and another for the little (about the size of a half piece of letter paper) black box.  Two of the three buttons have been programmed and punching them won’t do anything.  The middle button is the on-off switch.  The mask fits over the nose.

He was told it might take a while to get accustomed to it.  He tried it for about 20 minutes the first time.  That night or the next he said he had it on for about an hour. 

 I discovered that I had to get a good-night kiss in before the nose thing goes on as there’s not much room around the mouth with the mask on.  I fell asleep listening to the kind of heavy breathing  that isn’t very unusual when DH is fast asleep. (He very seldom snored– not all with sleep apnea do snore.)

Temperatures in our rooms will fall to 55 degrees in the autumn.  The machine’s forced air felt cold to DH so we tried setting the thermostat higher.  The air also was fairly dry.

Today DH went and picked up a humidifying attachment.  With the attachment the machine is about the size of a full piece of letter sized paper.  There is also a knob for adjusting the temperature of the humidity.

On the way home we stopped by the store for distilled water.  Only distilled water should be used in the reservoir.  Every week or more the water holder can be cleaned with a solution of 3 parts water to one part white vinegar.

Wondering about the cost?  Under the medicare plan that DH has, our portion of cost of the machine with carrying case  is about $200.  I haven’t seen the charge card receipt for the humidifier. 

 I’m writing this as a record of the journey into another aspect of sleep. Wikipedia shows a photo similar to his at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPAP_machine.  I have high hopes that higher energy and less need for DH staying in bed for longer than eight hours will be the result of having the CPAP sleep apnea machine.

Keep a Sleep Schedule to Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Have you ever noticed how your sleep schedule, or lack of it may change your outlook, or your energy level? Does your ability to remember or to think clearly reflect on the amount or lack of sleep you get? 

Routines can be helpful in getting a better night’s rest and in getting enough sleep.  My grandchildrens’ bedtime routine happens soon after dinner and includes getting into nightclothes, washing face and brushing teeth and a parent reading to them, hearing or saying prayers, and listening to a c.d.

Flylady.org has a suggestion for a few minutes of night-time housekeeping as part of your routine so you start the next day organized. 

 Research indicates that a regular sleep schedule is conducive to sleep.  One friend claims that if he even waits an extra 15 minutes he has difficulty falling asleep.  I tend to get a second wind and my mind does not want to shut down when I get into bed.  Sometimes a notepad and pencil used for a quick note reassures me that I will remember those pesky “to do” things that come to mind.

How does lack of sleep effect me, and maybe you?  I’ll have a more difficult time being optimistic. I may question what good my efforts are, and avoid any simple task that involves energy or decision making.  Housekeeping routines, phone calls to keep in touch, or even taking a shower wind up being a big effort. Shopping is postponed – it takes energy to make the list, drive, and walk around the store.  I may grab a t.v. dinner, vegetate in front of a computer game or a television program.   

In DH’s case, a breathing machine will be rented for a short time before it is prescribed. It should help him with a better quality of sleep. We hope for a higher energy level and probably less need to stay in bed for as long. We found out that many times per night DH would have have obstructed breathing and three seconds of wakefulness, if I understood correctly. 

 The best advice I was given as a young mother was to take care of myself in order to take care of my family. 

I encourage you to keep a more regular schedule. Get your sleep and try to take a few stress relieving walks, even if it is in a mall hall.  I’ll try to take my own advice.

Safety Tips

Have you ever seen the safety tips that are listed on the holder for your room key? Maybe it’s only on those for Marriott Hotels.

Funny how safety tips keep turning up in unexpected places.  Keep alert and report back on where you spot tips and what they were.  Keep safe and follow those safety tips.

Meeting the Rich and Famous

Big Seminar attendees had an opportunity to meet notable internet marketers and authors such as Brendan Burchard, Kirt Christensen, Jose Espana, Michael and Sylvie Fortin, Rick Frishman, David Hancock, Mark Victor Hansen, Eban Pagan, Stephen Pierce, Joe Polish,  Alan Forrest Smith,  and Keith Wellman.

