Sleep Apnea Blog

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea recently; I was told that my oxygen level drops to around 67% while I’m sleeping. Then was told how dangerous it was and told I needed to start using the C-PAP machine. Right now, I’m in waiting mode for the machine. In the meantime, my feet keep falling asleep and my fingers have gone numb. Some days are worse than others…. And sometimes my fingers really hurt. This is probably from the lack of oxygen, I’m sure. I’m also having the heart palpitations…..and other symptoms. Waiting on the red tape is getting on my last nerve. Especially after being told that it was urgent that I get on the machine right away.
Is anyone else going through this? It’s so hard to take care of things —including and especially the medical stuff—-when I’m so tired and sleepy all of the time. I just want to sleep!!
BTW, it’s been 2 weeks today, since I saw the Dr and she told me how URGENT things were. I am STILL WAITING. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t go to the hospital ER.
Well, I contacted the folks that do the sleep studies and they’ve scheduled me for a second sleep study….for this coming Sunday. So, at least SOMETHING is happening. It’s hard being sick all of the time and then having to act as your own advocate. I hope I get this oxygen machine soon.

don’t know why you’d need a second study if the first one already revealed the apnea. Usually you don’t get the machine from you’re doctor. You get it from a medical supplier (DME). You’re doctor (or your insurance company) should recommend one. It shouldn’t take two weeks to set you up. They just show you how to use the machine (it’s not complicated) and you take it home. Or you could just buy one yourself from someplace like cpap.com but the good one’s aren’t cheap.

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