CPAP

First I must say, I love and respect all my doctors and medical personnel who assist in bettering my health A few months ago I had a sleep study because family members were telling me I snored (loudly) and my breathing would stop. I did the study and the doctor tried to call me with the results. At the time I couldn’t respond because I was in the hospital with my latest episode fighting for my life. Finally, I was able to call him back and he began to lambast me for not returning his call. I explained and apologized but……..
I received an appointment to see him at the TOGUS, Veterans Hospital and we sat in his office. He asked me how was tolerating the CPAP machine and I told him I felt so much better. He yelled at me for not using it every day. I explained I had and that he had my start date wrong. I received the machine 2 weeks after the date his records shown. I explained but………
We talked about my medical history and asked me why did I lose my kidneys at an early age. He asked me about dialysis and how it affected my body. He asked what did I do to counter the disease and my business of personal training. He then showed me my numbers from the sleep study, before the CPAP was used and yelled at me for how bad it was. That I stopped breathing multiple times, was not getting enough oxygen and how dangerous it was. I told him I did not know and this was the reason I requested the test. I apologized for not acting sooner because I did not know but…….
He then said my numbers were better and asked how many hours do I sleep? He said the records from the CPAP machine showed I slept 5 to 6 hours per night. He then verbally laid into me about how bad this was for my health and that I needed 8 to 10.
I remained respectful to him despite this unfounded tongue lashing, keeping humble with my actions and words. He asked me why did I get (in his eyes so little sleep?
He smelled of cigarettes, swollen face, and a large belly. He wheezed as he talked to me and had an angry scold even when he was listening. I shrugged while he waited for my answer and I replied, “I have always slept for this amount of time. I can’t remember when I would sleep for 8 or more hours consistently.
He coughed multiple times and asked what was I doing that would take away from my health of sleeping?
My answer was simple. “Grinding.”
There was a moment of silence. I thanked him for the CPAP prescription for the machine and allowing me to feel even better despite the circumstances of being on dialysis. I shook his hand, smiled and stood quickly from my chair. He asked me where was I going that would cause me to pop out of my chair so quickly, “To grind?” I said, “Yes”. He then asked me to sit down and began asking me about training.