A few months ago, I was in agony.  I was having terrible arthritic pain.  No one could give me answers.  It took a few months of waiting, and a couple of phone calls, but I FINALLY got in for my sleep test.  I found ou that the source of my problems had been because I have what they consider severe sleep apnea.  After talking to some folks that have it - it doesn't seem THAT severe to me.  Anyhoo, I have been on my CPAP for a month now, and I am doing great.  My therapist says the results have been remarkable.  I have switched to a nasal pillow - WHICH IS AWESOME!!!  I hated my nasal mask, and the full face mask did nothing for me.  But the candula KICKS BUTT!  I have gotten to the point where I don't even really notice it at night anymore.  Sometimes I wake up thinking it isn't on!  LOL!  And for those experiencing severe nasal driness, I recommend Rhinaris gel.  It cleared up my nasal driness ina bout 3 days, and it hasn't come back!
I feel a lot better too, but, I still find that I am catching every flu big that comes by.  I guess it will take a few months for my immune system to build back up.  Has anyone else had this problem?  
Also...because I missed quite a bit of time due to illness (related to my SA), my employer has moved me from salary to hourly wage.  They said "we can revisit it in January, but for now, we think it is best".  I am pretty much being penalized for having a disability.  Needless to say, being on the CPAP has at least given me the drive to look for a new job.

Hey...don't know if this will help but check into the disability laws...you may have a leg to stand on....or in this case a PAP to stand on.

Suzeq64 wrote:

A few months ago, I was in agony.  I was having terrible arthritic pain.  No one could give me answers.  It took a few months of waiting, and a couple of phone calls, but I FINALLY got in for my sleep test.  I found ou that the source of my problems had been because I have what they consider severe sleep apnea.  After talking to some folks that have it - it doesn't seem THAT severe to me.  Anyhoo, I have been on my CPAP for a month now, and I am doing great.  My therapist says the results have been remarkable.  I have switched to a nasal pillow - WHICH IS AWESOME!!!  I hated my nasal mask, and the full face mask did nothing for me.  But the candula KICKS BUTT!  I have gotten to the point where I don't even really notice it at night anymore.  Sometimes I wake up thinking it isn't on!  LOL!  And for those experiencing severe nasal driness, I recommend Rhinaris gel.  It cleared up my nasal driness ina bout 3 days, and it hasn't come back!
I feel a lot better too, but, I still find that I am catching every flu big that comes by.  I guess it will take a few months for my immune system to build back up.  Has anyone else had this problem?  
Also...because I missed quite a bit of time due to illness (related to my SA), my employer has moved me from salary to hourly wage.  They said "we can revisit it in January, but for now, we think it is best".  I am pretty much being penalized for having a disability.  Needless to say, being on the CPAP has at least given me the drive to look for a new job.

Glad you are doing well - but, sleep apnea itself is a disorder, not a disability.  Problems that come along after are often disabling.  Just clarifying.


_________________
From the land of ahhhzzzz...

starbird wrote:

Suzeq64 wrote:

A few months ago, I was in agony.  I was having terrible arthritic pain.  No one could give me answers.  It took a few months of waiting, and a couple of phone calls, but I FINALLY got in for my sleep test.  I found ou that the source of my problems had been because I have what they consider severe sleep apnea.  After talking to some folks that have it - it doesn't seem THAT severe to me.  Anyhoo, I have been on my CPAP for a month now, and I am doing great.  My therapist says the results have been remarkable.  I have switched to a nasal pillow - WHICH IS AWESOME!!!  I hated my nasal mask, and the full face mask did nothing for me.  But the candula KICKS BUTT!  I have gotten to the point where I don't even really notice it at night anymore.  Sometimes I wake up thinking it isn't on!  LOL!  And for those experiencing severe nasal driness, I recommend Rhinaris gel.  It cleared up my nasal driness ina bout 3 days, and it hasn't come back!
I feel a lot better too, but, I still find that I am catching every flu big that comes by.  I guess it will take a few months for my immune system to build back up.  Has anyone else had this problem?  
Also...because I missed quite a bit of time due to illness (related to my SA), my employer has moved me from salary to hourly wage.  They said "we can revisit it in January, but for now, we think it is best".  I am pretty much being penalized for having a disability.  Needless to say, being on the CPAP has at least given me the drive to look for a new job.

