I live in Southern California, I work in customer service in a call center (sitting and answering phones with 2 ten minute breaks and one one hour lunch). It is an open environment where people 60, 70 feet away can see me.  I have Sleep Apnea (diagnosed over two years ago) and I am working with my cpap machine to improve my health/symptoms but like everyone I'll have an off night or two and the next day the results at work are unfortunately noticiable. This is affecting my job and my empoyment even though I have filed what I was told was the necessary paperwork to cover me it is still an issue as my job deals with direct customer contact and any sleep attacks make that a very bad thing for business.  

I am looking into buing one of the sleepy driver alarms but so far the only one i've found is the napzapper which "also notifies any sleepy passangers in the vehicle" Due to my work situaion that is not a really feasable option as that would disturb those around me and potentially their calls as well. Does anyone know of such a device that would make the alarm by the ear but not broadcast it to the general public?

I need help/ideas on what to do while at work to keep from having these attacks, reccomendations on the alarm idea anything that might help me at work would be great.

I am also looking for ideas on a good reasonably basic pamphlet/handout type that explains Sleep Apnea what it is, what it's symptoms are that I can hand to my boss/bosses/coworkers something intellegent but not to much in medical-ese

Thank you all in advance for any and all replies if you want me to claify anything please ask

acircle wrote:

I live in Southern California, I work in customer service in a call center (sitting and answering phones with 2 ten minute breaks and one one hour lunch). It is an open environment where people 60, 70 feet away can see me.  I have Sleep Apnea (diagnosed over two years ago) and I am working with my cpap machine to improve my health/symptoms but like everyone I'll have an off night or two and the next day the results at work are unfortunately noticiable. This is affecting my job and my empoyment even though I have filed what I was told was the necessary paperwork to cover me it is still an issue as my job deals with direct customer contact and any sleep attacks make that a very bad thing for business.  

I am looking into buing one of the sleepy driver alarms but so far the only one i've found is the napzapper which "also notifies any sleepy passangers in the vehicle" Due to my work situaion that is not a really feasable option as that would disturb those around me and potentially their calls as well. Does anyone know of such a device that would make the alarm by the ear but not broadcast it to the general public?

I need help/ideas on what to do while at work to keep from having these attacks, reccomendations on the alarm idea anything that might help me at work would be great.

I am also looking for ideas on a good reasonably basic pamphlet/handout type that explains Sleep Apnea what it is, what it's symptoms are that I can hand to my boss/bosses/coworkers something intellegent but not to much in medical-ese

Thank you all in advance for any and all replies if you want me to claify anything please ask

Hi,

You say that you are working with your cpap machine. After 2 years, how many hours are you using it for each night ?
Unfortunately you must use cpap every night to get the maximum benefit.
If you are not getting the full benefit you need to go back to your sleep doctor ASAP. Explain the situation, particularly your work situation. You need to get the EDS under control.

The use of an alarm system is not a good idea. It does not deal with the problem and will only highlight it.

Effective therapy (cpap compliance) should deal with the EDS problem, if not (only in a few cases) there are other steps, but you must use cpap first.

You will get plenty of help here, but you have to go some of the way yourself.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

You can find a lot of information at the home site of this forum sponsor, the American Sleep Apnea Assoc., ASAA, click on the ASAA link at the far left under the forum title.

OSA can be devastating to a job.  Be an aggressive self advocate with your doc. to get it under control.  Is there any way you can take some time off, like medical leave, while you work on it?  If not, can you break up your day and go for a walk, run, workout?  Otherwise, do your best to get it under control and take the best care of yourself that you can, good sleep habits, exercise, etc.

Vicki