thank you liliwings!

integrity is shown when no one is looking

I found a bottle of saline I bought when someone else recommended it as cheaper than nasal sprays I'd been prescribed.  Did it 3 times yesterday and I can tell it made a difference.  Tonight I'll start using the cpap again.  Thank you for motivating me to take care of myself better.

<3
With Love.......

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Kriann-
 
I feel very glad that you are motivated; that is what friends are for. I am going to the store to buy myself some saline spray tomorrow! ;)  Even if I dont wind up on cpap, my sinuses bother me and I forget to use it. So we remind each other here.
 
Love ya,
Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Definitely, Karebear, we can work on remembering the saline spray together.  :)
 
Love to you!

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well, I got the news today that I do indeed have sleep apnea and that I need to repeat the sleep study, this time with a cpap mask and machine, on Wednesday night. I will let you know how it goes when I get online Thursday.
 
thanks friends.
 
love ya all, Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Dear Karen,
Wishing you well on Wednesday night.
 
Jude

Love is the only way

Hi Karen,
 
May you know my prayers are with you...
 
Peace, Love and Joy
Diane

Grateful to be here!
What a gift and connection builder!
Love and Gratitude,
Love who You Are

Dear Karen,
 
Keeping you in my prayers, especially for Wednesday night!
 
Love,
Edda

Peace and joy!

thank you ladies...my anxiety is starting to creep up about all this, but deep down I know I will feel better in the long run. its just a matter of getting used to it.
 
thanks for the prayers and well wishes. I really appreciate them.
 
Love Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

(((hugs and prayers, Karen)))

with love....

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Dearest Karen, why would we not be here for you as you are here for us if we need you. (You have especially been for me) I think you know more about me than I do myself now!  Just kidding. I am glad that the sleep study is over for you. I hope that the doctor will come to a resonable solution for you as I know that it bothers you you aren't getting enough sleep. Please take care and you know my number if you need to chat day or night. You have been such support for me. Especially the last couple of months. I do hope that the doctors can help you get more rest! Please dojn't worry about Rob. He willl come around. I think like some of the others said that he is worried in his own way. You know how men can be!!! We have had talks about this before! They think so differently from us women!! Anyway, take care and I'm sure we will talk soon on the phone. I am sorry that I missed you the other day! It has been kind of crazy here. (AS you know that that is my life ha ha) Love Always, Joya

well, I had the sleep study done with the apnea cpap machine. It was difficult in some ways because of my anxiety over breathing with it and I forgot my best anxiety medicine that night. Overall it was not as bad as I feared and the results came back from the first test that I have severe sleep apnea so I really need to try this treatment. I am going to need a period of adjustment but I have high hopes that it wont be too long before I can relax about it and not feel nervous while using it. They did not have to put me on the full mouth and nose mask, the nasal one did enough good so I am relieved about that. At least they did not put me on that mask that night.
 
I really value and hold dear all your prayers and warm support. it means so much to me to know people care!
 
thanks again and again....
 
With Love and friendship,
KareBear

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Dear Karen . . .
I am glad that you are getting the treatment that you need,
and am sure that once you are getting enough rest
your mental state will improve as well.
Sleep deprivation
can change our perceptions dramatically.
The period of adjustment will be well worth it.
Blessings to you,
and Happy Sleeping
with love . . .
sparrow

everything counts... ♥

thank you dear Sparrow and I agree with  you completely,. My doctor also said anxiety worsens with sleep apnea too. so I look forward to a possible lessening of that monster also.
 
Love ya lots,
Your friend,
karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

I want to admit and ask for help with something. I am a smoker and need and truly want to quit. Maybe I should have started a new thread for this issue, but Here I am asking for prayers and help on this topic. Please lift me up and keep me in your thoughts for this big challenge. It is so bad for me to smoke with all my other issues, plus knowing the terrible health effects smoking can and does cause in people. I would appreciate any pms people want to send and any supportive advice people can give. thanks in advance.

Love Your friend,
Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Dear Karen,
 
I am glad that your sleep studies are over and that you will be able to benefit from the therapy. AT first it may be difficult but you will get used to it if you stay with it!
 
I gladly pray with and for you to support you in giving up smoking. We used to have a candle group to support those who were struggling with this. I'll restart the group  NOSMO and light a candle for you. Sparrow and others are working on giving up smoking for good. They might join us in lighting candles there.
 
Much love,
Edda

Peace and joy!

Dear Karen,
You have my support to stop smoking. I will light a candle in the group Edda suggests. You may even find it helps the sleep apnea.
Love, Jude

Love is the only way

Dear Karen . . .
As a recent and 'multiple-attempts' NOSMO,
I can affirm that it is one of those things that is simple (just don't smoke)
but not at all easy . . .
I stopped smoking on 7 January,
but the urge is not completely gone,
and may never be.
As recently as today
I had to stop and pay attention
when something inside of me whispered
that no one would know
if I bought a pack and just smoked one.
But you know, I would know.
Whenever you feel the urge,
try and acknowledge that that is what you feel,
and then let the thought slide away--
over and over and over again.
 
I light a candle for your desire to quit
with love . . .
sparrow

everything counts... ♥

Karen, I'm glad that you got your results back on your sleep apnea test. I am also glad to hear that you will not have to wear the whole mask on your face. Please know that we are all here for you and that we are all cheering you on the quit smoking. My hubby has smoked for years and I wished that he would quit. I have heard it is a very hard thing to quit. Much love to you Karen.

Karen,
I have read through many posts.  First i am glad that you do not have to contend with the full mask at night.  Thats great.
 
