She scared the bejesus out of me!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
July 11, 2012 11:49am CST
My oxygen levels dip way down below normal when I sleep. When that happens, I stop breathing for awhile. It's sleep apnea caused by my COPD and other pulmonary problems. Anyway my daughter yelled at me and shoved on me and said "Mama! Are you alright?!!!"
Of course I was frightened awake to her yelling at me. She said she had been standing there to see if I was okay and she didn't see my chest moving. I said "If you don't see that I'm blue, don't worry about me."
She doesn't know.. bless her heart. But she nearly scared me to death!
I hope to be breathing better when I sleep now, because I have my hospital bed now and I can sleep with my head elevated.
Your thoughts?
6 people like this
13 responses
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
She can't prescribe it if the numbers aren't right. She already told me the sleep study test said that I didn't qualify. I was just a few numbers away. I firgot if my number was a 5 or what. I don't remember. I had the test at home with the computerized helmet. I can't afford the test at the hospital. I have to pay $300 out if pocket. So I have to make do with the oxygen.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I'm suspecting she might know more than you think she knows, and is terrified to lose her mother. So now she's watching you, and you're scaring the bejesus out of her. Perhaps it's time you had a serious heart-to-heart chat?
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I've talked to her. I think the hospital bed will make a big improvement and I won't scare her if my head is elevated. See, I went into remission with the Coe pulmonale for awhile and I let my old hospital go back about 3 years ago. Now I'm symptomatic again after the move. At least that's when I noticed it. My daughter has found me lots of times when I wasn't breathing. I go into what is calle Cheyne Stokes respiration when I sleep. I start breathing again when my carbon dioxide and oxygen balance become normal again. It's just part of this condition.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
12 Jul 12
Sounds scaring..
I do hope you get better, especially when you can sleep in another position in your new bed.
I just read about how important Magnesium is for us. We can get it from fruits and veggies, so better eat all kinds of them then..
Wish you better health..
I do hope you get better, especially when you can sleep in another position in your new bed.
I just read about how important Magnesium is for us. We can get it from fruits and veggies, so better eat all kinds of them then..
Wish you better health..1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jul 12
I'm breathing better now in my new bed...thanks.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
12 Jul 12
Well PQ I have that Problem at times not as much as you but I do have it and believe it or not it is Gissi who has woke me up which amazed me
My Daughter did once wake me as I was not breathing but she did it gentle lol so I did not get a fright but then she said to me Don't do that again, as she realised what she had said we both started to laugh lol as she realized there is no way I can help it
I am glad that you have your bed now and I really hope things are easier for you love you Sweetie
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 12
Let them look over their Eyebrows lol
He will always be a great comfort to you for as long as you want him to be, little Ivan will be running about with my others Babies that are over the Rainbow Bridge
Gissi sends lots of love and hugs back to his Auntie Cookie
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jul 12
I love you too Gabs. You give that sweet little man of yours a big squeeze from Aunti Cookie okay? That's how Gissi knows me. He was a real comfort to me and great friends with my Ivan.. RIP Ivan. (I know some mylotters are looking over their eyebrows over this
but I don't care.
Hug him for me. I'm so glad that he wakes you up. He knows what to do to keep you safe sweetie. Love you!
PQ
but I don't care.
Hug him for me. I'm so glad that he wakes you up. He knows what to do to keep you safe sweetie. Love you!
PQ1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85653)
• United States
11 Jul 12
My dad slept a lot better when he got his sleep apnea machine. Like I said in your other discussion, we can't get my mom to wear her sleep mask. You know when she lost about 30 pounds a couple of years ago her sleep apnea disappeared. People who are overweight are more likely to get sleep apnea. So she was thrilled she didn't need it (pre dementia). But then she gained it back and needed it again. My brother-in-law also has to wear one. And boy if he doesn't he snores something awful!
