Hot air ballooning - way to go, R.

Re sleep machine. - the machine wakes me up. I think apnea is the first diagnosis they come up with because it's the easiest to treat, and for most people it works great. The one night I slept with the machine on (four hours. couldn't take anymore) was the worst sleep I had in years. I think my problem is that I'm a light sleeper and anything and everything wakes me up. There aren't any good answers for that. Don't eat late at night. (sometimes helps) get exercise (sometimes helps; sometimes adds to pain and makes it worse.) take Tylenol usually helps. Aleve and similar stuff damages my stomach. I'm not ready to take oxycodone and be a junkie. Not worrying (how do you do that?) And apparently, I do have sleep apnea. The first time I was tested, I had a great night sleep - best in years - and the test came out "moderate sleep apnea." The second time I tested, I had a terrible night's sleep and the result was mild sleep apnea. Add to that - as Kenny Rodgers said, "The best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." Now, I'm not ready for any bucket kicking yet. But this body isn't get any healthier, and when I do take the elevator, hopefully upstairs, I'd rather go sleeping than spend years in a memory unit, or other possible whatevers. I'm using the sleep machine in the daytime to try to get used to it. I watch TV in the evenings with it on until I nod off and the machine wakes me up. I'll call Apria and then my doctor today, and see if they have any good advice.

Meanwhile, editing "Through Unfamiliar Waters" is fun.
For what it's worth, head of condo board sounds like using a sleep machine.

Good luck.