APNEA
or the Continuing Saga of Fibromyalgia page 3
Summer is over, the harvest is past and we are not saved. That is a quote from the Bible but it kind of describes how I feel. After being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in the spring of this year (2001) I used the cpap, actually mine was an improved model, a bi pap, for 2 or 3 months but I could not sleep with it. I took all kinds of sleep medications but never slept over an hour or two and it wore me out. I even took it on vacation with me and tried to sleep with it.
Finally, I saw a doctor who specializes in sleep apnea surgery, Dr. Wayne Colin. Dr. Colin assures me the surgery will make me feel better but I guess I am very sceptical. The insurance has approved the surgery and one day I think I will try it and the next I am hesitant again. The surgery involves removing some of the soft tissue in the throat and pulling the tendon under my tongue through my gums under my teeth and securing it with a staple. That sounds horrible. I have talked to several people who have had the surgery and all have been pleased. Some have not gotten a full recovery but some have.
I think I will call today and schedule the surgery for the last week in this month or the first of October. If I don't chicken out.
I still like Dr. Harston. She put me on Lorcet Plus for pain. I only take a half one and some days that is all I take. If the pain is really bad I take another. She also started me on Wellbutrin. I have tried it before but so far this time I am managing to stay on it. It made me very stressed at first but I took a half dosage for a day or two and skipped a day and got better with that. I am not sleeping at all well but it might not have anything to do with the Wellbutrin since I have that problem peridically anyway. I have always had insomnia along with the apnea.
Dr. Harston's therapist got me an E.T.P.S. unit that is very helpful. It is a type of tens unit but works much better for me. It works like accupuncture only it is accupressure. You locate certain points to treat, the manual gives directions and you can also treat tender points. It does give relief where no pain pill has ever helped. Dr. Harston advises me to have the apnea surgery even if it does not make me feel better she says I need to have it to prevent the damage apnea can cause.
Addendum: I did it, I scheduled the surgery for September 28th. Below is a link to Dr. Colin's web site that gives information on apnea and the type of surgery he does.
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My Apnea Surgery
Dr. Colin's page on sleep apnea surgery
