Cigna still drags their feet, yet again

July 24, 2008 – 1:21 pm
Yesterday I received a copy of a letter my attorney sent to Cigna again requesting the reason that my appeal for Long Term Disability was denied. I am entitled to this information by law and for Cigna to not include or later provide this information is another example of “slow walking”. The longer they can drag it out, less likely they will have to pay a dollar. Let us not forget, I paid for this insurance. I paid for it to protect my family and myself in case I ever got sick. Now that I am, I am entitled to the services I paid for. I am sure their goal is for me to simply go away via, frustration, bank bankruptcy or death. How sad is it that in this country where our Government is allowing businesses to handle the responsible of government and that these businesses sole desire is profit ...

Posted in Cigna, Journal | 1 Comment »

Trouble Sleeping

July 17, 2008 – 4:17 pm
Over the past six months or so, I have begun having trouble falling asleep at night despite being exhausted all the time. During the day, I can falling asleep within 5 minutes of watching TV, but when it is time to go to bed, I toss and turn all night long. I cannot believe that I have developed insomnia on top of everything else. I know a lot of it has to do with stress and how to pay the bills without my income coming it is a big part of that stress. I had my fifth visit with the Mayo Clinic this past Monday. I also saw their sleep specialist. I explained to him that I was having troubles going to bed at a reasonable hour: that I felt like I was turning into more of a night owl then normal. One of his recommendations was to start taking 3mg of ...

Posted in Journal | 1 Comment »

Wedding and sleep apnea

July 13, 2008 – 2:40 pm
So, yesterday, I had to attend my nephew’s wedding. My wife and I care deeply for him and we only want the best for him and his new bride. However, if I had to describe the wedding using a movie title, I would have called it “My big fat white trailer trash wedding”. Most of our family and friends I would not call white trailer trash; however, I cannot say that for the bride’s side of the family. It really does not matter, but as I watched the people, I could not help but wonder what life will now bring him. My nephew is an extremely talented drummer who we all thought would be soon be launched into stardom. He was signed to an underground industrial alternative punk band that was contracted with a major label to produce their first CD. Several major musicians had been producing their CD. Sadly, the ...

Posted in Journal | No Comments »

Update - Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System

July 11, 2008 – 1:23 pm
OK, I cannot say enough about the Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System. It now has been six months since I have been using mine and I don’t believe there is a better cpap / bipap mask out there. To quote my first report on this mask; what a simple pleasure it is to be able to inch your nose or have a drink of water without having to take off the mask in the middle of the night…ah, the simple things. I have been reading and posting on other blog sites. The most common complaint for not using the cpap / bipap is the mask. Most people feel claustrophobic or restrained by their mask. The Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System is less invasive then other mask. It is smaller and covers less of the face. Also, it does not impair or block your vision. You can easily read a ...

Posted in Journal | 1 Comment »

Sorry folks for my absents

July 10, 2008 – 9:52 pm
Yes, it has been awhile. I could give you all a sob story about how tough things were, but I won’t insult your intelligence. Life got in the way and things I felt that were more important took precedence. Lee

Posted in Journal | 1 Comment »

Cigna, those evil bastards

July 10, 2008 – 9:48 pm
A short time ago my wife and I watched a story on Good Morning America about Cigna denying benefit claims for those on short-term and long-term disability. As I watched this story, I was humbled by the number of people who are gravely ill and, yet Cigna still feels that profit over decency is acceptable. I am also humbled by the fact that I, too, have been denied by Cigna. My condition, though not as well known as cancer or heart disease, is directly life threatening – the silent killer sleep apnea, which if left untreated, can lead to heat attacks, major organ failure, sleep deprivation and strokes. Yet, the fact that its seriousness is lesser known does not make my case any less compelling. I have a family that I need to help support, and I want to spend a full life with them. Also, I paid for these ...

Posted in Cigna, Journal | 1 Comment »

Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System

February 11, 2008 – 6:01 pm
I have been on the Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System for over a week now. I really like this mask over the others that I have used. I have gotten use to the pressure going straight into my nose. Also, I cannot say it enough; what a simple pleasure it is to be able to inch your nose or have a drink of water without having to take off the mask in the middle of the night...ah, the simple things. I feel like I am getting a better night’s sleep. I am not waking up to the noise made from my old mask or having to readjust it because it is leaking into my eye. The day time sleepiness has yet to go away, but I have high hopes. A couple of days ago, I slept through out the night without waking up once…well, I don’t remember waking up at ...

Posted in Journal | 3 Comments »

Today I am switching my mask

January 29, 2008 – 12:36 am
I saw my doctor today and I decided it was time for me to try a new mask. I was using the Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask. When I first got my bipap, it came with just the nasal mask. I would wake up with air rushing out my mouth; so I moved over to the full face mask to stop it. It worked out great, but the short coming was the simple things like scratching your nose or dealing with a little hair blowing away inside the mask tickling your nose. My new mask is the Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillows Mask. It is just two little nose plugs attach to the hose. I may have to use a chin guard to keep my mouth closed, but hoping that it will give me a little more freedom. See below for photos.

Posted in Journal | 1 Comment »

OK, I am going to give to give the Didgeridoo a try.

January 27, 2008 – 1:47 am
As I was going through my Google Alerts, I came across a couple of interesting articles. Basically, they state playing a didgeridoo can help reduce snoring and improve your Sleep Apnea. I have a couple of friends and family members living in Australia, so I am going to try to score the real thing, but Amazon does sell them. I will keep you all posted on my progress playing the didgeridoo. What better excuse to try something new? The didgeridoo (or didjeridu) is a wind instrument of the Indigenous Australians of northern Australia. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as an aerophone.  A didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical in shape and can measure anywhere from 1.2 and 3 metres in length with most instruments measuring around 1.2 metres. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch or key of the ...

Posted in Journal | 1 Comment »

Don’t always take your Doctor’s word: listen to your body. Do your research.

January 25, 2008 – 9:43 pm
Now that is easier said then done. Doctors are supposed to know what is wrong with you and they should know how to treat you. I have had sleep apnea for quite sometime, I have learned a few things about it and I recognize mistakes that have been made. In February of 1995, for the first time in my life my body failed me. I was an active big and strong guy. I had a high threshold of pain and I toughed things out. I attacked life this way with everything I did. When I blow out my L3 & L4 disks in my lower back, I treated it the same way. I toughed it out. One of my closes and best of friends came into town and despite that my back hurt like hell to stand, walk and even to sit. I still went clubbing with him. Most likely that ...

Posted in Journal | 2 Comments »