Notes from a Sleeping Brain

My brain feels as if it is asleep. Perhaps it is and I am dreaming this post. If it is a dream, I hope that I remember some of what I'm writing because I want to really post it.

With all that I read and heard about the medical insurance industry (remember: I've been licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a life and medical insurance agent--one of the least productive ideas I have had) I did not realize until today that the insurance industry is exempt from United States antitrust laws.

That is absurd! Considering the greedy and avaricious nature of the insurance industry, why should they be exempt from anti-trust oversight.

Last Sunday (January 3rd) my baby-sister, Deborah Ann Temple Bennett, turned 60 years old!

Last night (Monday night) my C-PAP breathing mask broke. I am quite happy that my brain was not asleep when it broke; otherwise I would have gotten no sleep at all. After realizing that the plastic thingie that holds the straps that enable the top of the mask to cover my face as well as guiding the oxygen hose into the mask couldn't be repaired (even with Super Glue), my brain kicked into advanced problem solving mode.

Somewhere amid all of the data stored in my mind I found a memory of the last time I was hospitalized. I was provided a C-PAP mask even though the technician who was supposed to bring a hospital C-PAP machine to my room did show up until as I getting ready to be discharged. She told me that the mask was mine; so I brought it home and stuck it somewhere.

If you read my post about my filing skills, you'll remember that I have none. For me, out of sight is out of mind. Soooooooo, where did I ut that mask?

Surprisingly I found the mask almost immediately. It is a type of mask that I have never used before: a mask that covers both nose and mouth. (I'm used to a nose only mask). It took me a while to figure out and make the strap adjustments, after which I did get some quality sleep even though the mask leaked some air.

The air leaks came from the mask not being made to accomodate my long hair and beard. If I want to continue using this mask, I'll have to cut my hair and greatly reduce my beard. I think that I shall use this mask doe only as long as it takes me to save the copay for a nose-only mask.

One last note before my brain really demands to shut down and rest.

It is COLD here! Therefore, Alex has returned to the habit he had when he was a kitten and adolescent cat of sleeping beside me and, at times, suckling my fingers. Those OK. I relish cuddling with my furball! And, his body is warm!

I Learned A Lesson in Health Care Costs

Long time readers of Nick’s Bytes may remember that in October of 2005 my CPAP died. There followed a living hell for me—i.e., no sleep—until, with the gracious help of others, I could afford to replace the machine. Since then, the new CPAP has worked extremely well.

Of course, things do wear out. What primarily wears out with a CPAP is the mask. I’ve been told that the mask needs to be replaced yearly. I’m not sure if that is true, because the mask I obtained with the new machine in 2005 has worked well until recently. Now it is beginning to leak air from the flexible part of it that molds itself around my nose and mouth. This has been happening for a month or two and I was really hoping to get a new mask from the Veterans Administration.

However, as with any bureaucracy, the VA moves very, very slow. For example, on September 1 a referral was made by the VA emergency room to the orthopedic clinic to deal with my still swollen leg. After numerous telephone calls in which I pushed a lot of buttons but never spoke to a human, I learned yesterday that the appointment is not set until September 17^th.

Now, I told you that to tell you this. Tuesday, after a VA clinic appointment dealing with another health issue and a visit with a clergy colleague whose church is located next to the VA clinic, I was driving home when I (thankfully) remembered that Alex was almost out of his favorite cat food. I took a short detour to Wal-Mart, where the Furball’s choice of cuisine is less expensive than anywhere else.

This was a super-dooper Wal-Mart that sold everything imaginable, including the kitchen sink. At the front of the store, across from the cash registers, were several small shops: a bank, a beauty parlor, and a medical supply shop. As I walked by the latter I notice a display of CPAP masks. A vision of sleeping without constantly awakening to readjust my leaking mask entered by mind. So, I entered the shop and ask the clerk about the masks.

