Branden-Kaylea.Net

Well, we have a new look! Look for more frequent updates in the future, too.

Things have been very hecktic around the Simbeck Household over the last few months. In Novemeber we all partipated in the Greater Philidelphia Chapter of the ALS Association’s Walk to D’Feet ALS. Our team PopPop’s Patrol raised over $5,000. We also had a bit of tragity in November as well. On November 21st Kaylea’s Grandfather lost his battle with ALS, as one might expect it cast a bit shadow over the holiday season, however we did our best and pulled through.

Patrick had a wonderful Christmas away from home. We spent Christmas with Kaylea’s family, and while it is always a lot of running, we all had a great time, and got lots of great gifts.

The new year brought about many new things for all of us. My company has moved from just outside of Pittsburgh, to just inside the city. This puts me about 10 minutes closer to Kaylea’s work and Patrick’s daycare.

Kaylea has just started into a new position at her work, which hasn’t been without its challenges. And all of this then comes with a new schedule which is working out well for us.

The last big change this year is that I have been elected President of the Board for Project PCOS. Project PCOS is a non-profit organsation that I help found last year with my friends Ashley Tabeling, Linda Harvey, Tarra Hartl and Tammy Dolak. We also have an old friend from another PCOS organsation we use to work with on our board too Stephine Crites.

There are many exciting things going on, keeping us busy so we will do our best to keep you updated. I have posted some pictures of the holidays as well as some more recent ones below. As always you can find all of our pictures in our photo gallery

For as long as I can remember, I have been ready for a nap after lunch. In many cases I could nap for hours and still sleep through the night. Working afternoon and evening shifts didn’t really help things, neither did having a baby (that is another story). Finally when Kaylea went in for her routine physical for work, our family doctor said we should both have sleep studies done because we are large people.

I had my first study done in April, and went to a pulmonologist following the study (apparently pulmonologists handle sleep problems) and was diagnosised with RLS or restless leg syndrome. This means that at night my leg muscles twitch which wakes me up. I didn’t really notice it because I was just pulled out REM or dream sleep. I took the meds they gave me for one month and then had a follow-up.

At that follow-up, they decided I need another sleep study, because I still wasn’t sleeping well. I went to that study which was right after we got back from vacation. They diagnosised me with OSA or obstructive sleep apnea, which means that I stop breathing in my sleep because my tongue laps back over my airway. So I got a CPAP machine, but I keep taking my mask off in my sleep and it scares Patrick.
That leads me to today, I went back to the lab and got a new nasal mask, and I am going to see if that works better.

Now dispite all of the trouble I have had so far, have I noticed an improvment in my sleep, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has OSA.