Using the CPAP Machine to get hours of use

                                                   Getting sleep with the CPAP Machine

     After many visits with the doctor it was decided that I needed to get a sleep study done to see what is causing my snoring while I slept, why I was always so tired (even though I also have insomnia which gives me a lot of hard times getting to sleep, but not staying asleep during the night).  I had my appointment, with the first just a consultation, and about a month later my sleep study was performed over an 8 hour period during the night.  It was determined that I had sleep apnea from there

Picking the CPAP Machine that's right for you

     After a very uncomfortable what I'll call a night so decent night sleep at Georgetown Sleep Center in Texas I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.  They gave me a choice, a surgery which had about a 50 percent success rate in helping cure the snoring that goes along with sleep apnea, or sleeping with a machine called the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machine that helps regulate air going through the system and help your body keep air going through your body throughout the entire night.  

     I decided on the CPAP machine, because I didn't feel the chance of success for the surgery was enough for me to want to take that route.  Once I decided to use the machine I was given the equipment to take home.  My mask is a full mask that covers the nose and mouth.  I thought it was easiest for me to breath, though they do have ones that you can fit over your nose, if you don't want to wear the full face mask, but that is just a matter of preference there.  The different masks for a CPAP machine can be seen here.

Getting the CPAP Machine set up

     The one good thing about these is they require little maintenance to keep up.  It gives the cleaning tools, the machine would need to be a cleaned about once a week.  You also NEED to make sure to use distilled water for the tank, because any other type has too many chemicals that can dirty up anything really quickly.  I mean would you rather breathe in some nice fresh air, or breath in a harsh environment too?

     There is nothing that needs to be done except attaching the hose to the cpap machine and the mask, plugging the machine in, filling the water tank, and fitting the mask to your face.  Voila, the machine is set up and ready for use.  

Need to have use from machine

     I was given an appointment for 3 months after I received the machine as a review to see how I've been sleeping, and for them to look at the SIM card that is in the machine to see how much use has gotten out of the machine.  Yes, these things do have a SIM card in so don't try lying saying you are sleeping with it when you are not.  For the Army rating, I needed to use it at least 70 percent of the time at a minimum.  I was still adjusting to the machine, finding myself tearing it off maybe an hour into sleeping, so my use was very low the first time.  A reschedule was set up for about another 2 months down the road.  

     I was given some advice on how to use the machine so I could get used to it and also get some time on for using it too

Advice for the time with the machine

     While it isn't the most comfortable way, the only way to get used to having something on your head that you aren't used to is actually doing it.  Have it on during the day, while you are sitting around watching TV or something for a little bit (could start small at like 30 minutes or something) to get your body used to having it on. I started to do that, giving 30 minute increments, which improved my sleep time with it, but not enough, because I still felt like I was losing air while I was sleeping, or the mask was too tight to make sure that no air pockets were getting out through the mask.  Trust me if any air is seeping out of the mask you will know, because while the machine is quiet while the mask is on, the air circulating will be heard and felt when there is air escaping from it. My wife has woke me up because the air was waking her up.

     So while you are getting used to it, it just becomes about repetition to get your body and mind used to using the mask while you sleep.  And also it doesn't hurt that during the time you have the mask and the machine on it is counting towards the amount of time you have used that machine during that day.

     And during the MedBoard process I was going through I was told that the VA will check the use of the machine, because they are not going to be paying you a disability percentage for sleep apnea if you are not using the machine to help it.  So make sure if you have a sleep apnea machine that you use it, because you don't want to lose out on disability benefits for it.

New Equipment

     I have used the same machine for about a year and a half now, but every three months I am able to call Georgetown Sleep Center for a 3 to 6 month supply on  equipment for the machine.  It will vary on the 3 or 6 months, but it would be a new mask, a new water tank, new filter, and new hoses.  Which all have come to help because the one issue I keep having with my machine is the heating coil hose keeps going out a few months into using it.  I'm not sure why I keep having that problem, but without fail every couple of months it tends to go out, and I use the regular hose which is not a heating coil, but those haven't given me any issues while I use them.

VA and CPAP

     As I said make sure that if you have the machine that you are using it.  I was given a 50 percent disability rating through the VA for having sleep apnea (Army was a 0 percent rating because it is not a disability that would hender job performance, which the disability ratings through the military are all related to the job to the disability.)

     I hope the idea they gave me for using the machine during the day to get your body used to having it on helps.  It has helped me a lot for keeping it on.  Make sure to use it as much as possible, because if your body gets out of using it, you may have to restart getting used to it again, because it's not the easiest to sleep while wearing a mask that straps around your head, trust me.

