Stupid Sleep Machine

Well, I'm getting a little better at  keeping this blog up. It's been six days but I used to write daily.  On the other hand, my life has become pretty laid back (I mean boring) so there isn't always much to write about.  I'm taking a nap after lunch today. I can already feel in my bones that I'm gonna need it. I used a sleep machine last night to test on whether I have sleep apnea.  I don't think I do but my doctor was tired of listening to my woes of being tired all the time so she decided that I needed to be tested.  I fought it most of the time because I felt my fatigue was because my hip hurt in bed and wouldn't allow me to spend the entire night there and I was transferring to the recliner every night. Am I repeating myself? Probably.  Anyhow, there was an option to do the test at home (my daughter Mary did this too) and if  it comes back indicating sleep apnea, then you have to go to the sleep center to spend the night.  I'm not wanting to do this!    For one thing, it's in Sequim.  I already drove down there for the consultation, drove another time to pick up the machine, and drove today to return the machine. I DO NOT want to drive for another consultation to discuss the results. I'd just as soon talk on the phone or get an email.  If she says I'm close to having a heart attack if I don't get a Cpap machine --then I might consider the sleepover.  I've also read, however, that the only cure for sleep apnea is almost always weight loss.  Course that's easier said than done. Ask anybody who's dealt with excess poundage all their life.

I did get  my hip xrayed a few  days ago.  Having another joint replacement was not something I wanted to go through again, however.  Luckily, the films came back showing no arthritis and the hip is fine.  Doctor (at least the P.A.) now thinks it might be bursitis and a second steroid shot might be necessary if the hip continues to plague me.  The shot I had a week or so back didn't help but she said it was a light dose.  Common sense tells me that losing weight is the only way I'm going to end this battle.

I saw a movie on fasting on Amazon last week and I'm thinking I'm going to give that a try.  Sounds easy enough once you get over the hump.  I might fast for just two or three days (maybe a week) and then slowly ease back into eating.  Then I'll fast one day a week.  The movie mentioned that people can eat the way they usually eat and still lose weight if they're willing to fast one day a week. I can do that.  Course I also know I'd have to clean up my act about the way I do eat.  I'm a good girl sometimes but other times.....well, you know.... OINK!  OINK!

The little machine last night was uncomfortable for me.  I couldn't figure out how to get the straps around my chest.  The "kid" who was showing me how to use it went too fast and was a lousy teacher. 

You don't plug into a wall. You put this gadget around your chest and two wires attach to each side.  You also need to wear a rubber guard on your finger and a nose thingie like people on oxygen have.  They prefer you lay on your back but if you have to turn on your side, you have to make sure the finger guard is not the side you lay on.  It's not that hard but I did find it uncomfortable because I'm generally not all that comfortable to start with.  My shoulders and hip are always in a snit and I often transfer to my recliner at 3 or 4 a.m. to finish my sleeping there.

This morning I woke up with a terrible dry mouth (not uncommon for me) but it was more dry than usual; I guess because I wasn't sipping water like I usually do.  I did sit up twice to sit but that required taking off the finger guard and being very careful with the glass of water.  The previous night I had tipped my cup over and spilled water all over the place. I was leery of doing that again so I woke up with a dry mouth, sore throat, and lucky me -- a whopper of a calf cramp!  Oh yeah, it was a delightful night.

I had to get up to pee twice and record what time it was that I took off the finger guard to go to the bathroom.  They apparently have a way of figuring out when you're up out of bed like that.  I must have slept stiff or something because my chest and upper back were achy and I got up at 5:30 deciding I had had enough.

Drove into Sequim at 7:15 as they wanted the machine back by 8.  Only good thing about that was Sequim traffic was very light that time of day. I treated myself to an egg mcmuffin and OJ and ate that on the way home.   Stopped at Swains to buy some jars and took these pictures of the park near their parking lot in the back.

Came home and watered my flowers and filled the bird baths. My snap dragons are blooming now that the crocosmia are ending. The rabbits, cow, and frog are appear to be happy.

One of the more unusual sights I saw driving home was this little old lady out on the highway walking along with her walker.  Seemed an odd place for her to be but perhaps she was the adventurous type.

I sure am enjoying the weather this week.  Apparently, it's miserably hot on the Seattle side but over here on the peninsula, it's been more bareable.  I hope it stays like this. High temps make me crabby.

Got the sweetest thank you card from my grandson yesterday.  His sister's was also quite good. So proud of them.  Going to head into the sewing room now. I've been busy working on a large quilt using all flowered materials.  I'm quilting as I go on this one as I don't have the space to really work on one the normal way. I prefer this method as it's way easier on my back.

I've got four books from the library sitting by my recliner and they all look really good so I'm excited about getting into them too. (If I can stay awake)  I got the neatest gift ever a couple days ago from my pal, Ann, in Issaquah. A long string of small driftwood pieces that I hung on my deck. She found it in Poulsbo and said she's made several in years past.  I love it!

Well, I've got to go refill my little bag that I carry in the car with CDs.  The collection in it now were annoying me on the trip home from Sequim. Also need to take some duct tape to the bottom of the sliding glass door screen (so Sammy can go in and out at his leisure)  The flies are finding it too tempting right now and I'm tired of chasing them.

Lots of road construction going on in the neighborhood too.  They're putting in sidewalks across the street since they're having to "fix" some of the driveways that are too steep. 11th Street a few blocks down is blocked off for  weeks or months while they do all kinds of expensive repairs and the two 8th Street bridges (that I use daily) are closed so they can install suicide prevention fences. They'll have those bridges closed until the middle of September so everyone has  to take long detours around if they want to get downtown or out of town.

And that's about it for now.  I should go back and proofread this but I'm too tired.