I am soooo tired!
Question:
I posted earlier this week about my 6th sleep study. I finally had to call out sick today, Weds I had 2 classes at work, with a test after one and they gave us the answers and with my memory and concentration problems, I got 47%. Yesterday, I was pretty much in a fog, several times I had to ask people to repeat what they said, it’s like they were talking too fast for my brain and I kept forgetting what I was doing. So you can see my work performance has been affected and I just could not drag myself into work again. Before I got sick with my sleep problems 5 years ago, I had 4 sick days in 15 years. What bothers me is that I used to consider myself a very smart person, it was easy to pick up on new things, and I could remember everything. But now…I forgot what I was saying. Humor and trying to keep positive is the only way I can get through this. My next sleep study (the one that will be like starting as a new patient) is next Weds and then meet with the dr on the 20th. I called his office today to ask him to write me out for at least 2 weeks until my appt and we can talk about the results. I am so glad to have found this website, your posts are interesting, helpful, and it’s (the word nice doesn’t seem to fit?!) nice to know others are suffering as much as I am, your support means a lot too me. Thanks
Response:
HI Michael, My kids are always telling me I do not remember anything they tell me and I’m always asking them to repeat things too. Same with my husband. Like you, I feel very thankful to have found this group. It is the people here who have convinced me of the importance of getting a sleep study. I go on Monday night for my first study and I am actually looking forward to finally taking a step I should have taken long ago. Marianne "Michael Reed" <reedste…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:8f7aa.7562$wJ1.728954@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I posted earlier this week about my 6th sleep study. I finally had to call > out sick today, Weds I had 2 classes at work, with a test after one and they > gave us the answers and with my memory and concentration problems, I got > 47%. Yesterday, I was pretty much in a fog, several times I had to ask > people to repeat what they said, it’s like they were talking too fast for my > brain and I kept forgetting what I was doing. So you can see my work > performance has been affected and I just could not drag myself into work > again. Before I got sick with my sleep problems 5 years ago, I had 4 sick > days in 15 years. > What bothers me is that I used to consider myself a very smart person, it > was easy to pick up on new things, and I could remember everything. But > now…I forgot what I was saying. Humor and trying to keep positive is the > only way I can get through this. > My next sleep study (the one that will be like starting as a new patient) is > next Weds and then meet with the dr on the 20th. I called his office today > to ask him to write me out for at least 2 weeks until my appt and we can > talk about the results. > I am so glad to have found this website, your posts are interesting, > helpful, and it’s (the word nice doesn’t seem to fit?!) nice to know others > are suffering as much as I am, your support means a lot too me. Thanks
Response:
Michael, glad you found us. Most of us have been where you are right now and most of us get great relief from CPAP treatment. Hopefully you will too. To make you sure of how not alone you are in this…. This time last year I was completely useless at home. I conserved all my energy for work and still could not concentrate and had none, zero, nada, zip (get the picture 
..) patience with my customers (not good for a bartender/waitress who depends on tips!!!). I fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed my car, could have killed myself and countless others if it had not been for some trees that kept me from crashing into Interstate 24 west. Not a good picture at all. Thank God for my husband who insisted on going to the doc with me and making him listen. Now life is much better. Not perfect, yet, but better. I have been on CPAP since July 14. Michael and Marianne, keep posting here, someone will try to help you get over any obstacles you occur along the way. Cindy….I really need to do a personal story for Beth’s page.
Response:
>What bothers me is that I used to consider myself a very smart person, it >was easy to pick up on new things, and I could remember everything.
I know right now it’s hard to keep in mind, but try to remember you (yah, poor choice of words, eh?) are still the same smart guy you always were. You’re just having a hard time right now. When you get this all straightened around and aren’t feeling so tired, you’ll feel better mentally as well. I have awful cognitive problems, but not from sleep problems, so I know pretty much how you are feeling. I was feeling like pretty much of a dumb bunny for a while, til I realized that I had to still be smart to find as many ways of coping with my shortcomings as I have. Hang in there! Regards, Sandy in Seattle
Response:
OhMrsJohnson1 wrote: > >What bothers me is that I used to consider myself a very smart person, it > >was easy to pick up on new things, and I could remember everything. > I know right now it’s hard to keep in mind, but try to remember you (yah, poor > choice of words, eh?) are still the same smart guy you always were. You’re > just having a hard time right now. When you get this all straightened around > and aren’t feeling so tired, you’ll feel better mentally as well. I have awful > cognitive problems, but not from sleep problems,
Would you mind ‘revealing’ the cause of your cognitive problems? Mine have been permanent and non-progressive for a period of 20 years, as determined by neuropsych testing twenty years ago and again recently (along with consistent brain MRIs and SPECTscans. We think mine came about from exposure to neurotoxins in a sick building. When I started reading here I found that my symptoms were identical to many of those with sleep disorders. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> so I know pretty much how you > are feeling. I was feeling like pretty much of a dumb bunny for a while, til I > realized that I had to still be smart to find as many ways of coping with my > shortcomings as I have. Hang in there! > Regards, > Sandy in Seattle
Response:
>Would you mind ‘revealing’ the cause of your cognitive problems? Mine have >been >permanent and non-progressive for a period of 20 years, as determined by >neuropsych testing twenty years ago and again recently (along with consistent >brain MRIs and SPECTscans. >We think mine came about from exposure to neurotoxins in a sick building. >When >I started reading here I found that my symptoms were identical to many of >those >with sleep disorders.