     

An update since my MEB was finalized

                                    A Quick Update Since My MEB Was Finalized

The Waiting for Disability Results
     I'm just giving an update to my last blog, which I gave a brief rundown of the meb process and what to expect while you were waiting to get it.  Which can be viewed here
I had been released from the Army with a Severance Pay on April 29, 2012, and was given 80% disability through the Department of Veteran's Affairs, or the VA as it's easiest to call.  June 1 I decided to call the VA to find my status of my disability, since I haven't received a letter verifying my amount.  (I had my appointments already going on, but not much money coming in so I was starting to get worried on how bills were going to be getting paid soon)
     I was told on the phone that it was being processed and needed to go through another board to verify my amount of disability was correct, and make sure there were no mistakes in the paperwork.  I was given an estimated time of 45 days for the board to be processed, and another 30 days or more after before everything would be finalized and I'd be receiving my checks.  That was going to be September or October timeframe before I was going to be getting any money from the VA, so obviously I was starting to worry since that would be a majority of money that I could have coming in.  (Hasn't exactly been the easiest to find a job right now, with my limited amount of work that I can perform)
     Now the one thing you will always want to do is keep in contact, no matter what they tell you and how long they say it can take you want to keep in contact at least every 2 to 3 weeks is what I would say; so you can give them time to get the results, but not enough time to sit around and forget about you.  So I called again after about July 2, 2012, and I was told they had came to a conclusion on my disability and they were going to be sending out the results by packet through the mail.  (Remember how I said they told me September or October at a minimum before I would have my results, and July 2 just over a month later and they were sending me out the results.  That's why I say it is best to always keep in touch and call just to make sure your paperwork is going through.

Disability Percentage
     The packet takes about 12 days to get to the house.  For my packet it was about maybe 30 pages or so with a run through of the percentage, and how they came out with the individual percentages for each individual problem, and what the total sum of the disability was.  So all together I came out to an 80 percent disability rating, which is the rating I received by the VA before I was medically discharged from the military.  So even though nothing changed, the process still had to be done with going through the entire board again, just like everything that happened while I was in the service.
     So if nobody explain that to you, just know there will be a waiting period once you're out (at least most of the time), to determine the disability rating whether it was all done right, and whether they will make any changes to the rating (bringing the percentage up or down)
   
Going on with life after the Army
     This is going to be an individual thing, for me I wasn't that connect through the Army as I used to be.  Find it to be too political, and too much scrutiny for what I had seen, so when it was my time to go I honestly didn't have any problems with it.  The only problem becomes trying to find out what you're able to do once you've rode off into that preverbial sunset from the military.
     Use you're benefits - I won't be able to emphasize that enough.  You gave yourself to the military, and there is nothing wrong with using the Montgomerey GI Bill, or anything else whether it be a business or the VA home loan guarantee, and use it to your advantage.  Just make the best out of whatever you decide to do after.

     Don't rely on the VA to cover everything, because any disabilities you receive with a VA raing (even at 0%) will always be covered through the VA, at least for the veteran.  As for the spouse or any family members you will need to look at alternative forms of health care once Tricare expires.   Surviving spouses of soldiers can get VA Health Care, but with a disabled veteran that is pretty unlikely that VA health care would be offered for the family  (Depending on you're circumstances will be when that is.  I got out on April 29, 2012, but Tricare for myself extended for six months past to give us time to find alternative health care for my family)  But as I said it may not always be the same

  

my medboard experience and afterwards with VA

When a military member has a medical condition (including mental health conditions) which renders them unfit to perform their required duties, they may be separated (or retired) from the military for medical reasons. The process to determine medical fitness for continued duty involves two boards -- One is called the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), and the other is called the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).  So it is clear, and that there are different processes that a soldier can go through if they are found unfit by a doctor for a medboard to be started.

My process for an MEB took about 10 months (but trust me at times with not knowing what is going on and not being able to get ahold of my Peblo) it seemed MUCH longer than that at many times.

Right away I will say this is not an exact amount that will work exactly from one person to another, I'm just saying what my experience of getting out on a medboard was like for me and since I have been out.

Also, know that if an MEB is started, that doesn't mean that you will get out on a medboard, and you will have a percentage, because it is possible for a soldier to go through the entire process and be given a "Fit for Duty" where the soldier would be returned with limitations to build back up to getting back to a regular work without a profile at some point.  And be ready to have a lot of patience with this process, you could go months on end with having no idea what is going on, only thing you can do is do regular check ups by phone (If you can get a hold of your PEBLO that is) 

I had been going through knee and back problems for about a year or more, and getting seen at least monthly for new profiles from the doctor, because medicine they were giving me wasn't working and I was too hurt not to have a profile.  They gave me different pain killers, referrals, and therapy to help, but I can get into all of that.

