My daughter sparked a discussion a couple of days ago about CPAP machines. She had walked into the teacher’s lounge of the school of which she is employed to discover about everyone she works with has one of these devices. And, I recently discovered that about 25% of my social circle has one. Jane has one hooked up to an oxygen machine but she rarely uses it. Hence, the overly loud snoring I regularly hear around the house and down to my room. Apparently her smoking has reduced her ability to oxygenate to 75% during sleep. For those of you with a non-medical background, this number is very bad. You should oxygenate at 95-100%.
A few years ago my doctor sent me in for a sleep study. Because I worked nights at the time, the technologist had to change his shift around and thought it was okay to continually remind me (while he was connecting all the wires and leads) that he was losing sleep today because of me. Now the study really did not tell me anything that I didn’t already know. My brain never shuts down and that I needed to start meditating. But, I didn’t need a CPAP machine.
I became inquisitive over the years and kept an ear to the ground on the topic. In 2009, Brett Favre was on the cover of Sports Illustrated sporting his CPAP mask. In reflection, I had some friends who initially discussed their machines in general conversation about 10 years ago. I think they wanted to identify themselves as the first, and/or the bravest, to institue this relatively new therapy into their lives. One of my friends in California recently had to start sleeping with one. He initially felt the need to list off celebrities that have a machine, among others, he thought Gene Simmons. For some reason, I got the feeling he assumed I was going to pick an argument. But it was no big deal to me. I liked the cool breeze on my face that seeped out from around his mask. It helped with the hot flashes I now get from drinking certain alcoholic beverages.
I use to be a subscriber of the philosophy………….”I’ll sleep when I’m dead” first coined by Warren Zevon. But you have to applaud Bon Jovi for turning the phrase into a song. When I die, I will be reincarnated into a cat. And we all know how much good snoozing these wonderful creatures obtain in their day. But you know what, for now, I want my eight hours of sleep every single day; luxurious, glorious, substantial, beautiful sleep.
The reason these thoughts are coming together today; the other two in the house slept their lives away yesterday. Now this really isn’t uncommon for a weekend. But, yesterday it was humorous. Jane set the pattern, Helen mimicked. I on the other hand had things to do. I went out and spent the morning with a friend over a cup of coffee, came home to make a casserole, watched a Tyler Perry movie, spent several hours exploring the local Meijer store. The local Meijer store is such a treat, an unexpected treat. They have the unusual cooking items I find at pricier stores, far cheaper. And, they have some seriously beautiful fruits and veges. The aisles are wider and it’s not dirty/grubby like the local Wal-Mart.
Supposedly, once we hit 65, adults can expect to have more sleep problems. (Another reason to get a solid 8 hours now.) I remember this to be true of my Grandmother. She would be up and down at all hours of the day and night but she still had a pattern to it all.
I have always liked the saying by Robert Frost,
“The woods are lovely, dark , and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Adventures with Jane and Helen 