Actually Stacy is a Nurse Practitioner, but whatever her qualifications she is fantastic.
I had my annual physical this morning and arrived with my list of ailments/frustrations.
First and foremost, I haven't slept good for pretty much going on two years. It started in March of 2014 when I started taking weight-loss meds. The side affects for me were dry mouth, constipation and interrupted, fitful sleep. After I had lost about 35 pounds and felt really in control, I went off the meds mostly because I couldn't stand the side affects anymore. Now the benefits of the weight loss was I got off my high blood pressure meds and my anti depressants and overall felt happy because when you lose lots of weight, you find your real self again.
As time passed, I think my sleep did improve some but I continued waking usually around 4:30 in the morning on a regular basis. I've tried several different over the counter sleep aids like Melatonin, Mid Nite and lately an Equate brand of ZZZ Quil. I fall asleep a lot sooner with the Z Quil, but I still wake at the early hours and it is very fitful sleep after that.
Being over weight is always an issue for me, but honestly I have made great efforts and changes in my eating and exercise with no success. I just hover around the same 2 or 3 pounds. It's more frustrating than in the past because being sleepy takes it toll. I'm too tired to get out of bed most mornings to do my morning work out. Then I sit at a desk all day and pretty much read to get through my day. Well reading makes me sleepy and since it's kind of boring too then I think - oh I'll get something to eat. Whether the snack is junky or healthy it is still additional calories that I wouldn't eat if I didn't feel tired.
My lab results were really good news. I was in the prediabetic range from my blood screening though our insurance company at the end of last year. Well my numbers are back in the normal range. So that was a relief. I also take a low dose of thyroid medication and my numbers have doubled so she is going to up my dosage. When I first started the thyroid medication in Feb of 2014, I lost six pounds right off. So I think perhaps my thyroid has been the block to my weightloss efforts.
She is prescribing a non narcotic, non habit forming sleep aid for me that should give me a continuous feed to keep me asleep. Now if I would only stop breathing through my mouth I think that should work. Being over weight also contributes to sleep apnea which I have a mild form of so I get to sleep in my darth vadar mask. It's lovely. Anyway, when I breath through my mouth the air coming in the tube dries out my mouth so bad that I wake up and I have to get out of bed and rinse out my mouth and drink. I don't know why all of the sudden I am breathing through my mouth AND from reading on my computer screen at work for the last 6 months all day, I have developed Computer Vision Syndrome, also referred to as Digital Eye Strain, describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use.So I wake up and my mouth is dry and my eyes are dry and so uncomfortable that I have put in eye drops. So I'm a mess.
I even bought the new updated cpap machine that has a heated tube that is supposed to get me more moisture or something like that. Well Our insurance covers the machine, but not the new fancy tube until June. So I think I'm going to see how much it would cost just to buy it. I can't wait that long to see if that will help my dry mouth problem.
So going into my appointment this morning I was feeling so discouraged and pretty depressed and walked out feeling empowered and like there is hope.
Stacy listens and hears your concerns and she always provides options and answers. She is one of the greatest blessings from moving here.
So my post today is kind of out there, but I need to document all of this so I can remember it.
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2 comments:
Yay for feeling empowered and being in the normal number range! That's fantastic! I hope you get your fancy tube soon. Sounds like you're working on a good combination too. 😊
Keith has a cpap machine too. He needed a new nose/mouthpiece, but the cost was ridiculous from the place where he got it, even after the insurance paid. So I went on amazon and found the exact thing for just a fraction of the cost. And we got it in two days. Sooo much easier and cheaper than dealing with the insurance company.
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