The next Sleep Apnea (AWAKE) support group meeting is Thursday, 17 September 2009 at the Harrison Annex, 750 Lebo Blvd., Bremerton. The quarterly meetings run from 7 to 9 pm.

AWAKE (Sleep Disorders Support Group) is a strong support group for individuals and families.

A free CPAP or BIPAP machine pressure check is available at the quarterly meetings…a service well worth bringing your machine from home.

The program features Harrison Medical Center’s new lead Sleep Specialist, Daniel Moore, speaking on Sleep and Heart Disease. Questions and answers are welcome after the thirty-minute educational segment.

Stat Medical is the program sponsor and will show off the latest CPAP machine during the second half of the program.

I am glad to know the latest research and development and especially glad when local companies are eager to bring the best to their patients.

I once called a local oxygen supplier of the machines to ask when they would get in the latest BIPAP machine I had read about. The short answer was never!
I will give you the long answer to the same conclusion only if asked. To be fair, the company did elaborate on how they arrived at the’ never’ response… and the patient loses.

I use a BIPAP machine but still look forward to seeing the latest; the future is here – now – CPAP machines knowing a similar BIPAP is no doubt coming later.

We probably look funny wearing a facemask attached to a tube that runs back to the noisy machine that helps us sleep, in order to live, but it is a life saving good funny.

Now is a good time to reiterate that I speak only as a patient, not a medical professional. My comments come from experience, my own or others and the latest research.

The latest study in Sleep Apnea is good in the sense that now the high mortality rate is known for Sleep Apnea’ites, a study using that information, to find a cure or treatment, is sure to follow.

More later… Sharon O’Hara