Glad you are doing well - but, sleep apnea itself is a disorder, not a disability.  Problems that come along after are often disabling.  Just clarifying.

AND, if your boss changed you to hourly pay, did they also change your duties to those of someone who does not fit the Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines for exempt status?  If not, then you probably have a right to complain to your local Wage and Hour office.


_________________
From the land of ahhhzzzz...

It often takes adjustments to get the PAP system working comfortably. You deserve credit for all the changes that you tried. You tried three types of masks (nasal, full face, and nasal pillows) to find one that works for you, and you tried a nasal gel. That’s great – keep going.

About the flu/colds, there are a couple of possibilities. One is that those are not colds, but just increased nasal congestion that is common in PAP users. Another is that the nasal passages are less moist from the PAP use, which makes it easier for viruses to take hold.

Experiment with the humidity settings. Increasing humidity often helps relieve nasal congestion, but there are also people who will say the opposite and that they don't like to use humidity.

Many PAP users also do nasal irrigation, and this can actually helps the nasal passages to feel good. Vicki, one of the great moderators for this site, put a thread that explains how to do this and many people have described their experience with it.  See the thread: See Sinus Irrigation How To Update; it is located at the top of the Help Forum.

If your symptoms are worse than usual and/or continue for a longer period of time than usual, then it might be a safe precaution to discuss the situation with a doc.

Hi all,
I wanted add that I have been on Cpap since 3/21/8 and I feel like a different person.
I thought the constant tiredness and all the naps was because I was lazy or something but
it's so good to finally know what the problem is.
I would plan my weekends arround naps I felt like I couldn't keep going if I didn't get those naps in.I still take naps some but not near as long and not as frequent.
It's so great to actually have energy again.My family can also tell a difference.
I want to Thanks God for Cpap it has worked wonders for me.
Thanks ,
  Robin

Thanks for clarifying that it is a disorder, not a disability.  In any case, it was making doing my job near impossible.  And I did my very best to work with it.  I complied with everything they asked of me.  I will look in to what my options are, INCLUDING going somewhere I will be appreciated for my efforts.
I appreciate the info on the cold situation.  This is my 3rd one in a couple of months!  I will hang in there, and see what happens.
At any rate, CPAP has changed my life.  I was afraid to go out in the evening, because I never knew if I would last all night or not.  This board really helped me out when I was first starting this whole process.  And I feel it is only right to thank everyone for their encouragment and positive words.  So..THANKS!!!!!

Ahhh...there is a fine line between the terminology and how it is meant.  A disorder can be a disability if it affects the sufferer in a way that causes he/she to not be gainfully employed, or if the sufferer is treated unequal to others due to the affects of the disorder.  In this case...the OP has a disorder that adversely affected the work performance, causing the employer to change the wage earnings.

The ASSA has information on the disabitlity act and SA.  This has been debated often on here.

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations. The ADA's nondiscrimination standards also apply to federal sector employees under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and its implementing rules.

An individual with a disability is a person who:

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
Has a record of such an impairment; or
Is regarded as having such an impairment.
A qualified employee or applicant with a disability is an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.
Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position;
Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, and providing qualified readers or interpreters.

After a brief love/hate period with my CPAP I'm happy to report that I call CPAP my best friend for past 2 1/2 years


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I will have to look in to it.  I am in Canada - so I am not really sure what the laws are here.  But I have a friend that works in HR, so I might have to take her for a coffee.  I feel pretty cheated, especially considering I work with one guy who is away a signifigant amount with kidney stones.  I am pretty sure that he is not getting the same treatment as I am.  I know I can't ask, but I am DYING to know.  I understand that kidney stones is painful...but waking up 60+ times an hour EVERY NIGHT for the last few years - that has been a HUGE imposition on all aspects of my life.
Oh well, I have someone else from another company approach me and ask if I would be interested in a move.  And there is another place I know of that is HUGE and on the lookout for new folks.  Maybe I am better off.  Part of it is I really don't want to rock the boat while I am sitting in it.  I would rather make that my case for leaving.  If I know anything about this company, they will simply make my life a nightmare until I leave of my own accord.  
Any tips on using CPAP with a cold and chest infection?  I am dying here.  I don't have a full face mask, so I went
CPAP-less last night because I couldn't breathe through my nose!

Suseq, get in touch with your provincial dept. of labour, or whatever they call it in your province, to find out what your rights are.  Also, there is probably a lot of info online.

You could also talk to your MPP.