Non-presenters were not as well recognized by most of the audience.  I had just exchanged a few senences with Rick Frishman when an attractive young lady approached and exclaimed something like “You’re Rick Frishman!! Your book has made such a difference to me and my business.”  Since I had my Flip Camera with me I asked if they would be willing to have me tape their conversation.

The resulting videos my first video ever to be on a public venue. It can be found by using Rick Frishman and Big Seminar in the search bar at You Tube or copy and paste this into the address bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEr9BuwzT3A

Rick Frishman and Jen Meet At Big Seminar

3 min – Oct 5, 2008 –

Cameras at weddings, garage sales

I’ve seen several wedding receptions with preloaded instant cameras on the tables for the guests to use.  This is one way to be sure you have tons of photos and it entertains guests, too.

I was recently at a garage sale and saw a young boy pick up the camera.  He  looked puzzled.  Where’s the screen?  How does this work?  His mother stated “It’s a camera that uses film.” 

If you could have seen the look on his face, you might describe it as “you’ve got to be kidding”.  A short time later he had the camera open and had seen the film for himself.

Sometimes I forget that I take a lot for granted.  Youngsters 3 to 10 may not have ever experienced anything but a digital camera with it’s instant feedback and delete features, or maybe they’ve used the preloaded cameras which can be ordered with cds.  I for one appreciate the convenience of both digital and preloaded cameras.

Red Roses themed Wedding

The red rose theme began as we entered the church.  The wedding party’s men all had red rose boutonnieres.  At the sign in table was a boquet of red roses. Instead of a guest book there was a picture with a large white  mounting area outlining the picture and frame that each guest signed.  By the photo was more roses in a vase. 

Those in charge of the sign-in table handed us programs. The programs were made of rectangular paper with round corners and a handle to form a fan. Each was lovingly tied with red ribbon to match the red roses. 

The center aisle had tule with red ribbon and little white lights at the bottom.  Each bridesmaid carried red roses. The beautiful bride in a traditional satin dress, carrying a boquet of red roses glided down the aisle to an arch, lighted by tiny white lights.  Behind the arch was a lace-covered table for communion.  Beside the arch was an indoor tree also covered in tiny lights.

The reception hall had icicle lights near the ceiling and lots of tables covered with white tableclothes and lighted candles were around the perimeter of the room. 

On each table was three round candle holder-vases about 3 and a half inches high.  The vase in the middle had a white silk flower floating in water. The outer two handle holders held a lighted tea light in the middle of colored sand. On the table for each guest was a little box to open. It had contained several round mint patties.

“The cake” was a series of different sized round cakes, each on its own stand.  The cake had about a one inch band of ribbon just above decorative frosting at the bottom.  On the top of each cake was a bouquet of red roses. Under the stands was a large cloth napkin with some red stones to carry out the red theme.

Each groomsman wore a red vest, so during the reception when the room was warm and jackets were shed, they still reflected the red roses theme.

Flunking Sleep testing

DH (dear hubby) was scheduled for a sleep test in a sleep lab.  He had a couple of problems.

It wasn’t the bed.  The bed was very comfortable- superb, he said.  Perhaps it was a disruption of his usual ways of getting to sleep.

 Was it the time of night? His beginning time was a bit after 8 p.m.  By 9:30 he was all wired up, after watching less than a half hour of television while that was being done.  He doesn’t fall asleep until about 10:30 usually.

Was it the darkness? He regularly either watches t.v. or reads until he gets sleepy.  The t.v. controller was taken and hung up on the wall.  The light was switched off.

Was it lack of music?  He almost always uses earphones and falls asleep while listening to a c.d.  The earphones were taken away.

  Was it the feel of the head wires?  Wires are attached to test all kinds of problems.  On the head was a patch, about 3 by 4 inches.  Lots of wires were going into it, including one that could sense whether eyes are open or closed. 

Was it too many wires? Two wires on the cheekbone or jawbone, the neck, the chest, and legs.  A hose is in the nose. Something is under the ears, around the back of the head and by the mouth. He got a crawly feeling with the wires touching him.