The clerk was on the telephone and she told me to walk over to the display and, if I found what I wanted, to bring it back to her counter. On the display I was pleased to find a mask exactly like the one I own. It was even made by the same company and was the same size as mine. What was especially please was that this type of mask is the simplest made, the best made, and the least expensive. In my sixteen years of using a CPAP, I have tried the complex, expensive type masks and found them all to be CPAP CRAP.

Therefore I took the mask from the display and walked to the countered, waited for the clerk to finish her personal phone call, and, smiling, said, “I’ll take this one.” The clerk responded by asking for my medical prescription and I told her I had no prescription with me but I had one for a CPAP and I didn’t want to purchase the whole machine, just a replacement mask.

CLERK: “Well, I can sell it to you but I can’t bill your medical insurance without a prescription.”

Since my current mask, which I purchased from an online company in 2005 only cost $65.00, I told he that I would pay cash. And I would have—until she told me that the mask cost $147.50 plus tax!

What gives? How can a product I can by online cost over two times as much from a traditional store? Why do people pay that amount? Does no one shop around for the best price?

I rather suspect the answer to those rhetorical questions is in the words of the shop clerk: “bill your medical insurance.” As long as insurance is paying the bill, why should people shop around!

That’s what’s behind this article. I believe that it is third party payments of medical expenses that are increasing the costs for everyone. And I really don’t know what the answer is.

Regarding the replacement CPAP mask: yesterday I went online and ordered the exact same mask and brand for $42.00, including shipping. That’s $23.00 less than I paid for the same mask in 2005 and $105.00 less that she medical supplies shop is charging. The difference, of course, is that the online store does not accept third-party (insurance) payment.

Fellow Bloggers: September 27 is quickly approaching

DETAILS

Wednesday Mishmash & a Bawdy Song

So much has been happening so fast that I have a dozen posts mushing up my brain. To unmush my brain, I'm putting some mishmash here!

Mom's Birthday

My mother was 87-yesrs-old on March 1st. She is doing remarkably well. We talk at least once a day and I look forward to Spring when I hope to drive the 85 miles to visit her.

CPAP Mask

As I have previously written, I cannot sleep wearing my current CPAP mask. I obtained this one the last time I was hospitalized and never used it because I had a working mask. When that mask broke, I began using the full-face one from the hospital. There is something about coverning my nose and mouth that disturbs me. I do fall asleep, but within less than an hour I awaken in a panicked state and must immediately shed the mask. I gotta get that new mask!

Meals on Wheels

I'm also working on getting Meals on Wheels. My mother explained how easy it was for her to praticipate in the program in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Here is Louisville the program is much larger. And, guess what I have again learned? The bigger the community means a bigger program with a larger bureacracy and (many) more hoops through one must jump.

Have I Shared this Photo?

Sometimes I brush Alex's coat while we cuddle; sometimes, as above, Alex combs my beard with his claws.

Coffee House

I enjoyed creating last Wednesday's Coffee House; however, putting together such a post is  is quite a jib. So there isn't a coffee house today. Perhaps there will be one next Wednesday.

In the meantime remember to check out the Song in My Mind Today on the sidebar...

and enjoy the song embedded below (WARNING: Bawdy Song):

Mandy Lane ~ Chad Mitchell Trio

And remember:

Mark Twain

Tuesday Mixed Bag

WTF Computer Woes

I have spent hours and hours since Saturday trying to get my computer to work! The above error message is just one of three that keep appearing, preventing programs from operating. It has made inoperable all of the programs that I use to play music and two of the programs that allow me to watch videos and DVDs as well as two of my graphic editing programs.

I am stymied! I have searched the Internet over and over for a way to fix whatever is wrong. I have searched for the two .dlls that seem to be corrupted or missing. I have purchased and downloaded to programs that advertise they can fix the problem by cleaning and optimizing the computers registry. They don’t!

I may have to take this relatively new computer back to the Geek Squad dudes and let them work on it. If I do—which means I’ll not be posting while I am without a computer—I shall write a post letting you know what’s going on. Unless, of course, the WTF error migrates to my browsers!

The Book Review Is Coming!