I went to the physical therapist with different activities and appointments for about 6 months straight, while it was helping my body limber up more, it wasn't getting rid of the pain that I was feeling, which is why I was there.  Pool therapy, stretching, back and knee classes, medication, and everything else that has been done to help me hasn't changed my pain levels for any substantial periods.  I've also laid on the bed and had the acupuncture needled stuck in me for about 30 to 45 minutes each, so I've tried anything they could think of at that point.  (If you're wondering it is arthritis in my back along with some degenerated discs along the spine, and degeneration in my knee a bit too)

The Army was starting to cut down numbers, it was around January of 2011 I was told by the doctor he wanted to start a MedBoard, but one more thing to try was steroid shots in my back around my spine, so for the next for months that is what I did.  My experience of the epidural shots is they did not help me, and I actually hurt more shortly afterwards from  having them, but like I said one person to another may not be the same that way.  After the four and half months when I was back at the doctors they decided there wasn't anything else they could do that would improve me for long term in quick period, so the doctor decided to start a MedBoard on me.

June 2011 my medboard was officially started.  After it was started it was waiting for my counselor to call me about the meb, which took about two weeks after it was started.  A phone interview to get information around June 15, and June 17 I was in the office speaking to the counselor, going over my case, and had a few appointments just for the first check ups with the meb, and within first month I found myself sitting in the VA office on July 14 for a Phase 1 and 2 appointment with the VA, if going through a medboard both of those are done at the same time, which is going through everything on the medboard and what is hurting you basically.

August 1, I'm told that the Peblo has received the packet from the VA, and I'm given more appointments.  (How many extra appointments you will have will be whether they will have enough in paperwork for the medboard, or if more needs to get done, say on a claim that doesn't have much of a paper trail or they need more for to show reasons for medboard or something like that)

During this next few months, it's seeing the VA counselor, VA transition officer, and any regular appointments that you have or need for meds or anything else.

I'll skip a few months, just a few appointments, nothing special happens.  In December 5th my packet is mailed off for a percentage rating (my packet took about a 6 weeks til I had received it back from Seattle and Washington)  I've heard the board is different even from when I went through at mid to end 2011 with this, but I'm honestly not sure or if it'll do like mine, which it went during Christmas and New Years and was back still about 6 months. So mid January I received a copy of the packet.  Here are my ratings:

20% from the Army for my chronic back pain
80% "proposed" rating from the VA for sleep apnea, back, knee, insomnia, and chronic migraines.  (I'll explain the "proposed" part a little further down)

After I received the ratings, I was seen by transition office, and picked a day I was supposed to be out, which was mid-March that I wanted to be on leave.

After the packet was received back, my Peblo had to get a packet ready to be signed by some doctors, commanders, I'm honestly not sure, but it was allowing me to start my clearing process to get out.  Waiting for the signatures for me took another month after I was out, so it was mid-February.  I have my packet now everything should go straight... or so I thought.  Getting a leave form from the company proved to be more trouble, adding another month from when I had originally picked to be out.   So after those appointments for transition and clearing (you will see going through the process) I was ready to be out.
I signed out on leave, my official last day in was April 29, 2012.  During the time prior I had enough leave that I took about 45 days of leave just trying to relax and get things straight.

Now I am out, assuming my process with the VA has been done, I have a couple of appointments already set up through my VA office two days after I am officially out.  First appointment nothing special, take a drug test, and see a counselor with a sit down and talk to see how I'm doing.  No doctor appointment yet, so be a little ready with medicine for a little bit while waiting in transition with it.

June 16, 2012 - haven't heard anything from the VA, so I called for a status on the claim.  Nothing was updated on their computer so an inquiry is put in for my claim, given a call back within 10 days of that.  June 24, I am called and told that my claim is getting ready to go to a board rating through the VA  (Now remember the "proposed" rating, it is only proposed, and not set in stone for what the VA will actually pay you, and when I got out it has gone with paperwork through the steps again.)

I am told that my claim for VA started on June 14, could be 45 days or more from that day for a rating to be filed on it, and back to Seattle to be reviewed, so I was told September timeframe to have an answer on my claim.

Now I already had a proposed rating of 80%, but still goes through the process after you get out, so don't be like me and rely that the VA money will hit right away.  Though after a decision is made, and a percentage is given they will back date your money from the day your claim was started (which would be the day after your final day in the army)

quick rundown of timeline
June 2011 - MedBoard Started
July 2011 - Phase I and II for the Army at the VA
August - December 2011 - Various appointments with VA and Army with appointments of Medboard and ACAP to be out of military
December 2011 - Packet sent out for percentage ratings for Army and VA
January 2012 - 20% from Army, 80% proposed rating from VA
February - March 2012 - VA appointments made, paperwork, clearing from post
April 2012 - Officially last day in Army after leave
May - ???? - Waiting for the "official" percentage from the VA claim, unknown when it will come in or if it for any reason would be different than "proposed" rating I was given before

For anyone going through, as I said it isn't a long process, though with not knowing at times it can feel like it, but patience is definetely needing going through a medboard.  I just want any one else to know that it is possible to still wait awhile after you are officially out before anything is received from VA, so something that would need to be planned for, and not relied on having that disability check coming in until you recieve the paperwork stating what the percentage will be exactly and how much you will be receiving.

UPDATE 8/25/2012
To see an update of how everything has been going check out my other block post here