One Year Anniversary

[Slartybartfast]

Saw my pulmonologist yesterday. A year ago I went to see him because I had been having attacks of bronchitis about every 6 weeks. Each time, my GP said it's just a virus, and he could prescribe an antibiotic (zithromax) and it would be gone in 7 days, or I could just tough it out and it would be gone in a week. And each time, I asked him for the Z-pack and my symptoms were mostly gone in 24 hours. I was sprialing down, feeling worse and worse. I felt I had to do something different. Finally I asked my GP for a referral to a pulmonologist.

Pulmo-Doc examined me and about his third question was, "Have you ever had a sleep study?" It ended up that evening I spent the worst night of my life in his sleep lab wired up with hair gel and told to lie on my back which I knew I couldn't do without choking. Was given the diagnosis (OSA severe 73 point something/hour, oxygen desats as low as 66%) the next afternoon and walked out with a loaner S7 Spirit to tide me over until I had my titration study. That night was WONDERFUL! Hadn't slept so well in years. A week later I had the titration study and slept soundly all night right through it. The sleep tech's comment the next morning was, "Looks like you slept pretty good." I'll say!

Got my own S9 Autoset and paid out of pocket when they tried to give me an S9 Elite, and never looked back.

Yesterday, at my 1 year appointment the doc examined me and said "all clear." Weight is down 35 lbs from cutting sugar and starches from my diet, BP is normal (was hypertensive), my skin is clear and my nose is cold. I showed Doc my data including oximetry, for the past week and he says I'm doing great. See you in 6 months. He commented again on how useful it is to him to see oximetry data from patients who have recording oximeters. Apparently I'm not the only one now.

The cough and bronchitis are history, I haven't been sick a single day, nor even sneezed a dozen times in the past year. What a difference!

Now, if I could just remember where I left my car keys yesterday . . .

[Vader]

Congrats, Slarty!

We love good news here, and I can see how hard you've worked at taking charge of your own health!

[robysue]

Congrats slarybarfast.

And I'm green with envy with how smooth your adjustment went.

[jabman]

Congrats slarybarfast.

Hope you have many more years of great sleep.

[redjoe]

Happy anniversary, and congratulations!

[LittleRedTruck]

Great job Slarty! Now for another great year! Dan in Minn

[SleepyT]

Slarty,

Job well done. You are a shining example to others. Taking charge of your own health is the only way to go!

T.

[chunkyfrog]

Way to go, Slartybartfast!
--Your nose is cold? I assume your coat is beautiful and glossy.

[bdp522]

Congrats!!! The first year is the hardest and you made it through just fine!

Brenda

[miketech]

Wow! Great success story, Slarty! By the way, I've seen your avatar on another forum, only there was a tractor in the photo.

[JointPain]

Awesome! Congratulations. It's great to hear that you're doing so well.

[archangle]

Congratulations, slarty, but shouldn't you be using a CPAP machine you made on your own from an old shop vac, garden hose, a WWI gas mask, and lots and lots of duct tape? They're going to kick you out of the possum lodge.

[napstress]

Congratulations, SBF!

[Emilia]

Congrats, Slarty! I am right behind you.... my 1 yr is next week. So happy you have had such a great year.... may there be many, many more!

[mars]

Now, if I could just remember where I left my car keys yesterday . . .

Congratulations on a great 12 months.

and for the next stage of your personal development

http://lightstoneacademy.com/2008/03/30 ... -car-keys/

cheers

Mars