Way back last Summer 2020, I was enrolled in some video group stupidity with the VA.
I told the Social Worker for that group how I often took naps in the afternoon, quarantine, boredom etc...
She asked if I'd ever done a "Sleep Study" to see if I had Sleep Apnea.
I had not. She said, and I quote:
"Well I'd be willing to bet you do, just by looking at your neck" (I was nearly 20 lbs heavier last summer than now in this photo)
So they sent me a "Home Sleep Study" kit. A Oximeter adhesive thing for my left index finger, which connected to a bracelet on my left wrist, which was connected to a sticky probe on my chest.
The device on my wrist was connected to an app on my phone.
I almost couldn't get to sleep with all that on me.
Message came back at first "The results were inconclusive, we need you to come in to do a sleep over here in the clinic"
I replied
NO THANKS, I almost couldn't get to sleep with these things on me IN MY OWN BED, there is no possible way I could sleep in an unfamiliar room with beeps and probes
almost immediately their message came in that the FIRST message about it being inconclusive was in error, I'd had 24 "incidents per hour" where my O虏 dropped to 83%, so they would be sending me a cpap machine and a variety of masks to try.
but they sent me the machine and 4 masks to start. I had to figure out how to don the masks, what settings to use for the DAMNED machine etc...
NONE of them would stay sealed, and more masks were sent to me.
The one pictured above fits the best, gives me the quietest seal (when the seal is broken there is a VERY obnoxious blowing noise, no way I can sleep)
So last Monday I was supposed to have a VIDEO connect with the person in the clinic and I had intended to SHOW her what was wrong with that mask (it barely covers my lower lip, let me twitch my nose or anything and the seal is lost)
But she called. No video "I'm sorry Mr Smith, but I find I am in a conference room with no camera"
So I TOLD her all about this mask.
She said she would send me one a step larger, and something about a cloth hood that would keep the plastic from touching my face (after a few hours I sweat where I am in contact with the mask, it slides around and... we you know)
So the package came today.
I sent this message to them right away:
My friends, I am so sick of this dance with you all.
When I saw Ms Lacey that ONE TIME face to face, I showed her this mask you've just sent me, (we tossed it) I SAID there was NO WAY I could sleep with something pressing against my forehead.
In our last phone convo, which WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A VIDEO, I explained that the one I had been using (attached photo with me wearing it) WORKED, except that it barely reached below my bottom lip, and after a few hours where the mask and my face come in contact would sweat, the mask would slide and the seal was broken.
So today, I get a BRAND NEW MASK like the one we tossed in the trash that day.
I will NOT HAVE SOMETHING COMPRESSING MY ENTIRE HEAD.
Now please tell me how or where I can return this package today? I only opened the box, not the bag with the mask.
The box also contained a new hose, a new water tank.
I have never used the water tank, it has never HAD WATER IN IT.
WHY are you continuing to waste the Taxpayers money this way?
I DON'T WANT ALL THIS STUFF, never did in the first place.
they called me today, the guy asked me for the number and size of the mask that DID work, I looked and it was a medium, so he is sending me a large, and explained about the cloth thing, it isn't a mask or hood, it is a piece of cloth that sits on the mask and prevents the plastic from contacting your skin.
I still wonder how you can get a good seal with cloth there, because air can pass through the cloth.
We shall see
by
Jerry E Smith
漏06/30/2021
All images original, except for the meme.
Self Portrait from about 1978
