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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / November 2007Expensive cat toy
I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. Lately, I have had problems with my mouth drooping open during the night. This lets out some of the air pressure, and also leaves me with a very dry mouth in the morning, due to air coming into my nose from the mask, then immediately blowing out through my mouth. So, about three weeks ago, the doctor prescribed an elastic chinstrap for me to wear at night, to keep my mouth closed. Unfortunately, a couple of days after I got the chinstrap home, it disappeared. The obvious culprit is Cinders, since the elastic chinstrap would make an attractive cat-toy. I haven't had any luck in finding where she put it, and finally bought a replacement chinstrap today. This one had to be paid for by me, not by my insurance, and cost $32 including tax. I am going to have to make sure that I remember to put the chinstrap in a drawer every time I take it off, and not leave it out where Cinders could steal it. $32 is a bit more than I had planned to spend for a cat toy.  SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. Lately, I have > had problems with my mouth drooping open during the night. This lets [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Cinders could steal it. $32 is a bit more than I had planned to spend > for a cat toy. Gosh, can't you make one from a pair of pantyhose? Bobble > Unfortunately, a couple of days after I got the chinstrap home, it > disappeared. The obvious culprit is Cinders, since the elastic chinstrap > would make an attractive cat-toy. I haven't had any luck in finding where > she put it, and finally bought a replacement chinstrap today. This one > had to be paid for by me, not by my insurance, and cost $32 including tax. Yeah, I guess "my cat hid the original strap" wouldn't fly at the insurance company. :) > I am going to have to make sure that I remember to put the chinstrap in a > drawer every time I take it off, and not leave it out where Cinders could > steal it. $32 is a bit more than I had planned to spend for a cat toy. It's a lot for a cat toy, but for DME, that's not bad at all. :) There are many things that I absolutely have to put in the nightstand drawer or I would probably never see them again. (Or they'd be all chewed up or torn.) Joyce > I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. Lately, I have had > problems with my mouth drooping open during the night. This lets out some [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better > than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria My CPAP cam e with all sorts of extras, including a chin strap. I can't believe you didn't get one, too. How cheap. It should have been included. Rita doesn't find any part of it interesting. Fortunately, she's also not frightened by it. Aren't the CPAPs wonderful, though? I still can't say that I love mine, but I do love the extra energy and better sleep, even though my apnea is on the mild side. On the other hand, there are still many nights when I wake up to find that I've pulled off the mask and turned off the machine, in my sleep. Twice I even found the whole thing disassembled and in the bathroom! I think I'm sleep-walking again. lol [note to self: do not sleep naked] Jane - owned and operated by the Princess Rita > Rita doesn't find any part of it interesting. Fortunately, she's also > not frightened by it. Aren't the CPAPs wonderful, though? I still > can't say that I love mine, but I do love the extra energy and better > sleep, even though my apnea is on the mild side. I'm just curious, what constitutes the "mild side" in your case? I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, but it was so mild that it was almost sub-clinical. I got a CPAP, and used it for almost a year, but I didn't find that it made a big difference in my wakefulness. > On the other hand, there are still many nights when I wake up to find > that I've pulled off the mask and turned off the machine, in my sleep. > Twice I even found the whole thing disassembled and in the bathroom! > I think I'm sleep-walking again. lol [note to self: do not sleep > naked] Ha ha - but you know, if you're capable of disassembling a CPAP in your sleep, then you're certainly capable of removing your clothing, I'm sorry to say. So not sleeping naked may not be much help. :) Joyce On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:25:49 +0000, jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt wrote: > > Rita doesn't find any part of it interesting. Fortunately, she's also > > not frightened by it. Aren't the CPAPs wonderful, though? I still [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Joyce I heard a news item a couple of weeks ago about an English hotel where sleep-walking is becoming more common, for some reason. They have had to start keeping several large towels at the front desk, to use for modesty when a sleep-walking guest tries to check out of the hotel in the nude. In my case, I believe the apnea was classed as severe. In the sleep study, I was averaging about 30 apnea episodes per hour. In other words, I was stopping breathing every couple of minutes. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria On Nov 18, 4:25 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > > Rita doesn't find any part of it interesting. Fortunately, she's also > > not frightened by it. Aren't the CPAPs wonderful, though? I still [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > sub-clinical. I got a CPAP, and used it for almost a year, but I didn't > find that it made a big difference in my wakefulness. My 'sleep number' is only 10. In fact, until someone told me that I snore badly (another side effect of living alone - I had no idea!), I had been telling my doctors that I sleep FINE. I wake up fine, I feel fine....okay, so I'm a little tired during the day, but that's a side of effect of weighing as much as I do, right? Oh no....with the CPAP now, I have almost manic energy and I feel like someone half my age. It's marvelous! My apartment is CLEAN. The dishes are DONE. I'm sewing a lot more. My blood sugars are so much more stable. > Ha ha - but you know, if you're capable of disassembling a CPAP in your > sleep, then you're certainly capable of removing your clothing, I'm > sorry to say. So not sleeping naked may not be much help. :) Oh durn. Now you've just ruined my sleep again....ROFL. Jane - owned and operated by the Princess Rita > On Nov 18, 4:25 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: >> I'm just curious, what constitutes the "mild side" in your case? I >> was diagnosed with sleep