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Hi all!
Did you know that March is "Sleep Awareness Month" and that March 8th is National Sleep Awareness Day?
And how do I know this little tidbit of info? My doctor has been named the director of a group of sleep labs in the state of Arizona and has asked ME to be his official spokesperson on sleep disorders and the effectiveness of CPAP therapy! When I met with him for a follow-up appointment earlier this month he told me that he considered my response to CPAP therapy to be nothing less than miraculous and he wanted me to be his spokesperson, if I agreed of course. I really felt quite humbled and honored both at the same time. I agreed because I would like to help others realize that a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is NOT the end of the world; that there is help!
In 1997 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I vowed that if I could help just one person through the devastation that is "C" and give them hope than that was what I was going to do. Two years after my treatment ended I became part of a unique vocal group completely conprised of breast cancer survivors, the first in the USA, to record music of hope and inspiration. We did concerts and were featured on several Arizona TV news shows. We even sang the National Anthem for the Phoenix Coyotes Hockey team and for the Phoenix Mercury WNBA! Now I have the chance to bring sleep awareness into the public eye.
Last week I was interviewed by a company in Seattle, WA who is handling the publicity for the Sleep Awareness campaign for the State of Arizona and the press release is being sent out March 1, 2007. The publicity director is hoping that the Arizona news and print media will pick up on the story and interview me for a feature on living with obstructive sleep apnea.
I just wanted to let you know that this tribe has helped me learn to live with OSA and CPAP and now I hope to be able to give back to the community at large what you have given to me.
With much love and gratitude,
Leah
Did you know that March is "Sleep Awareness Month" and that March 8th is National Sleep Awareness Day?
And how do I know this little tidbit of info? My doctor has been named the director of a group of sleep labs in the state of Arizona and has asked ME to be his official spokesperson on sleep disorders and the effectiveness of CPAP therapy! When I met with him for a follow-up appointment earlier this month he told me that he considered my response to CPAP therapy to be nothing less than miraculous and he wanted me to be his spokesperson, if I agreed of course. I really felt quite humbled and honored both at the same time. I agreed because I would like to help others realize that a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is NOT the end of the world; that there is help!
In 1997 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I vowed that if I could help just one person through the devastation that is "C" and give them hope than that was what I was going to do. Two years after my treatment ended I became part of a unique vocal group completely conprised of breast cancer survivors, the first in the USA, to record music of hope and inspiration. We did concerts and were featured on several Arizona TV news shows. We even sang the National Anthem for the Phoenix Coyotes Hockey team and for the Phoenix Mercury WNBA! Now I have the chance to bring sleep awareness into the public eye.
Last week I was interviewed by a company in Seattle, WA who is handling the publicity for the Sleep Awareness campaign for the State of Arizona and the press release is being sent out March 1, 2007. The publicity director is hoping that the Arizona news and print media will pick up on the story and interview me for a feature on living with obstructive sleep apnea.
I just wanted to let you know that this tribe has helped me learn to live with OSA and CPAP and now I hope to be able to give back to the community at large what you have given to me.
With much love and gratitude,
Leah
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Phoenix
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Tue, February 27, 2007 - 9:01 PMWoo hoo, you GO, Leah!!!!!
I am sitting here jazzed as heck about this news (I hope I'll be able to sleep now!!!)!! Make sure you mention about going camping, too. I am sure lots of people will be interested in that.
Leah, you make me proud. I'm so happy our paths crossed here. YOU RULE!!!
D.
P.S. Clearly, your doctor has EXCELLENT taste! Oh, and tell us what this all entails! Woo hoo!!!!
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Tue, February 27, 2007 - 9:54 PMI concur...WOO HOO! WOO HOO! You deserve something so affirming after the crazy and taxing year you just had. Phew!
MC -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 8:06 AMThanks MC & Darla!!
Of course I'll mention the camping! The publicity person was stunned that I'd go to such long (and expensive) lengths to ensure I could continue doing what I enjoy!
I do hope we can have some kind of article or something; but you know how the media can be. Unless it's something scandalous, its usually ignored. I suppose I can be scandalous; but you wouldn't be proud of me ;).