Norm, I don’t mind sharing where my cognitive problems came from at all. They are actually from a combination of things, in no particular order as they sort of overlap. I was attacked by a llama about 14 years ago and sustained a closed head injury, but because I had so many other injuries that were more evident, and because I saw stars but did not lose consciousness, the head injury was blown off and went untreated even though I complained of severe headaches, confusion, dizziness, loss of motor skills, loss of logic/reasoning, etc. About 2 yrs later I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, an auto-immune disease that forms granulomas and can attack any organ. Mine is systemic and is in most of the major organs, including the brain, as shown in MRI. The lesions cause brain swelling and loss of cognitive function. I believe I also worked in a sick building for many years..it was an old building with water that would pool underneath, the carpeting was replaced several times while I worked there, and it was chemically treated for pests many times over my 20 yrs of employment. It couldn’t have been a very healthy environment. I have been through neuro-psych testing as well as cognitive therapy. The cognitive therapist was astounded at all I had taught myself as coping mechanisms and was only able to help me minimally. My short term memory is about nil, and I have huge holes in my long term. My sister tells me we went to Reno and stayed at the Silver Legacy for 4 days. I have absolutely no recall of this. However, I recently cleaned out a bag to loan to someone, and sure enough, I found a receipt for the hotel…so I guess we did stay there, lol. Regards, Sandy
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -OhMrsJohnson1 wrote: > >Would you mind ‘revealing’ the cause of your cognitive problems? Mine have > >been > >permanent and non-progressive for a period of 20 years, as determined by > >neuropsych testing twenty years ago and again recently (along with consistent > >brain MRIs and SPECTscans. > >We think mine came about from exposure to neurotoxins in a sick building. > >When > >I started reading here I found that my symptoms were identical to many of > >those > >with sleep disorders. > Norm, I don’t mind sharing where my cognitive problems came from at all. They > are actually from a combination of things, in no particular order as they sort > of overlap. > I was attacked by a llama about 14 years ago and sustained a closed head > injury, but because I had so many other injuries that were more evident, and > because I saw stars but did not lose consciousness, the head injury was blown > off and went untreated even though I complained of severe headaches, confusion, > dizziness, loss of motor skills, loss of logic/reasoning, etc.
Many years ago (15-20 years), pre-internet, there was a traumatic brain injury (TBI) support group. I had talked a good deal about my copgnition problems to a close friend. She later had a brain tumour removed and was directed to the TBI group. She told me she thought it would be of more value to me from what I had told her. I spent a lot of time there. The biggest complaint from those with TBI is that after they had physical healing and the scars became less obvious, everyone, including friends and relatives, thought everything should be OK. Yours and mine are permanent. Fortunately for many who come here with cognitive deficits and OSA, they have a fighting chance to recover. > About 2 yrs later I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, an auto-immune disease that > forms granulomas and can attack any organ. Mine is systemic and is in most of > the major organs, including the brain, as shown in MRI. The lesions cause > brain swelling and loss of cognitive function.
Really bad news. > I believe I also worked in a sick building for many years..it was an old > building with water that would pool underneath, the carpeting was replaced > several times while I worked there, and it was chemically treated for pests > many times over my 20 yrs of employment. It couldn’t have been a very healthy > environment.
I have videotaped a number of news programs related to the subject of permanent neurological damage from sick buildings, even just new carpets in an old building. > I have been through neuro-psych testing as well as cognitive therapy. The > cognitive therapist was astounded at all I had taught myself as coping > mechanisms and was only able to help me minimally.
I was prescribed neurobehavior management by my neuropsychiatrist/psychopharmacologist. It was administered by a PhD neuropsychologist. She was of immense help in developing coping strategies. I read the first few chapters of Feeling Good, a book dealing with cognitive therapy. Helped me immensely. > My short term memory is about nil, and I have huge holes in my long term. My > sister tells me we went to Reno and stayed at the Silver Legacy for 4 days. I > have absolutely no recall of this. However, I recently cleaned out a bag to > loan to someone, and sure enough, I found a receipt for the hotel…so I guess > we did stay there, lol. > Regards, > Sandy
Thanks for sharing.
Response:
>The biggest complaint from those with TBI is that after they had physical >healing and the scars became less obvious, everyone, including friends and >relatives, thought everything should be OK.
Exactly…once my other injuries from the llama attack healed, everyone considered me ‘all better’..which as you well know wasn’t the case. No one knew how I struggled just to get the basic things done at home, let alone at work. When I returned to work, I found myself putting in 16 hr days at first to compensate for my shortcomings. In my position, I could not allow it to be known how incapable I was, so I did everything I could to cover..and was very successful at doing so. I was finally given another admin asst which helped immensely, and as time went by, my mental capabilities did increase some.Luckily, the Sarcoid did not begin affecting my brain until about 6 years ago (that we know for sure). >Yours and mine are permanent. Fortunately for many who come here with >cognitive >deficits and OSA, they have a fighting chance to recover.