apnea, but it was so mild that it was almost >> sub-clinical. > My 'sleep number' is only 10. Hmm, I'm not sure what you mean by "sleep number" - other than that mattress company that uses "sleep numbers" to choose which type of mattress you should have. :) Do you mean that you had 10 "apnic events" (where you stop breathing and your sleep gets disrupted) per hour? I had 8 per hour. The sleep clinic told me that anything below 6 per hour is not treatable. Joyce On Nov 19, 3:24 pm, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > > On Nov 18, 4:25 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Joyce I don't know. All I know is that my 'sleep number' is 10 (not to be confused with my Select Comfort mattress 'sleep number'), and that my machine was set at 10. It's just a coincidence that both of the numbers are the same. The sleep number can be as high as the 250s, so 10 is pretty low. I could function without the machine at all, but it's so much better with the machine. Just for a funny....my mask is called Comfort Select. My mattress is called Select Comfort. Hmm..... Jane > > On Nov 18, 4:25 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > mattress company that uses "sleep numbers" to choose which type of > mattress you should have. :) Actually, it's the SAME mattress (they vary only in style/cost, not type). The "sleep number" refers to the degree of firmness you find most comfortable, and can be changed at any time with a push of a button on the gadget that regulates it (also two people who share a bed can adjust their respective sides for their personal comfort). I got one a bit over a year ago, and find it well worth the initial cost - I sleep better, and waken with far fewer aches and pains, because my body is being supported to my specific needs. If I want more or less firmness on occasion, I can change it - unlike most mattresses, you're not stuck with whatever you chose in the shop when you bought it. >> > On Nov 18, 4:25 am, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > it - unlike most mattresses, you're not stuck with whatever you chose in > the shop when you bought it. Normally I just love ours. We fill it to 100% during the day and it looks nice, set it a little lower to watch TV, and then somewhat softer to sleep. Normally, because our pump is shot and my side was at about 20 when it died. Way to soft for me. One of the kids likely reset it for a nap. That has been the worst part. Keeping the darn kids off our bed when they take a nap. It isn't like they don't have beds of their own, and sofa, etc. Not looking good for the new pump to arrive today either. Jo wellllllllll...acatisacatisacat&thatsthat! >I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. Lately, I have had > problems with my mouth drooping open during the night. This lets out some [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > drawer every time I take it off, and not leave it out where Cinders could > steal it. $32 is a bit more than I had planned to spend for a cat toy. > I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. This is totally OT, but I'm curious - does your machine make a mechanical humming noise when in use? Ever since I've moved in here, I've been puzzled by such a noise which seems to start up every night, just about when I'm going to bed. My new apartment is nowhere near anything that would be likely to account for it, and it's definitely NOT my own refrigeratior, ceiling fans or air-conditioner, so it has me thoroughly baffled. (It isn't loud enough to be disturbing, but unexplained sounds always bother me until I know what they are.) I live in a senior "independent living" apartment, so my neighbor downstairs or next door might well have the same problem you do - or require some other medical equipment at night that uses a motor. >> I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > have the same problem you do - or require some other medical > equipment at night that uses a motor. CPAP machines aren't loud. John uses one and the most I ever hear is a sort of whooshing sound. (They are filled with water to keep the nasal passages hydrated.) Jill > >> I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Jill The older machines are quite noisy, but it's white noise. However, if you don't know what it is, it could be weird. Perhaps your neighbor has an older machine and/or (as someone else suggested), it's on a table that's vibrating. Mine is so quiet that it doesn't even bother the Princess Rita. Jane >> I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > might well have the same problem you do - or require some other medical > equipment at night that uses a motor. You might ask your management about it. Its possible someone is using such a machine and that there could be something easy they could do to mitigate the sound reaching you. It could be on a piece of furniture that is touching the wall, etc. I have no idea if Charlie's makes any noise. Jo >>> I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Jo If I have the mask on, the only sound is a slight hum. If I take the mask off, and leave the machine running, it is a bit noisier, as the air makes a whoosh noise as it comes out of the mask. At a guess, one of your neighbors has some type of machine, such as a CPAP machine, that is causing some nearby object, such as a night table, to vibrate. Once you (or the management) figure out what machine is causing the noise, it will probably be simple to reduce the noise. Something as simple as placing the machine on top of a foam pad or folded towel would probably be enough to damp out the vibrations, just as long as any ventilation slots aren't blocked. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >>>>I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. >>> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > probably be enough to damp out the vibrations, just as long as any > ventilation slots aren't blocked. Thanks. It really isn't loud enough to complain about - in fact, if I hadn't always had such super-keen hearing, I probably wouldn't ever have noticed it. (I've always heard sounds most people don't even notice - always had to watch my tendency to join in on conversations the speakers didn't realize I could even HEAR - I just wondered what it could be.) >>>I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine at night. >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the sound reaching you. It could be on a piece of furniture that is > touching the wall, etc. OH, it's not loud enough to complain about - doesn't interfere with my sleep or anything - I' m just curious (probably learned it from my cats). |
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