A week or so ago I agreed to review Stephen Mansfield’s new book, The Faith of Barack Obama, for the Thomas Nelson publishing company. It’s a brilliant book—I’ve read it twice in preparation for writing the review—and I highly recommend it.

I fully expected to have completed the review and posted here to Nick’s Bytes last Sunday. However, with all that has been happening, I’ve not finished the final draft!

In case you happen to be from the Thomas Nelson Company wondering where the review is, please be advised:

Alex and the Clutter

Alex’s favorite napping spot, at least when I am at my desk, is on my desk beside the computer and beneath my high intensity desk lamp. With all of the muddle of stuff I’ve been doing recently, the piles of things on my desk have been growing larger and larger.

Now, before you criticize me for the mess, please understand me: I have the kind of personality that requires the stuff I’m working on to be where I can see and touch it. Otherwise, I forget that it exists! Therefore, I have mountains of stuff all over the place. OK?

Back to Alex. Since the mass of papers and such has been growing as I become involved in more and more projects, when Alex leaps on my desk—usually landing on my cordless keyboard and adding gobblygook to anything I may be writing—I have to pick the furball up and cuddle him in my right arm as I use my left hand to clear a spot for him to catnap.

Strangely, Alex doesn’t seem to mind!

Breathing Update

Since the early 1990s I have been sleeping with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. It was initially prescribed because I was diagnosed with having sleep apnea. Since I have been a lunger in need of oxygen 24-hours-a day, the CPAP, which I have attached to my Oxygen Concentrator, is even more important than treating sleep apnea: the combination allows me to sleep and, more importantly, not to stop breathing while I am sleeping.

Several months ago I replaced the mask of the CPAP—something that I should supposedly do every six to nines months (but haven’t). I have been purchasing the masks from an Internet provider, which saves me about 60% of what I would pay a health equipment store.

That mask—which is pictured below)—was a new, diminutive style that covered much less of my face and was advertised as allowing the wearer more freedom. The only problem was: the damned thing kept sliding off my face while I slept!

Below is my new CPAP mask that arrived yesterday. There is more to it than the one I was using, besides which (surprisingly) it is much more comfortable than the abbreviated mask—and it does not slide off my face while I’m sleeping.

A Fabulous Commercial:

Sprite Love - The funniest movie is here. Find it

Oxygen

I am still without a CPAP; I have spent most of the past two days searching for either company to repair mine or for a replacement. The former seems impossible to find here in Louisville. For several years I dealt with a company for the repair of my previous CPAP and purchasing replacement breathing masks, which are not only expensive but tend to break at the points where the actual mask is connected to the straps that hold in on to one’s face. Unfortunately, that company seems to have disappeared: it is no longer located where it was and there is no listing for it in the telephone book. There was also not listings for CPAP repair. The medical supply companies I contacted regarding the repair of my machine were less than helpful.

Thus, I have searched the Internet for a replacement CPAP. Generally, a CPAP such as the one I now own would retail for about $600.00+. However, I located a smaller machine for about half that price that claims to be just as good and comes with a breathing mask, which one must purchase separately with many CPAPs. That cheaper CPAP sounds good to me!

The next problem is that I must have a physician’s prescription showing the machine setting in order to purchase one anywhere. When I learned that this morning, I telephoned my primary physician only to learn that he is on vacation until Monday. Can I hold out until Monday?

As part of the CPAP system that I was originally prescribed about fifteen or so years ago, was an oxygen generator. This was designed to pass oxygen into a small tank containing water, over which the air created by the CPAP would pass, picking up the oxygen and moisture before the air entered the breathing mask. I have not used the oxygen generator since the first year or so that I had a CPAP. However, I still owned it and, in the middle of last night, I got out of bed, found the generator, and hauled and pushed its 50-odd-pounds over my bed to where I could set it up and use it. Thankfully, I was able to locate enough tubing that was sent home with me from those times I have been hospitalized with pneumonia to run the oxygen from the generator to my nose.

