tonmur-

Good for you for taking positive action for your health! Is the echocardiogram tomorrow? I'll keep you in thought and prayer. I have found if I take reading material with me while waiting in the doctor's office, or my journal, my stress level is diminished.

jan

I just hope they figure out what is wrong with me. There are so many problems and I think all of them combined is what leads to the depression. But, the thing that worries me most is that I keep being light headed over and over and over and it is like my whole body feels like it is short circuiting. It is so weird and so hard to explain and the other thing that is so scarry is going to bed and night and stop breathing. I wake up over and over gasping for air because I have stopped breathing.

HI tonmur,

Yes- Today has not been a great day. We just go in the office supply of candy and just as the truck was pulling off, my boss pulled me aside and told me that there will be another board meeting as to the future of the company. I work for a Dot Com (need I say more). I know I wont make the next round of cuts. I am afraid and depressed. I headed straight for the candy table. I didn't take anything butits difficult; I am thinking of going home early today just so I wont have to look and smell the candy. Its the first thing I go for when I get depressed. I cant take it. I cant give you much support except to say you are not alone in depression and dieting.

Yes, you are depressed and you have good reason to be. But, here is a thought for you. Who are you trying to please and make happy here? Will it make you happy if you have that candy? And, you may love your job, but - there are others out there and One thing that I always, always, always try to remember:

Things happen for a reason!

I know that you are down right now, but, what is it that is waiting around the corner for you? I know that it is hard, (I am trying to learn to have more patience, it is a very big struggle for me) but something good will come of this! I know for me, when it comes to money or finances, I become an emotional wreck, but did you know that it will always work out? I know at the moment that all seems hopeless but don't give in to the world. Let them know that you are the boss of you and that you can and will succeed.

Hi Tonmur -

If I'm on the same page as you are, your Echocardiogram is schedule for today. How are you doing?

Keeping you in thought and prayer,

jan

I've been thinking about your appointment. I don't know whether it would be a good thing if they don't find anything (you have no answer that way) or that they do find something (you know what's wrong). Either way I hope you get answers to your questions today. I pray that you are able to find comfort in the fact that you have found a doctor that takes you seriously, this is a good thing. I just wanted to send you a quick note of encouragememt. I shall be thinking of you today. Take good care of yourself, you are worth it.

Indecession is terrible. It must be very hard on you not knowing about the stability of your job. Tonmur's words are very valid though. Change can be very dificult to deal with, but few major break throughs in life are made by repeating what we have done in the past. If you think you might be layed off, start getting your letters ready, you can find a new job while your at this one and if it's just what you need to make you happy you can leave dot com. You are in control. Go for it!!! You sound like someone of great determination. God only gives us one day at a time so take control of this one. I know you can do it.

I went for my echocardiogram today and of course the technicians won't tell you a thing. But, I have decided that I am going to live and quit the down side of things. I have made it through so many things in life and this is just a minor thing. I have to remember - I can do anything.

I'm so proud of your new outlook on things. That's a great way to start on the road to sucess. The first step is the hardest and then after that just keep putting one foot infront of the other. Every journey starts with the first step. You are strong and powerful, you are woman.

I sincerely appreciate all the support that I am receiving. It is that that is keeping me going. You know - I think people should be in support groups regardless of loosing weight, depression or what-have-you. This is a wonderful support system. Yes, I have a wonderful support system at home and my family - but sometimes you need to hear it from someone else.

Thank You Everyone, and I Love You All!

tonmur - I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine to help me (and it does, amazingly well).

OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and other sleep disorders can be very dangerous. They have been associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Plus, being tired all the time makes it hard to exercise or just live your life.

Do a google search ( http://www.google.com/search?q=sleep+apnea ), or take a look at http://www.sleepnet.com

If you find you have symptoms, definately see your doctor for a referral to sleep specialist, for a sleep study. It's an overnight thing where they monitor all aspects of your sleep (muscle movement, breathing, brain waves) in order to determine what exactly is happening.

While I'm still overweight, without the CPAP machine I don't know where I'd be today. If I loose all the weight, I may be able to get off the machine in the future.

Best wishes,
Brett.

Tonmur, I hope you get your results soon. Waiting is the hardest part! Been through the depression thing myself as I think most of us have at one point or another. It's rough!

Brett, My husband uses a CPAP and it is the most wonderful thing. I swear I was loosing more sleep than he was waiting for him to stop breathing during the night. He's been on it for almost a year now and the difference is amazing. And I much prefer listening to the machine than to his snoring!

Kelly (newbie)

What were your husbands symptoms - why did they decide for him to use the machine? Did he have any surgeries to help correct the problem?

Hi Tonmur!

Hope I can be of some help here.

First, let me say that my husband is in the Navy and all the testing and equipment was free so I don't know how much all this costs in the real world!

His worst symptom is that he stops breathing when he sleeps. It's almost like holding his breath for a few seconds. Aside from that he snores loudly (which makes his not breathing really stand out), tosses and jerks when he is asleep, is impossible to wake up even if he's only been in bed a few minutes, couldn't sleep a full night if he tried, and is tired all day. I think those are some of the typical symptoms, but there are more. There are also other sleep disorders out there that I know nothing about.

His regular doctor sent him to a sleep disorder clinic where they hooked him up to a machine and checked how often he stopped breathing, how often he went into REM sleep, and a bunch of other things. Then they woke him up and had him wear the CPAP (a small mask that forces air into the nose) and checked those things again. They measure the differences and if there is enough improvement they order you a CPAP. At least that's what they did for him. CPAP stands for Constant Positive Airway Pressure. (or something like that)

It worked wonderfully on him and he didn't have to go through any surgeries. But he will probably wear it for life. There are things that they can do if the CPAP doesn't work. His problem is his soft palate relaxes too much when he is asleep and blocks his airway. If the CPAP didn't work well they could have "tacked" his soft palate so that it wouldn't fall back so far. There is another guy who works with my husband who may get his sinus cavity scraped because of a blockage there. Boy, that does not sound pleasant at all!

So, the results are he sleeps much easier and doesn't stop breathing when he is wearing the mask. He also dreams now which he never did before (the REM thing). He still snores occasionally but it's usually when the mask slips. The machine also is very quiet and I get to sleep better too! The snoring never really bothered me but waiting for the next breath was awful.

I'm sure some of the folks here who have sleep disorders may be able to help more, but I hope I've helped some!

Kelly

Did he have light headedness? Did he feel like his body was trying to short circuit during the day?

Over and over throughout the day (this is hard to explain) I have kind of a pulse or something that runs through my ears and body and it is like three beats, two normal and a third that is odd. It is almost a feeling like I have clumpy blood or something. But, it doesn't matter if I am walking, sitting, driving, laying down - I still have it.