I had just said yesterday in a blog that I wouldn't mind if the media came on to tell me that Michael Jackson had been murdered, I just thought it was shameful that they were dishing out dirt right after his death while his family and especially his kids were grieving.  Then tonight while I had the TV on, I wasn't really watching, just chatting with friends on the computer and the TV was on, I...

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Hey all,      I had some new "Spots" show up yesterday.  As usual they popped up in several different places at a time.  I have a small cyst on my left ear, a bubble in my left earlobe, a good sized spot in my nose and a possible spot in my finger.  This morning there is a possible new small spot on my eyebrow.  Plus I have the tooth infection that I have taken 2 rounds...

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Hey all,      I didn't agree with all of Ted Kennedy's political views, actually I disagree with quite a few of them, however I was watching TV today, and the news media is just low down and dirty!  I know there were news stories in Ted Kennedy's career that were unpleasent, the guy was human!  Who hasn't made a mistake in their life, would you want it on National TV for everyone to judge, I...

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Hey all,      I am a sleep tech so I have limited knowledge on blood clots and broken blood vessels and things of that nature.  I was hoping someone here could tell me if this should be concerning or not.  As most of you know I had a blood clot in my leg a few months ago, the doctors were initially concerned they said because I had a history of Sinus Tach.  They ended up...

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     Hi all, I have talked with a few of you about you or someone you love getting a sleep study, I thought tonight I’d tell you what to expect if you’re getting it done.  More than likely you will get a questionnaire from the sleep lab in the mail prior to your sleep study.  When filling out the form be as specific as you can as every question helps us (the Tech doing you’re...

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Hey all, Thomas E asked what we monitor in a sleep study, so I am putting the information in a blog for him, and anyone else who is interested.      Tonight I thought I'd let you know what we monitor in a sleep study.  We apply an electrode just to the outer side of each eye, these allow us to see your eye movements, we can tell when the eyes are open closed, reading and...

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     I spent another day in bed today.  Ugh!  I have been having some heart palpatations and chest pain again last night and this morning, it's better now, but it's scary no matter how many times it happens. I've had all the heart testing, the Cardiologist actually said he would trade hearts with me, it looks good, it just for some reason it will beat too fast sometimes (Sinus Tach). I am so worn out,...

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Hey all, how do I take it easy for my health and still live my life like I need to?  I wish there was an easy formula for finding balance, fullfilling my responcibilities as a wife and mother, and getting the rest I need to stay Lupus Flare Free.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Hey Barb and all,      I had a busy day, I took my 2 kids to their first day of school...

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Hey all,      I know a lot of people don't really understand Auto Immune disorders, or the people who have them.  There are times that if I feel fine and look fine and people believe there is nothing wrong with me, and that is great!  Unfortunately though there are times when I get a Lupus flare and I can't function.  I haven't had a bad flare for a long time, and I was enjoying my...

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Ok, I know the picture is scary, but my kids felt this was too wild not to post.  I went to the eye doctor the other day, I've had my eyes dialated before, but never like this, I couldn't see anything, and the kids said I looked like an alien.  Out of curiosity does anyone know why my eyes were so much more dialated then they ever have been before?

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Hey all,       This is a good night Email from the vault, I was going to write an origional one on sleep deprivation, but this one cracked me up, so I thought I'd post it here.  This Good Night Email was from Jan. 29, 2009.       Hi, I'm not going to bed yet, but I've been trying to get this out by 8 pm for those of you who wimp out early. :0)  Sorry I'm late again...

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Hey all,      Those of you that are fearful of spiders will understand.  A few hours ago I felt something tickling my neck, well I did get my hair all chopped off so I thought it was my hair and brushed my hand across my neck, no biggie.  My daughter Rachel came over to the back of the couch where I was sitting and we were laughing about the Virtual Road Trip blog, when I...

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Hey all,       I know you are getting sick of hearing from me, I've been a bit down and you all seem to lift my spirits.  I mentioned to my doctor several months ago I've been having a lot of muscle spasms.  Now I know everyone has a muscle that twitches now and then, normally you would look at the muscle and say "Cool" and it's no big deal right.  Well I noticed I started having a...

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Hey all,      Just for fun back in January after meeting really great friends on this site, some of the girls here said I should start giving a sleep tip every night.  I did that faithfully for a couple of months.  It evolved from a line or two in the beginning to very elaborate information later.  It always started with a "hello" followed by a sleep tip and ending with my "Sleep Tech's Orders"  LOL...

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Hey all,      We have all made some great friends on this site!  For those of you who don't know, yesterday Pinkers told Yvonne and I to come on over to her house in Southern California for a trip to the beach!  Yvonne and I thought it was a great Idea and decided since I had the new van I should leave Oklahoma City, swing by Utah and grab Yvonne and we'd head off listning...

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Heather Elizabeth I hope these help.   Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep Go to bed and get up at the same time every day -This is especially important if you have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep.  Going to bed and getting up the same time everyday regulates your Circadian Rhythm (your body's internal clock)  Your body releases melatonin to help you fall asleep at your desired bedtime, and the Melatonin levels decrease during the...

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Hey all,        I was chatting with a friend about being depressed (My friend is Yvonne, LOL) I told her how I seem to be more depressed when my Lupus is flaring.  She asked me if Lupus caused depression, and I told her I thought that my depression came from the helpless, hopeless feeling of being sick and unable to live the way you want to live.  I have been to therapy for...

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Hey all,      I just got back from the eye doctor today.  I told him about the family history of Fuch's and that I had been on Plaquenil and about the eye pain, blurriness, and severe extreme sensitivity to light.  They did an eye test, my eyes are still better than perfect, they did a color test, I passed, they did a Glaucoma test, that I guess was fine.  She dialated my eyes (I still...

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Hey all,      I had written a blog a while ago asking for your help and suggestions for things to do with my 17 year old daughter while she was here this summer.  You all gave me great suggestions and we had a very busy 4 weeks.  I think she had a good time and I wanted to thank you all for all the help and support.  We did go to Florida, in fact we...

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Hey all,      Last night on David Letterman he had Regis on the show.  Regis said he had recently had a sleep study and was diagnosed with severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  He said he has been on CPAP to treat the problem for a couple of weeks now and is feeling great.  I am so glad to hear that Regis discovered this problem and is treating it so his quality of life will improve and he...

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