Don't know about your area where you live but here people are coming down with the Flu bug almost daily and as reported on TV and all of these people had proof of getting their Flu shots! So I hope that turkey soup made you better in feelings at least so maybe it won't last too long!!

Supposedly the Flu season has started early for unknown reasons!!

No one want to be down sick especially with the Flu and a care giver too!!

Thanks Fred, feels good to know I'm not the only one, and that not getting the shot wasn't a big deal. The nurse at my doctor's office yesterday told me she didn't get it either. Ray isn't being really compassionate about it, but then I go upstairs and take a nap and he's glad to see me again in awhile.

The soup is helping and also the Szechuan Chinese food leftovers we got New Years Eve. If I make it through, I'll know I'm pretty healthy overall I guess.

Sting: I am glad you are feeling better. I am just getting past the height of it I hope. Started Tuesday night. I did get the shot and while the body aches are pretty bad, the respiratory part of it is better. And I smoke. But yes, sleeping and fluids are what works best. Bruce makes me tea - LOL. A co-worker has been checking in on us, which is very nice - running errands, bringing in food.

Anyway sounds like you and Ray are in for a marathon. Get the tests done that Ray is comfortable with, then you can consider the overnight EEG and Sleep Apnea test. But please do read up on the sleep apnea and the BiPap or CPap that they use for it. Col, this is not just oxygen by a mask. It is a pressurized oxygen delivery system that forces the lungs to expand and contract. Just delivering oxygen to the lungs does not help if the lung system does not absorb and deliver the oxygen to the body and that is the "apnea" part. Yes, it is a bear to wear the mask and get used to it. There are some here who have experience with it and hopefully will chime in.

In the meantime, please keep a good journal and please share so we can follow along with you. This is one of the most in-depth studies I personally have heard about and it will be very interesting to share with you.

I often wonder too when Docs who should know better start with the rapid questioning. They must realize that stroke victims sometimes need time to process. It is not that they don't know, just have trouble forming the words and getting them out. Bruce has to do his Psych-Neuro again this spring and I am dreading it. Last time I had his Speech Therapist re-give it and if I am unhappy this time, I will call her. But I have a good feeling that you won't have any of those difficulties with this Specialist.

Your work is definitely cut out for you through the rest of the winter and spring. Do push for the therapy. Bruce's Physiatrist is next month for the Botox and with the new year, I am hoping she too orders up some therapy. Good weekend. Debbie

Lauren was diagnosed with dementia when he had an eval by a neuropsychiatrist. He wasn't able to do most of the testing so it was only minimally helpful but that word is in the conclusions. It didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. I have downloaded the book to my Kindle. It might provide some helpful information.

Lauren also has severe sleep apnea. His is called complex central sleep apnea and is life-threatening because of the long pauses he has in his breathing. I think he had sleep apnea for quite some time prior to his stroke but it became much worse after. The sleep specialist we see for this condition came to a stroke support group we attend and he opened my eyes to how serious this condition can be. Sleep apnea is thought to be a cause of both heart attacks and strokes. Lauren had a heart attack 2 years before his stroke and the stroke was caused by a clot that formed in his heart. I just wonder if this condition contributed to the original heart attack. Lauren has a BiPap which provides a higher level of pressure that kicks in when he stops breathing and forces a breath. The doctor said it's almost like a ventilator but outside the body. We started with a mask that covered his nose and mouth. He kept pulling that thing off in the night causing me no sleep most of the night. We moved to a nasal piece that just goes inside his nostrils and is a soft pillow. He has tolerated that much better. The machines have become much quieter than they used to be. The nasal piece still gets dislodged sometimes and causes noise until it is repositioned. To me, it is a must that he wear it. He definitely sleeps better with it and the sleep is more restful. But, most importantly, he breathes. I have heard of many people who sleep so much better with it that they are happy to adjust to the initial discomfort because they feel so much better in the daytime. A good number never adjust. Still, I think if they are recommending it, it would be a good idea to go through the testing. That way you'd know what you are dealing with.

We had the sleep apnea test done in a hospital setting but it was in a unit separate from the main hospital. The bed was very much like a hotel bed and the room did have a TV. They set the test up for when you sleep, though, so once the actual testing was started the TV was off for bedtime. I could have stayed with him but chose not to do that. He was fine without me and I needed my sleep, which I was certain would not happen there.

I will be interested in hearing about the ongoing process too. Sounds quite involved.

Hope you are on the mend. That flu bug seems to be a bad one this year. ~~Donna

Hi Colleen. It sounds like you have found a good specialist. He seems to be thorough in checking everything out and not just a "pill pusher". I have not taken Larry to a pyschiatrist. He has seen just about every other kind of doctor and therapist though. His internist usually keeps on top of what specialist Larry needs to see. Right now he sees 4 doctors and two dentists on a regular basis. We have 3 of those coming up in the next 2 months.

As for the sleep apnea, Larry has been through it all. Two sleep over tests, two different sleep masks, numerous calls and visits from the sleep therapists and nuero, and he still could not adjust to wearing the thing. He has severe sleep apnea, but I don't think these experts know how hard it is for a stroke survivor to adjust to this. It is bad enough to only have the use of one hand/arm, plus have to get up to pee 2-3 times a night! Hopefully you will have better luck. I know it can be lifesaving.

Julie

Thanks Julie, for your side of the story. So many people have told me how they couldn't stay with the mask, and with Ray being "the princess and the pea" that he is, he will be sure to resist. I'll just put it on the bottom of the list but will get it done, due to Debbie's input.

Just picked up The 36 Hour Day and I am blown away. Every page I flip to has the most pertinent information on every subject a caregiver faces, it is amazing. I have a lot of reading ahead!