hey sting :

that's perfect you can celebrate ray's second anniversary with your friends, even though it is sad occasion, but if you think about it, it is also great day to celebrate Ray is still here, and even with his disabilities you both can still enjoy life together, what more one would want from life. I started celebrating my stroke anniversary as our valentine's date from second year onwards, & once I started celebrating my anniversary I don't dread it anymore.

Asha

Sounds like things are coming together for you guys! Hope all goes well with his tests and he doesn't have to wear one of those cpap machines! My mom is suppose to wear one but she doesn't half the time cause she hates the mask! Oh well she is 77 so i guess she is her own best judge of what she needs to do! LOL! Moms are always right, Right?

All my neighbors seem to have been prescribed the apnea machines and after a week or less of use, relegated them to the basement. I do worry though, since before the stroke he had a couple of really bad apnea episodes in the middle of the night, so I guess at two years now it's a good time to review everything and be done with it. I dream of a doctor visit where they just say "see you next year!"

Sting, that is great that he can do the sleep test at home. I think that was one of the problems with Larry's sleep test. Who can sleep in those hospital beds anyway! I hope you can get him some help with that.

Things seem to be going your way.

Julie

Sting, I'm with you on the dream of a doctor visit that doesn't require repeated follow-ups. We have 8 specialists we see (for Lauren only) so every month has several doctor visits in it. Crazy-making! That's wonderful that they can do the tests at home. I'm curious about the sleep apnea one, though. Is there someone there all night with him that monitors the test? For Lauren, they made adjustments through the night. Oh well, I think it will be much better in your situation with Ray to have it done at home.

It does sound like you have found a perfect way to spend a day on the second anniversary of Ray's stroke. A wonderful dinner with friends will be a joy! ~~Donna

That would be weird if someone stayed all night, our doctor said they just set up and come back the next day. We have an appt at the office with the doctor in charge before they do it, so I guess he'll give me the lowdown. Maybe they can do it by remote control?

Our sleep therapist came in a few times to adjust the mask, etc. as they are watching the monitor. The first therapist tried to kick us out at 5 a.m. The second time they seemed to let us stay longer to monitor everything. Let us know how it goes.

Julie

I will definitely report how it goes, but it won't be for a month or so I guess.

I hope he doesn't have to wear the mask. Bob used to snort and carry on, but stopped when he lost weight. Of course, getting a stroke survivor to lose weight may not be as easy as when you haven't had one.

I'm so glad to hear you are having a day out on the 2nd anniversary. Bob's first will come next month, and it will not be one of those sad days for me, but a victory day, of having made it another year, when fate had planned against us!

Colleen: good news. It is nice that the studies can be done in your own home. He does need them, but so much easier on both of you.

I love that the anniversary will be celebrated with friend. That was a nice "accident". It will be nice to concentrate on the positive, the now.

Thank you again for letting us share this journey. Debbie