A representative from the home health care team came to my house last week with a new mask, headgear and hose for my CPAP. When he saw that I had used more than 2300 hours logged over 251 days (never missing a one) with my CPAP he concluded that he didn't need to "train me" on CPAP use! I think he was in shock! He did however, give me two new filters for the CPAP and show me where I needed to change them. Apparantly, the man who came to my house originally with my machine not only neglected to tell me about the need to change the filters, to give me filters, or to show me how. No wonder the quality of my air was smelling a little funny when I used my CPAP. That filter was filthy beyond belief! I live in Arizona! I went camping in the desert dust TWICE with my CPAP. The dust of the ages was accumulated on that little filter. LOL
Well, time for breakfast and a cuppa.
I'll let you know if I'm the next Arizona Media Darling, or at least the "Flavor of the Month" for March! With or without media support, I spread the word that OSA is livable.
Love,
Leah -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 8:16 AMCool, Leah.
I just had a great idea for fundraising for OSA! Let's do a calendar...people with OSA in provacative poses...sorta like Calender Girls. I nominate Leah - she's already a public figure itching for a scandal!!!!
Out of modesty (and sympathy for the public) I must decline to use my picture, but I would be happy to organize the thing....
And yeah, I'm kidding!
D. -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 9:03 AMDarla..I love your humor...
you are always good for a great big smile..
...................thx alot!
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 9:03 AMI alllllllllllllssssssssssooooooooooo...give you a whoooooohoooooooooooo way to go woman~
think I would like a synopsis of that camping trip though..where'd ya get the electricty?
or you brought a longggggggg extension cord...laffin..wow
I am still struggling with my dry mouth..
though I think we are moving in a good direction..it may have been my meds..that were partially responsible.. so the doc is easing me off the trazadone..and we are starting a whole new direction for my fibro..and I have great hopes..
if I can get this cpap down.. like making it thru the night..without wakin up choking with my mouth glued together..
and with the new meds..lets hope..some painfree days are in my future
Leah..cannot wait to hear the continued info on this exciting new journey..you are undertaking..
sending you a big hug..and a smile.... -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 10:37 AMI love you guys!!!! The humor this group has is outstanding!!!!
I did bring a LLLOOONNNGGG extension cord, 100 ft! In reality, I brought a battery back-up system consisting of a Lifeline battery, charger, and inverter/converter. Once charged, the battery will run my CPAP with humidifier for 2 nights. One of my friends that I was camping with brought a small generator and every other day I would hook up my battery to the charger and use the extension cord to power the charger to the generator. That way, the charger and battery could remain inside my tent and the generator stood just outside of it. In an interesting side-note, I found out that large temperature fluctuations affect the usability of the battery. It could be quite warm inside my tent during the day but at night it got down to the low 30's. One night it was 27 degrees and yes, I froze my gazorkies off!! I also found out that I shouldn't keep my battery directly on the ground in my tent because that also drains the power. Midway through my camping experience I found a nice piece of flat wood to put my battery on and keep it off the "ground".
I am SO thankful for my friend's generator because without it I would have had to leave site with my battery and drive to my daughter's house to recharge it and then pick it up at night. Yes, it could have been done, but it would have been a pain in the a$$. My friend's generator cost him $700 and I was the only one to use it this trip! I don't think he used it for himself at all! He brought it strictly for me. This is a small generator and is fairly quiet though it is noisier than its "silent" rating; louder than a car engine and needed to be run when people were not sleeping. If he decides to upgrade his generator I have mentioned to him I'd be interested in buying this one off of him.
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 11:48 AMwoman you are ...more dedicated than me..
think I am a slacker..
maybe once I get this ballgame rollin in full tilt..and I actually feel better
.............I too will gain momentummmm~ -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 2:04 PMHeron,
You are NOT a slacker!!! I don't want to hear you beating yourself up about it, OK? Just because adjusting to CPAP was not an issue for me, I am fully aware that my case is highly unusual. People I've talked to have either had a rough time adjusting or a long time adjusting or simply couldn't adjust at all, for whatever reasons. One of my closest friends has OSA and simply refuses to use her machine. My aunt could never adjust to it and doesn't use hers either. You are NOT one of these. You are trying. You are working on it. And little by little, YOU WILL WIN.
I have faith in you.
Leah -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:10 PMall i want to say is....
HUGZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ to both of you..
you filled me with such emotion..and support...
thaanxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx so much... I am honestly trying.. its my mouth that is resisting..though you will be surprised I made it most of the night last night..with only a few ..wake ups to try to SWALLOWWWWWWWW
..................and laffin ...yup.. MC..you are now officially on the watch list..!
you know what they say about those golferssssssssss!
ahhhhh..hope your having fun... and have your buds around you..laffin.. that is probubly the best part~
hugzzz to both.. and honestly ..thanx for the support..and ...Leah..you are the CPAP...Diva!
shhhhhhhhhh..don't read thiis part..Leah!
ps...MC..we could have a really BIG TOXIC BON FIRE>>WITH BOTH OF OUR MACHINES!
shhhhhhhhhh..don't read that part..Leah!
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 2:25 PMI agree...You are NOT A SLACKER. Some things, unfortunately, only work out with time. Not to make a flippant analogy here but...I surprisingly started to play golf recently. If you know me, you should be equally surprised and a bit suspicious of me now. Heh heh. Anyway...Its a frustratign game because in the end, there is no fast track to getting better at it. The same was true of my own BiPap saga. I still want to rip it off and create a toxic campfire with it regularly. I still don't invest enough time/resource into taking care of my machine which suggests to me I have not fully accepted my lot with it yet.
People here know your suffering. Hang in there, Heron.
MC -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:07 PMHeron, dear,
What THEY said. Leah and mc are right. Just because you are having some issues doesn't mean that it will always be this way. What I see in you is your determination to keep at it, and I really admire that. If I hadn't had a pretty good adjustment, I would have said "Oh FEATHERS!!!" (or something like that ; ) ) and quit. You are not a quitter and you've totally proven it to us.
Golf? Oh, mc. You've sold out. I once made a 79. I told my brother this who is a golf freak (LIVES - literally - on a golf course - 8th hole), and there was this serious pause (I am not athletic at all) and finally he goes "You were at the Golden Tee!!" which is a miniature golf course. I had a great time messing with him, though!
So, Heron, you have a small, but hardy, cheerleading section. We should have a convention! Wouldn't that be fun?!!!
TTYL, blessings,
Darla -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:11 PMDarl...and what I posted was for you too..
thx so much..
think we were typing at the same time...snchronicity!
hey next MC is going to tell us..he is goin bowling!
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:13 PMHeron wrote: "hey next MC is going to tell us..he is goin bowling! "
He's TOTALLY on his own with that.
(tee hee)
D. -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:19 PMhey but bowling can be fun..
I need little balls though..the big ones are wayyyyyyyyyyy..to heavy for me..
haven't gone bowling in 20 years..but a funny bowling story is..
my friends use to have a bowling team..and they would invite me to bowl..if
as a fillin..
well i was so bad..
they finally decided..they would just invite me to the end of the year banquet...laffin...
so we could party...
we still laff about it... -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:30 PMThat's hella funny.
Like I said, I am not athletic in the least (anymore, anyway).
And I am all for the party.
Convention, anyone?!!!
D. -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:38 PM -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:52 PMI now realize my admitting to succumbing to the golf virus was premature and the world was not ready for me. So, I've had no choice but to change my tribe name.
I am no longer MC. I am "The Artist Formerly Known as MC" (heh heh).
MC -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:53 PMthat gave me a belly laff
do you have a symbol..for a name now..? -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 7:07 PMsweet dreams folks..
time for the east coaster..to go up and get that heater fired up..so my mist can be nice and warm..
night night~ -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 8:58 PMO Artist mc,
We all have things that are hard to live down. Your secret is safe with us...
...unless we are contacted by the Enquirer with BIG BUCKS. Then it all comes out, buddy.
D. -
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Thu, March 1, 2007 - 7:52 AMMy hubby's a golfer! Lives for golf. Loves golf. MC, you too????? I'm surrounded. I can't escape. I'm drowning, drowning! NOOOO...I'm being pelted with golf balls; hundreds of golf balls...and the pile's getting BIGGER!!!!!
WAKE UP LEAH!!!!
The nightmare is over. I can see clearly now. The sky is blue and the grass is green...Green...GREENS...GOLF GREENS!!!!! Aarrrggghhh!
Ya dun me in, MC!
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Re: Sleep Awareness Month
Wed, March 7, 2007 - 8:55 AMI had no idea March is Sleep Awareness Month. Maybe this is because you have to get some sleep to be aware of it lol? Congrats on being asked to be the spokesperson for sleep disorders and CPAP therapy! From all I am reading in these recent threads, you are the perfect person to be doing it!
karyl (carol spelled by a young mom)