I was a smoker.  I stopped when I went in the hospital for surgery.  I knew full well that when I had the surgery  it would the the end of cigarette smoking for me.  The way I got through it was to keep reminding myself that I am on a spiritual journey of healing.  And this is the next step.  There were no other options than to break this intense addiction as my next step of healing.  It took a long while. But I have been free of any urges for quite a long time.  So sparrow, you will be free of the urges.  It just takes time. I will tell you what an osteopath told me, it takes more than a year to really be free of the urges. For me the urges almost knocked me over when they came.  But its all in the past now.  I no longer even smoke in my dreams !!!
 
For me, I knew that I had to do this as part of my spiritual healing.  I left myself no choice. I do not know if this helps. I will tell you that in many cities there are good hypnotists who deal with this issue. Also EFT practitioners deal with it.  So I am not sure it has to be as difficult as it was for me.  I did it the hard way.  no help.  I did use the patch for two weeks.  If you decide to do that and it makes you nausiated, please cut the patch in half.  I was on post op medication  so I could not use a whole patch.
 
I am sending you very best wishes for good nights sleep and smoke free days.  I am going to light a candle for sparrow and you in the nosmo group that Edda started,  Love and light and angels, liliwings

No need to spend endless hours, days, weeks searching for the rainbow.  Open your heart and your eyes to see and know you are the rainbow you seek.  Rejoyce in the beauty of the co-creation of you.

you are dealing with so much right now.  you have a lot on your plate.  i would think it might be better to wait a few weeks to battle the smoking.  they say its not good to try to quit at a time when a lot of other stuff is going on.  you have the cpap machine to get used to and i would give yourself time to get through the adjustment with that and then try.

you are prayerfully in my heart.

with love.....

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Dear Liliwings, thanks for the uplifting and inspiring post! I am going to take it easy as I need to adjust to the machine. I get it next Wed and I am both looking forward to it and nervous about it. Thanks for your supportiveness and encouragement too. I appreciate it all. :)
 
Love Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

dear kriann,
 
it is interesting what you write as I already made that difficult decision. I decided I will definitely quit but that one or two a day will help calm my nerves until I get used the machine. Not as an excuse, but its hard to make many adjustments at one time. I am eating better and exercising 3 times a week, so I am trying. I will quit the cigs when the timing is right. I hope for May 1st as my quit date. Thanks for the advice; I am taking it!
 
To all- thanks for the caring and sorry I dont get on this much lately. I have been super busy with life; you know how that goes. I love the warmth I feel here with all you dear friends. thank you ever so much for your caring.
 
Love to all,
karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Dear Karen, I, too have not been on the forum much lately and for some reason this thread caught my eye. I have a very close friend who has
been on the cpap for the past 5 years. It took five attempts with different masks before he found one that he was completely comfortable with. There are lots and lots of them out there so don't give up. He always would also get severe sinus infections that would eventually end up in pneumonia. The nurse practitioner in his ENT's office suggested that he use something called Neil-Med sinus rinse. It is a very fine, measured mixture of baking soda and salt. Initially he was told to start with two packets of the Regular and then switched to the Hypertonic packets and used only 1 twice a day. Once the infections were gone, he only uses it once a day in the morning now. I have recommended it to many friends who work in high risk situations for getting colds and have been amazed at their positive comments about it. It is over the counter but some stores don't carry the Hypertonic but will order it for you. Since my friend has been using it, he has not had pneumonia or even a cold. Neil-Med has a web page and also lists where you can buy their products. They are very reasonably priced. Good luck on the cpap. I am sure since there are so many different styles that there is a mask that you will find comfortable for you. Prayers go out to you for success with it.

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Dear Karen . . .
I am happy to hear that you are adjusting to all of this.
It is quite a 'lump', I know.
As I see Betty has said, there are many options,
so you are sure, with patience,
to find one that is most comfortable for you.
 
When you are ready to quit smoking
you will.
Don't give up.
As a multiple-times quitter
I can tell you that it sometimes takes more than one try.
I have heard that the more times you attempt to quit,
the more likely you are to succeed.
I once quit for a year and nine months,
so at almost 3 months (I think I miscalculated on anther post) smoke free (at this point),
I do not take my 'success' for granted.
It can be either easier or harder to quit in the midst of other changes . . .
easier because it can sort of blend in with all the changes,
or harder because the stress level is often higher with change.
Whatever you do Karen,
don't judge yourself
but listen to your body
and be patient with yourself
with love . . .
sparrow

everything counts... ♥

Dear Imenuff and Sparrow,
 
thanks for the uplifting and encouraging replies . I will remember your excellent advice and information in case I need it Imenuff. And sparrow, your encouragement means alot to me as well.
 
To all-
 I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Having a strong spiritual belief, whatever kind it may be, can really help a person have hope, dont you think?
 
I made a joke and laughed at it this morning and it was so good to feel that rush of happiness and pleasure. I will probably watch a comedy soon so I can feel it again!
 
I decided to take it easy getting used to the machine, even if I only make it a few hours each night for a few days. i  might gradually increase my time with it if I am not successful at going all night at first. that relieves pressure I was feeling about how I am going to do it. I will still feel successful no matter how little I do it at first!
 
thanks for all the candles and concerns. They really help lift my spirits alot. The depression over the machine is lifting. I actually feel more grateful for the treatment and hopeful that it will help my health alot more than the negative feelings now.
 
I know your prayers and warm thoughts have helped with that!
 
I hope you all have a good weekend.
 
I love you,
Karen

integrity is shown when no one is looking

Karen, thinking of you as WEdnesday is nearing. Just do like you said and tak it easy. If you need me, you know that I am here. love ALways, Joya I will light  candle for you.

Dearest Karen,
 
No doubt having a strong spiritual belief will see you through these trying times .
 
Keep telling the jokes as the more relaxed you are the easier it will be to face your fears.
 
Each small step is a huge one really...
 
Take care Karen,Sandraxx
 
 

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love~and be loved in return♥♥