For a lot of people struggling with illness there is a lot of inconvenience as well as pain involved and I know from my point of view that my combination of arthritis, high blood pressure, heart problems and sleep apnoea can at times be a real nuisance.
It is the sleep apnoea that is most problematical though because I now need to wear a mask connected to an electric pump to keep my airways open at night to avoid oxygen starvation to my heart, lungs and brain. At home it is bad enough but when we go away it is even more difficult. The machine needs to be by the side of the bed to allow the extending tube to reach from the machine to the mask and to be able to fit on to my face and create a good seal. In most modern hotels you will find that there are plug sockets either on or by the bedside table which is always convenient but some of the older hotels you find that the nearest plug is too far away and then it is a matter of running extension leads across the room to make the connection.
That is fine if you can get an extension lead from the hotel reception but if for some reason they do not have one or cannot find one for you then it can be a real stressful night, so much so that we always carry an extension lead in the car now having been caught out on a couple of occasions. Whilst perhaps one night without the machine may not actually do any lasting harm I know that the difference I feel the following day when I do not use my Bi-pap (as it is known) machine is really noticeable I am unable to concentrate and normally am drowsy all the time and drop off to sleep at anytime even in conversations ( though a lot of friends tell me they can’t tell the difference!). More though of course this can be dangerous and is why I am not allowed to drive anymore!
I am very fortunate that I can still enjoy so much in life and whilst my arthritic joints are getting worse and more painful as time goes by the inconvenience caused by my sleep apnoea is far worse.
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