Breathing the oxygen doesn’t replace my need for a CPAP. However, I am hoping that it may help my blood oxygen level not drop to as low as it did when I had the sleep apnea tests at the sleep clinic prior to being prescribed the CPAP. And I think I may have slept a bit last night—not much, but at least a little!

My thanks to all who left comments, prayers, and blessings to my last post.

Too Bad It's Monday Jokes, Humor & KATZ

10 Top Reasons You Know You Are Too Old to Go Trick or Treating

10. You get winded from knocking on the door. 

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you. 

8. You ask for high fiber candy only. 

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over. 

6. People say, "What a scary mask!" but you're not wearing a mask!

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or..." and can't remember the rest. 

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders. 

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece. 

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker. 

1. You avoid going to houses where your ex-wives live. 

Two Alabama State Troopers were chasing a Camaro East on I-20 toward Georgia. When the suspect crossed the Georgia line, the first Trooper pulled over quickly.

The rookie Trooper pulled in behind him and said, "Hey, sarge, why did you stop?"

The sarge replied, "He's in Georgia now. They're an hour ahead of us, so we'll never catch him."

There was a haunted house on the outskirts of the town which was avoided by all the townsfolk - the ghost which `lived' there was feared by all.

However, an enterprising journalist decided to get the scoop of the day by photographing the fearsome phantom. When he entered the house, armed with only his camera, the ghost descended upon him, clanking chains et al. 

He told the ghost "I mean no harm - I just want your photograph". 

The ghost was quite happy at this chance to make the headlines - he posed for a number of ghostly shots.

The happy journalist rushed back to his dark room, and began developing the photos. Unfortunately, they turned out to be black and underexposed.

So what's the moral of the story?

The spirit was willing but the flash was weak.

Psychiatrist: What's your problem?

Patient: I think I'm a chicken.

Psychiatrist: How long has this been going on?

Patient: Ever since I was an egg!

A man went to visit a friend and was amazed to find him playing chess with his dog. He watched the game in astonishment for a while. 

"I can hardly believe my eyes!" he exclaimed. "That's the smartest dog I've ever seen."

"Nah, he's not so smart," the friend replied. "I've beaten him three games out of five."

Recently, the Psychic Hotline and Psychic Friends Network have launched hotlines for frogs. Here is the story of one frog and his discussing with his psychic.

A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and is told, "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you."

The frog says, "This is great! Will I meet her at a party, or what?"

"No," says the psychic. "Next semester in her biology class."

The three bears had been having some trouble recently and had ended up in family court. Mama and Papa bear were splitting up, and baby bear had to decide who he was going to live with. 

So, the judge wanted to talk to baby bear to see what he thought about living with either of his parents. When he asked baby bear about living with his father, baby bear said "No, I can't live with Papa bear, he beats me terribly." 

"OK," said the judge, "then you want to live with your mother, right?" 

"No way!" replied baby bear, "She beats me worse than Papa bear does." 

The judge was a bit confused by this, and didn't quite know what to do. "Well, you have to live with someone, so is there any relatives you would like to stay with?" asked the judge. 

"Yes," answered baby bear, "my aunt Bertha bear who lives in Chicago." 

"You're sure she will treat you well and won't beat you?" asked the judge. 

"Oh definitely," said baby bear, "the Chicago Bears don't beat anybody." 

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb? 

Border Collie: Just one. Then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code. 

Rottweiler: Make me! 

Lab: Oh, me, me! Pleeease let me change the light bulb! Can I? Huh? Huh? 

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp! 

Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy. 

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls. 

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares? 

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark. 

Mastiff: Screw it yourself! I'm not afraid of the dark... 

Doberman: While it's out, I'll just take a nap on the couch. 

Boxer: Who needs light? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark. 

Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there! 

Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb? 

Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle... 

Old English Sheep dog: Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb? 

Basset Hound: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... 

Westie: Dogs do not change light bulbs -- people change light bulbs. I am not one of THEM so the question is, how long before I can expect my light again? 

Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry. 

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out bulb? 

KATZ