Sorry yours is permanent too…that bites..but hey, what can we do but adapt as best we can..and it sounds like we are both doing ok at that. >I was prescribed neurobehavior management by my >neuropsychiatrist/psychopharmacologist. It was administered by a PhD >neuropsychologist. She was of immense help in developing coping strategies.
I went through about 6 weeks of cognitive therapy, but since I had been working so hard to hide my losses for so long by the time I got help, I had already taught myself a good deal of what they wanted to teach me..and more. I see a wonderful counselor every 2 weeks, she is great at helping me problem solve when I hit a challenge. I’ve got coping skills and strategies, but even so, some days I just plain hit a brick wall. I have days that I cannot figure out simple things like how to get dressed…the sequence eludes me..do the shoes or socks go on first..oh wait, the jeans won’t go over the shoes..aah, good, finished..oh wait..there are my undies still laying on the bed..gotta start over! Regards, Sandy
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -OhMrsJohnson1 wrote: > >The biggest complaint from those with TBI is that after they had physical > >healing and the scars became less obvious, everyone, including friends and > >relatives, thought everything should be OK. > Exactly…once my other injuries from the llama attack healed, everyone > considered me ‘all better’..which as you well know wasn’t the case. No one > knew how I struggled just to get the basic things done at home, let alone at > work. When I returned to work, I found myself putting in 16 hr days at first > to compensate for my shortcomings. In my position, I could not allow it to be > known how incapable I was, so I did everything I could to cover..and was very > successful at doing so. I was finally given another admin asst which helped > immensely, and as time went by, my mental capabilities did increase > some.Luckily, the Sarcoid did not begin affecting my brain until about 6 years > ago (that we know for sure). > >Yours and mine are permanent. Fortunately for many who come here with > >cognitive > >deficits and OSA, they have a fighting chance to recover. > Sorry yours is permanent too…that bites..but hey, what can we do but adapt as > best we can..and it sounds like we are both doing ok at that. > >I was prescribed neurobehavior management by my > >neuropsychiatrist/psychopharmacologist. It was administered by a PhD > >neuropsychologist. She was of immense help in developing coping strategies. > I went through about 6 weeks of cognitive therapy, but since I had been working > so hard to hide my losses for so long by the time I got help, I had already > taught myself a good deal of what they wanted to teach me..and more. I see a > wonderful counselor every 2 weeks, she is great at helping me problem solve > when I hit a challenge. I’ve got coping skills and strategies, but even so, > some days I just plain hit a brick wall. I have days that I cannot figure out > simple things like how to get dressed…the sequence eludes me..do the shoes or > socks go on first..oh wait, the jeans won’t go over the shoes..aah, good, > finished..oh wait..there are my undies still laying on the bed..gotta start > over! > Regards, > Sandy
Yup. Exactly. We could play "Can You Top This", but I’d just rather move on. And, from what I know of you, at this point, I think you would also.
Response:
>Yup. Exactly. We could play "Can You Top This", but I’d just rather move >on. >And, from what I know of you, at this point, I think you would also
Definitely…besides…that game is just way too taxing! Regards, Sandy in Seattle
Response:
OhMrsJohnson1 wrote: > Exactly…once my other injuries from the llama attack healed, everyone > considered me ‘all better’..which as you well know wasn’t the case. No
Sandy…… what a sequence of terrible events. I’ve never thought llamas were aggressive. I’ve never seen one but thought they were the darlings of South American mountain climbers and lonely gauchos. <g> Where did you run into the psycho one? Regards Lee in Toronto ———–== Posted via Newsfeed.Com – Uncensored Usenet News ==———- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–= Over 100,000 Newsgroups – Unlimited Fast Downloads – 19 Servers =—–
Response:
> I’ve never thought >llamas were aggressive. I’ve never seen one but thought they were the >darlings of South American mountain climbers and lonely gauchos. <g> >Where did you run into the psycho one?
Unfortunately, psycho llama was mine! Llamas raised in herds compete with each other for superiority and not with humans. I had bought an old farmhouse on a couple acres and it came with a llama and a sheep, both very sociable. The sheep had been raised by school children and thought he was a dog, lol. It was very peaceful, just the livestock and my dogs and cats and I. At first the llama was fine, but the more time I spent with him, the pushier he got. then one day I was going to pen him up so some friends kids could play in the stream, and he decided to prove to me that he was top llama over me….well, he most definitely won! He beat the crap out of me in front of 15 witnesses, none of whom could believe what they were watching… so they stood rooted right where they were instead of calling 911 or trying to help me by stopping him (I’m not sure they could have). Anyway, yes they make wonderful pack animals, and can be very docile for that purpose…and are most often kept in at least pairs. Regards, Sandy in Seattle
