My doctor's office is really on the ball this week.
I've been having episodes of what could be sleep apnea and I thought it would be prudent to be diagnosed, if in fact that's what's happening.
John has been telling me that he thinks I'm often waking myself up with my "gurgling and snorting" -- one of the markers of apnea.
I've been trying to train myself to sleep on my back since I can't lie on either side for any length of time. Figured I might get more sleep if I didn't have to wake up to roll over every two and a half hours. Besides, I'm going to have to sleep on my back following the hip replacement surgery, so I may as well get used to it.
Last week, I woke several times during the night with the sensation that my tongue was rolling back into my throat, interfering with my breathing. Another indicator of apnea.
Anyway, I sent my doctor a fax request on Monday, outlining my concerns and asking that he refer me to a sleep specialist on a priority basis since I figured we might want to clarify this before we proceed with surgery plans.
Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the West Ottawa Sleep Centre. They had a referral from my doctor. Now that's fast response!
Could I come in at 8:30pm? They had a cancellation and my referral was marked urgent so I was first in line for it. If I didn't take that opening, there was one later in March. I accepted the short-notice one because I want to get this done.
John wasn't here at the time and I hopped into the shower to get ready as my mind raced with preparation plans.
And then it dawned on me.
We had a winter storm warning in effect. If it materialized, we would likely be snowed in for a good part of today. There was no way John would want to drive me into the big city for 8:30pm, getting him back home at 9:30pm, only to have to leave home again at 5:30am to come back to get me for 6:30am. (I can't drive in the dark so my taking myself to the city for 8:30pm was out of the question.)
I immediately called the Sleep Centre back to apologetically cancel, but naturally I got voice mail and had to leave a message.
When George called me back he was none too congenial about my having cancelled because of threatened snow. He asked if I wanted to book in September, when we could be sure there wouldn't be a storm.
Now I know he doesn't realize that I live a 45-minute drive away, in the boonies, where snow and ice is a major concern for driving conditions. While I want to have this matter clarified, I'm really not interested in killing myself to get the diagnosis.
I now have an appointment to spend the night at the Sleep Centre on April 13th -- the day after I see the orthopaedic surgeon to discuss my hip replacement surgery, and the day before I see my doctor again. That's going to be a busy medical week for me.
I'm thinking I might call George again today -- in light of the fact that we are probably snowed in, just as I feared -- to explain what wasn't said yesterday about where I live, and to ask about that March 19th opening that he had previously mentioned. If it's still an option, I would prefer to have the diagnosis of apnea (or have it ruled out) before I see the surgeon in April.
In the meantime, today is massage day and I have no idea if I'll be able to get out of here to get that very much needed therapy. *Sigh*
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