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As I posted earlier, my sleep doctor ordered me a new humidifer and new mask — the company he ordered it from is new to me — Hope Home Medical.

It is covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and it was delivered today. The respiratory therapist is really good and really nice, and come to find out is the son-in-law of one of my absolute favorite now retired teachers.

Come to find out the new humidifier has only been out for 6 weeks and was on back order as soon as it came out. It’s very small, and adds very little to the size–I believe it will still fit in the original travel bag. It takes a whole lot less water, and the water holder is dishwasher safe.

The other added plus, is that the CPAP hooks up directly to the humidifier, reducing the need for a extra hose. We’ll see how it does at night. The biggest problem with CPAP humidifier is rain out — you wake up with water over your face and water popping down the hose.

I’ll also have less clutter next to the bed!

Diabetes Information – American Diabetes Association

According to the American Diabetes Association:

Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

And it is a good thing to make sure how you are differentiating the two.

According to the IC9 codes, Type 1 is insulin dependent and Type 2 is non-insulin dependent. However, there are “insulin resistant” Type 2, who are insulin dependent.

I am one.

My biggest problem right now, and my biggest stumbling block is this sleep issue. I did everything I could last night to make sure I could sleep all night and did wake up a time or two, but was able to roll over and go to bed.

I do think I am having some problems with mask leaking — that woke me up at least once.

Definitely when ever I don’t sleep well, right now, the gum situation flares up. I’m not sure if that’s the cause of the sleep problem, OR if it is caused by the sleep problem.

So I don’t feel super rested, but I also don’t feel like I absolutely have to go back to bed, like I did yesterday and at least two days last week.

Right now, the plan is to meet with the DME after school, and get the new equipment situated and then go to bed by 10:00 pm.

The blood sugar is elevated but stable right now, though I’m going to have to watch it close since the antibotics are supposed to affect blood sugar, though when I see warnings on medications like that, I’m wondering if it is really the underlying infection (and then lack of infection if the meds work), that cause the problem. More chicken and egg stuff.

Those of you who have followed the blog know that I’ve had a difficult relationship over the last few years with my sleep doctor. Part of the reason I think, is that I did so well at first. Over 5 years ago, almost 10 years now, he put me on a CPAP machine and I had instant results. However, the last couple of years have been difficult. Lately I just haven’t been getting enough sleep and I’m tired all the time.

I was really dreading this visit, since he has badgered me about gaining weight, told me I wasn’t compliant, etc. This visit was different and I attribute that to the compliance software on my new machine. It took hree visits in a row (over a 1 year period), for him to believe me since I switched to the Goodnight CPAP which he can download and get compliance data.

Today I went in, he downloaded the machine, saw that I was 100% compliant (yet again), and that I was getting 6 1/2 hours average on the machine (I’ve had a few very sleepless nights.) Make sure any CPAP machine you get these days DOES have the compliance monitoring feature. That means when you are sleeping well, it’s the doctor’s problem, NOT yours.

He’s now not treating me as a non-compliant patient. I think it also helped that after my sleepless night, I had a bit of a fever — I am not sure if this is a chicken and egg kind of thing, but I was stressed out over the visit, and probably a bit stressed about going back to school tomorrow (we are off on inclement weather days — I love it when we don’t actually use them for inclement weather).

Anyway, he wrote me a script for antibiotics, and gave me three doses so I could take my time about filling the scripts (though today was a good day for that). He also wrote scripts for a new humidifier, and a new mask. I switched DME’s, since I was having to pay full price on the other one. Their service was super, and were close to school, however, I am THRILLED with the new company.

They called me at almost 5:00, and wanted to meet with me tomorrow — and did have an appointment available at 4:30! That is the best any DME has ever been. I’ve worked with 4 now — Lincare and Apria were both horrible service. I usually had to go to them to get new equipment. I’ll post who they are when the whole thing is done, but the new company is definitely in network. I’ve never gotten a call back from the DME the same day I saw the doctor.

I’m going to get an Oximeter for the weekend, though I’m not sure I could even handle more pressure.

I brought home two Ambien too, though he doesn’t want me on sleep pills at all. I agree, they have never done that much for me.