Busy Week Of Visits To VA …That 5GB Limit

Let’s see where to begin, I guess it would be best to start with Sandy and I both using our computers, we came very close to exceeding our monthly Version Air card limit of 5120MB. So, we’ve stayed off the internet for several days. Our new usage data rolled over on the 9th.

If you recall my VA doctor refused to sign my release to have cataract surgery on my left eye until I saw the VA eye doctor. They finally sent me a letter for that visit on September 7 which we could not make due to other comments. We called to reschedule and they said how about Saturday August 7th at 8:40 am. Sound’s good to us so we were up this past Saturday at 5am I drove to the VA Eye Clinic in Shreveport. I was the first patient and the doctor saw me right away. He confirmed my cataract and noted it in my records. Now just maybe I’ll finally have that surgery.

This was not our last visit this month to VA Shreveport as Monday night I had an appointment to sleep over in the sleep apnea clinic. This was my third visit and this time they were going to hook me up to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. 

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes narrow as the muscles relax naturally during sleep. This reduces oxygen in the blood and causes arousal from sleep. The CPAP machine stops this phenomenon by delivering a stream of compressed air via a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask or full-face mask, splinting the airway (keeping it open under air pressure) so that unobstructed breathing becomes possible, reducing and/or preventing apneas and hypopneas.

It is important to understand, however, that it is the air pressure, and not the movement of the air, that prevents the apneas. When the machine is turned on, but prior to the mask being placed on the head, a flow of air comes through the mask. After the mask is placed on the head, it is sealed to the face and the air stops flowing. At this point, it is only the air pressure that accomplishes the desired result. This has the additional benefit of reducing or eliminating the extremely loud snoring that sometimes accompanies sleep apnea.

The tech greeted me and took me to my room where she proceeded to connect about 28 leads to my head, chest, and legs. These leads were connected to a computer that would tale tell my sleep habits. Then I was connected to this face mask and was told to go to sleep.

Now please tell me how in the world is a person to sleep with all this garb on! And sleep I did not. The sensors off the leads that were connected to my face and head felt like needles sticking into me. Now I know what it feels when a lady has to sleep with rollers on her head. I believe finally I dozed off and maybe got about three hours sleep. My next visit will be in about three weeks where I will visit the sleep apnea doctor and pick up my machine. I already have my mask as I brought it home with me.

Until next time….MtnAire Travlers.