Did the sensing equipment effect his balance?  He started feeling dizzy and queasy.

Why did he start getting unpleasant images?  He usually visualizes pleasant things, but nightmarish images started coming. 

We know that DH gets claustrophobia and that he has to get to a toilet about every two hours, probably due to diuretics he takes. To get up he would have to get some wires disconnected.

After two hours he ended the test, in spite of their urging to continue.  Very few people do that, but who would ever call DH anything but unique.

Wedding Favors and Decorations

A clever bride or mother of the bride made a wedding program into a wedding favor.  The item was a paper fan, tied with light blue ribbon, with a picture of the bride and groom and the details of the wedding printed on it.  This was very thoughtful for a warm summer day in a church with no air conditioning.

The fan theme was followed with a fan in aisle flower arrangements and the decorations in the reception area.  The decorations for this celebration were very well thought out, with velveteen covering a portion of several pillars, latticework and a lighted flowered arch marking the entrance to the reception area. 

The bride and groom stood in the middle aisle and moved from the front row to the next and greeted each of us individually.  We remained seated listening to the bride’s dad playing the piano until it was our turn to give the couple our congratulations and best wishes.  I think this is a good way to accomodate guests who have difficulty standing, as it eliminates standing in line for more than a few minutes.

The reception area had the feel of a parlor or old fashioned living room decked out for a party, even though the area is big enough for several hundred people.  The party feeling was done with tulle sweeping from the four corners, the style of the decorations on each table, and the food.  The feel of elegance came with lacey curtains at the windows, and with each of two dividers covered with a cloth material and two large photos in fancy frames.  One was a photo as a child and the other was one as an adult couple doing an activity they enjoy doing together.

The entry through the arch was designed to bring us to the long tables of food.  From there we had a few steps to sit on whatever side of the table we were on.

The bride was beautiful in her floor length dress and both bride and goom had plenty of smile to go around.  I’ll remember this wedding not just because of the decorations, the food, the blue punch, or our choice of four kinds of cake, but also for the beautiful music played on the violin and piano.  It was a real treat to hear such a talented pianist – her dad.

Wedding Celebration

To attend my niece’s wedding, I slipped on my chiffon-like skirt with top and scarf, commuted about two hours one way to spend about two hours at a wedding ceremony and reception.  Why did we do it?  In this case we did it because we love our niece and wanted her to know that she is special to us and wish her God’s blessing on her and her husband.  Celebrating usually involves conversation and food.  Here’s some details.

We signed in, received a box wrapped in blue ribbon with a note to us.  The program is printed on elegant white paper. The ceremony begins with music on keyboard and guitar as candlelighters proceed down the aisle, then parents are seated during Pachebel Canon, and finally in walk the six bridesmaids in blue to Jesu Joy of Man’s  Desiring.

The groomsmen and minister stand waiting on the stage.  We note the warm smile on the groom’s face and the earnest expression on the beautiful bride as she glides down the aisle in her beaded white gown, carrying a blue and white boquet.  Scripture from Psalms was read, promises made, advice  given.  The special music is a friend singing while playing the keyboard.   The groom composed a piece and played it on guitar, especially for Cyndy.  I find myself visiting the past, the day of my wedding, and being glad it, too, was a special day with happy memories. As the ceremony ends we have unpacked our little bells and ring them as they seal their vows with a kiss.

The punch of orange, pineapple juice and fresca was very popular, even in the air-conditioned church.  The potato chips tasted good on a warm day.  The real hit was the white chocolate fountain once it got going.  Long pics were provided to hold the guest’s choices of strawberries, pineapple chunks, apple slices, marshmellows, pretzels, or cookies. Her Mom and church friends were busy keeping the punch bowl and items by the fountain filed.

   The white cake with raspberry filling was surrounded by blue flowers and was topped with a figurine of porcelein.  The wedding guests did a lot of visiting around round tables with a vase of multicolored flowers on  each.  We tried to connect with family not seen in the past year. 

The cake was cut and served, the bouquet was thrown and caught. The couple danced gracefully. The photographers kept busy.  The afternoon became a pleasant memory.