Look out Aberdeen

ginluvvaSun 17/10/10 21:19

Here I come :0)

Ok I'm only coming to visit the sleep clinic to see if they can sort out my sleep problems.

But warn the shops!

I have credit cards and a'm, a "POWER SHOPPER"! :0)

agingdisgracefullySun 17/10/10 21:25

I have a friend of a friend that went to the Sleep Clinic. They confirmed he does actually sleep much more than what he thought, but he doesn't manage to get deep (REM) sleep for very long, so wakes up feeling exhausted.

I'm a boring old 8hr sleeper, regardless of what time I go to bed. As long as I get my 8hrs I'm fine the next day. Having said that, now I'm a bit older, I have a tendency to nod off from time to time if sat infront of the TV late at night.

csyeeSun 17/10/10 21:29

Hope everything will turn out OK at the slee clinic Malc.

Is shopping all there is to do in Aberdeen?

ginluvvaMon 18/10/10 04:32

quoting > "Is shopping all there is to do in Aberdeen?"

Shopping and "Dodge the Junkie, Beggar, Mugger etc" ;0)

csyeeMon 18/10/10 07:54

quoting > ""Dodge the Junkie, Beggar, Mugger etc""

Ooooo....what or who is that?

ginluvvaTue 19/10/10 22:03

Back and not with good news :0(

No shopping and soon no driving :0(

I underwent a series of tests over the past 36 hours, one of which involved wearing some electronic equipment which read my sleep and breathing patterns over a timed period of sleep. It seems my sleep apnoea is so bad that I forgot to breathe 16 times last night, one of those periods was for nearly 90- seconds.
The specialist has told me that I have to inform the DVLA immediately about the disorder as it affects my driving, also he wants me to stop driving as of now.
Now the first effect will probably be the loss of my job as I cannot get to and from work using public transport (non existent) which means either the company will let me go or I will be forced to give the job up.

as if three disabilities aren't enough, life dishes more shit with every turn!

csyeeTue 19/10/10 22:08

Sorry to hear about your predicament. If I am not mistaken, there is an effective treatment for sleep apnoea which is CPAP.....just not the most comfortable thing to wear when you sleep. Once you have the treatment, could you not go back to driving?

ginluvvaTue 19/10/10 22:22

They have given me a CPAP machine which the specialist requested urgently (seems they can take up to 3 months to get one allocated) to use which will take readings which they will set via computer into my own one which I get on the 5th November when I return to the Chest unit. This machine will go with me everywhere I go and be used everytime I need to sleep (or nap) for the rest of my life.

Yes I could be permitted to drive again in the future, but this is down to the DVLA who are notorious for wanting more and more assurances from docs etc before reinstating driving licenses.

csyeeTue 19/10/10 22:31

I know things appear bleak at the moment but looks like you have got the right treatment and things should improve. Yes the CPAP mask makes you feel like Darth Vader but you will get use to it. Once your sleep is restored, you will feel like a new person with much less fatigue and dozing off in the daytime.

The driving issue will just be temporary and more of an inconvenience. I am sure your chest physician will help you as far as possible in this regard to get you back to driving and your routines. You just have make some arrangement in the meantime to get you to and from work.

Hang on in there :)

ginluvvaTue 19/10/10 22:40

The specialist has suggested I try get my GP to sign me off on the sick (he will put his recommendation to it) starting with 1 month with a view to extending the period as needed but my GP doesn't like signing sick notes. Also this would cause mayhem with the rotas at work as one staff member is due to start 10 days holiday next week and if I am signed off this means he wont get time off.

csyeeTue 19/10/10 22:50

I can understand that you do want to disrupt things at work and put your colleagues in a bad situation. However, your health must come first and furthermore, you will not be very productive work-wise until you get the sleep apnoea sorted.

csyeeTue 19/10/10 22:51

quoting > "you do want"

Sorry about the typo, it is supposed to be "you do NOT want to disrupt"