not getting actual rest

[Seshat]

You need a test of some sort to find out which CPAP pressure you need. Too little and it won't do you enough good, too much and you will have trouble exhaling.

[telecom_goddess]

You can not buy a cpap machine without a prescription, and you can't get the prescription without the sleep study...so you know what pressure you need.

The more expensive route I know but it's necessary to diagnose and treat properly.

[Midnight12]

the search for finding a sleep study place here. or whatever the term is. right now having to get a referal for my daughter to get a food allergy test done

[telecom_goddess]

Generally they are just called *clinic name* sleep center. They have them in hospitals or they can be stand alone.

[42_42_42]

Our ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor set my husband up for his sleep study. Your regular physician should be able to help you set one up, though.

Also, hate to tell you this, but sleeping w/ the TV on is not helping things. The type of light emitted by televisions (plus the sound) keeps your brain in "not sleep" mode. If you absolutely need to have a light source and sound, you should get a nightlight with a red bulb (this light is the least problematic for sleeping) and a sound machine that reproduces water sounds.

Oh, and the cpap isn't that loud. My husband wears one every night and it doesn't bother me and sounds bother me easily. It's rather like the sound a sound machine makes.

If you have sleep apnea, besides the risk of death from stopping breathing, it also stresses the heart and leads to major heart problems down the line.

If you have health insurance, it should cover all or most of the sleep study. If not, the sleep center most likely will be able to work with you on a payment plan. Most medical professionsals are good about that, they'd much rather get paid over time than you not get the medical attention you need.

[CaroPhoenix]

My GP sent me to a local doctor that specializes in sleep disorders and pulmonology. Not only did the doc diagnose my sleep apnea but also my asthma! W00t! At least someone believed me 'cos my parents weren't going to (long rant for another time on THAT).

But yeah, talk to your regular doctor (if you have one) about going to a sleep center. If you do have insurance, you might need to get a referral. (With the insurance I have there is no need for a referral for anything, but it's always better to ask before hand).

Good luck!

[Midnight12]

thanks for the advice. I will clarify
I DO NOT have a current dr
I DO have insurance as I am on my husbands policy but I DON'T know what it covers

thanks 42 will try to sleep with the tv off and just the sleep cd on
going to try breathe right strips until I can GET a dr to refer me to a place that does this.

Right now I just want to get through this week of the 20th through...whenever. monday a specialist comes to see my daughter to see why she is having trouble walking
tuesday we are traveling to lafayette to follow up with her allergist for food allergies
(long personal reason, i want to know what I can do to treat her current dairy allergy as its lethal to her now)
and wednesday the pets are going to the vet, all four of them gah

[Midnight12]

got breathe right strips and for the first three nights i have sleep well - lisa not doing well doesn't count but I slept better and breathed better and hubs said there was no snoring.

however now that my nostrils are open it has reawakened my allergies as the scent of cut grass is more noticeable and only now has the left side of my face decided to knot up due to sinus issues. Or rather the best I can understand my left eye wells up some and i can feel the muscles by my nose in my face twitch or move...bleh
at this point sleep is worth the old allergies

[telecom_goddess]

got breathe right strips and for the first three nights i have sleep well - lisa not doing well doesn't count but I slept better and breathed better and hubs said there was no snoring.

however now that my nostrils are open it has reawakened my allergies as the scent of cut grass is more noticeable and only now has the left side of my face decided to knot up due to sinus issues. Or rather the best I can understand my left eye wells up some and i can feel the muscles by my nose in my face twitch or move...bleh
at this point sleep is worth the old allergies

Maybe some claritin?

[Midnight12]

claritin is ebil....and messes with me
alavert!

[42_42_42]

Either use a saline rinse/neti pot or seek out a nasal rinse product called Alcolol. It is an OTC, but is usually kept behind the counter, so you have to ask for it. You can mix about 1 tsp to 1 c of distilled water and use with the neti pot, or pour some in your cupped hand and snort it up into your nose, then gently blow out (don't let it drip down your throat). This is what my ENT has me and pretty much all of his patients do and it's wonderful. It doesn't interact with any medications, so it's safe to use no matter what you already take. As someone who had 8 or more sinus infections a year and horrid allergies for most of her life until he started me on this regimine about 6 years ago and has had at most 1 sinus infection every 18 mos or so, I can attest that this really works!

[Midnight12]

I tried that once...it made me cry and scream obscenities.
I can live with the allergies to be able to breathe.

its discouraging as I am still learning or being reminded how sensitive my system is...
Thank you for the advice though...will suck it up and try again as surprisingly there is a neti pot here (dad in law uses one)

[42_42_42]

Huh. I find the neti pot very soothing. What happened that it made you cry and curse?

[Midnight12]

i was foolish to let someone else try to help me instead of suck it up and do it myself even with luke warm almost cold water...and for some reason my nose went hey, inhale?

[telecom_goddess]

I have a sinus rinse system...I should probably start using it more again.