Earlier this year we got notice that Beth's Primary Care doctor - Dr T - would no
longer accept her insurance. We could get new insurance or find a new
doctor and since Beth has been seeing her for decades, we decided to get
new insurance.
It took a few months, lots of phone calls and paperwork to get everything transferred over but we finally did it. And while all of this was going on, Dr T referred her to a Sleep Medicine doctor - Dr M - because I was hearing her gasping for air during the night. We were able to do a home study and Dr M got enough info to give her an official diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Well, a couple months after starting the Cpap machine, we got a call saying Dr. M doesn't take the new insurance.
Sigh.
So I found a new sleep doctor, Dr G. Then I sent Dr T all of his information and set up an appointment with him.
Dr T sent them Beth's records and the results of her sleep test. Dr G's office mailed us paperwork to fill out and I had to go on-line to fill out more paperwork that took almost 30 minutes. After already doing all this for Dr M!
Beth had her first appointment earlier this week.
It was pouring rain when we got there.
They took her vitals and then Dr. G came in. He asked a few questions then said he wanted her to have a full sleep test. In the lab.
(Beth had a sleep test done in the lab before she had her tonsils out and it was a disaster. Granted it was a long time ago, but I'm still nervous about doing it again.)
Beth usually doesn't go to bed until midnight or later but we have to be there at 8:30.
The more I think about this the less I like it. Were the other tests inconclusive? Why are they having her do another one?
One good thing is that I get to be in the room with her this time. But she rarely talks when she needs something. Will she tell me if she needs to go to the bathroom? Here at home she uses 2 night lights, but the room in the lab needs to be dark... I don't know, the closer it gets the more nervous I get.
The first night she had it I went downstairs to put water in the machine and she already had her mask on! I was surprised she didn't need help with all the straps and stuff but she had it on.
We bought some distilled water and I brought her down a small cup so she can pour water in it when the jug is too full.
The doctor told us she might have some issues for a few days and if she only wore it a couple of hours a night at first, it would be fine. But the second night she had it, I was crawling into bed when I remembered so I went downstairs to help her but she already had the mask on and was sound asleep!
A couple nights ago Chuck and I were laying in bed talking and we heard this sound. He said, "Is that Beth?" Sure enough, she was snoring SO loud! I headed downstairs and realized she had the mask on but forgot to attach the hose! I woke up her and she groggely said, "Ooops." I helped her attach it and she was out like a light!
She's worn it every night, put water in it without reminders and is sleeping with it all night. She's been so responsible!
On our road trip, Beth didn't have her machine yet and Chuck didn't bring his (there's just so much to it, and you have to use distilled water...) and I remember laying there wide awake some nights just listening to the two of them snore like freight trains! Oh my word it was loud!
But now, our house is so quiet! You know, I just now realized I've been sleeping really well lately and I bet that's why!
I hope you all sleep well tonight too!