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
Mine isn't plain sleep apnea. I have an acid nave balance in my respiratory system caused by the pulmonary problems. I don't qualify for a sleep apnea machine. I was in remission for awhile where the cor pulmonale almost went away. Now I am symptomatic again.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
11 Jul 12
You are on disability, right? I have a C-Pap machine and an oxygen concentration to help me breath at night. Maybe you should check with your doctor about getting you one. Mine is paid for by my insurance.
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I sorry to hear that because I have been using one for the past 10 years and it has really helped me to sleep better and feel more rested and healthy.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I don't qualify, Joe. I had the take home sleep apnea test done and the number wasn't high enough for my Medicare to pay for it.
@Lauraleigh99 (4718)
• United States
12 Jul 12
She is your daughter and is worried about you and loves you!! I would do the same to my mom. I am sure she feels bad for scaring you but she had to make sure you were ok!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jul 12
Yes she did. I was just scared at the time. She is a good daughter.
@GardenGerty (157629)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I think you need to set her down and tell her just when she needs to worry. It is nice that she is checking on you, though. She just needs more education about what she should check. I am glad you are getting a hospital bed, as it will make you much more comfortable and it will help you breathe better as well.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I always tell her if I'm not blue in color don't worry. I'm fine. I'm not suffocating. My body is adjusting to my blood oxygen and CO2 levels. If she sees me blue, call 911 and try to wake me. I would not suggest her to start CPR or anything unless a dispatcher walks her through that. I hope she never finds me that way.
@anklesmash (1412)
•
11 Jul 12
She was just as scared as you probably more scared .I know when my dad was ill with cancer i used to watch him sleep to check he was breathing and if he wasnt it would have terrified me.maybe you should talk to her about her fears.My godfather suffers from sleep apnoea he has a special breathing mask that pumps air to force his airways open maybe one of those would help you.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 Jul 12
I saw a program the other night about a sleep pillow ( just don't know if it was about COPD or sleep apnea ( cause I was half awake watching it anyway 
), but it was something like a sensor that tickles (maybe to force you to breath or something???) and it senses lack of oxygen during sleep and it starts pumping oxygen, hope it would be available cheap soon for those who have the condition. Good to have an alert daughter like her, I assign my 16 year old son to watch over my 80 year old mother ( although very healthy) if there is any problem.
), but it was something like a sensor that tickles (maybe to force you to breath or something???) and it senses lack of oxygen during sleep and it starts pumping oxygen, hope it would be available cheap soon for those who have the condition. Good to have an alert daughter like her, I assign my 16 year old son to watch over my 80 year old mother ( although very healthy) if there is any problem.1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
ah, i found a link regarding the topic, http://boingboing.net/2011/11/19/plush-robot-bear-pillow-fights.html ,kinda cute appliance but then again I don't know if it's the same with your pulmonary condition, i was thinking that it could be compatible with the hospital bed and head elevation, good luck to you and wish you the best
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I don't know anything about that. I got my bed now. I can have my head elevated when I sleep. My sleep apnea is due to more than one pulmonary condition.
@kkaria309 (297)
• United States
11 Jul 12
My uncle, who lives in USA, has sleep apnea too. He wears some kind of mask at night which helps him breath better when he sleeps. You should try that. Sleep Apnea can be really dangerous, but I don't need to tell you that. Your hospital bed will help you too, but for your safety, take extra precautions. Hope your health keeps well.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Jul 12
I would have to go for a sleep study and I can't afford that. I had the kind of sleep study done at home with the computer Thingy and it said I wasn't bad enough for one. I think the home machine wasn't accurate, but what do I know?
@thresholdofreality (119)
• Philippines
12 Jul 12
I guess your daughter just freaked out. I would have done the same if I were - just imagine not seeing your mother's chest not moving while she was sleeping... I would have screamed at my mother to wake up too! Don't be too mad that she frightened you, she was just frightened herself. Why don't you try talking to your daughter about your condition? I think it would be better if she were in the know.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jul 12
She knows. She doesn't like to hear about it, but she knows.
