What more are you looking for when she says I love you?
You may think that you are likely to read about story of a couple's relationship. Yes, this is about relationship but not about a couple. Rather, a relationship between a patient and therapist. Mdm Tan (not her real name) is a patient suffering from severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). She has pauses in breathing for more than 60 times per hour in her sleep. She is a good looking 80 year old woman, witty, sharp and humourous. She was struggling on her CPAP trial therapy. Despite her discomfort, she persevered through the unbearable nights, weeks after weeks. Almost two months now, she still couldn’t quite adapt to the therapy. She is not the only one.
Through decades, CPAP therapy always has low compliance and has never been the most favourable treatment plan for OSA patients. Much to do with discomfort of wearing masks to sleep, exhalation against the pressure and the visual implications of sleeping with what looks like biohazard clinical mask and device is just not sexy. Some patients struggled, some sailed through the therapy like a champion. Mdm Tan’s case is a stormy ride and still is. Many of the like-minded soon give up and continue to gasp for air during sleep because it is just so easy to flip to the side, turn your back against the machine and mask and slumber. Mdm Tan is an intelligent woman. She stays determined with the encouragement of her family members and is now a compliant user of the CPAP therapy. Staying compliant to the therapy doesn’t only embraces one sheer determination, it encompasses support, encouragement from your closed ones, a dilligent therapist and hand-hold steps. If patient ever think the therapy is a solo dreamless ride, rethink again. For support harvests strength and strength builds stamina aboard to the journey of a good sleep. Every breath is priceless.
Just before Mdm Tan’s medical review, we had a small catch up over the phone. Before i hanged up, she said in the most regular tone:” Take care, I love you.”
In dismay, astonished, dumfounded- This is the greatest honour a therapist could ask for.
