It’s been a bit of an
interesting two months or so since I had surgery. It was difficult to get back
to work with the use of just one hand but the staff had been wonderful in
helping me out when possible. After the larger bandaging came off, it was
easier but I had some difficulty because I had a small bandage on my finger;
the pain was terrible but manageable after a shit load of pain killers. The
doctor had prescribed something that knocked me out on my ass; if I drove with
it in my system and got pulled over, I’d either be arrested or given a ticket.
Something I wasn’t willing to do.
Anyways, the pain level is next
to zero but on cold, rainy/snowy days there’s some pain and stiffness; I have
to force my finger to straighten and keep stretching my finger throughout the
day and the occasional Tylenol.
In mid January, I had an
appointment with a sleep specialist to see why I couldn’t sleep (this is after
YEARS of telling family that I can’t sleep). Within a few minutes of meeting
with this doctor I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea; it’s a medical condition
that causes people to NOT breathe while they sleep and can be often deadly. To
be officially diagnosed, one has to have a sleep study and have at least 5
interruptions an hour. He’s been a sleep
specialist/pulmonologist for years and said that it was easy to diagnose me
(where my throat and mouth meet are supposed to be at a 90 degree angle but it’s
a 45 degree angle, etc).
As I was checking out of the
office, I spoke with a receptionist and was able to get a sleep study machine
sent to my house last week. When I received it, I set it up as per the
directions. The next morning, I sent it back. Within a matter of days, I was
told that there were barely any results and they’d sent another machine which I
received yesterday and used it last night. Hopefully this machine was up to par
and able to get results. I should be receiving the results and a follow up with
the doctor 7 to 10 business days from when the company who sent the machine
downloads the results; they’ll sent the results to the doctor, the doctor’s
office will read the results, will call me to set up a follow up appointment
and tell me what the next step is.
Please think positive thoughts,
have your fingers crossed and whatever else you guys do that my sleep apnea is
NOT bad.
