#I need a cpap machine for real

[phemiec]

I hate sleep apnea dude I’m like a sim who’s energy bar is permanently capped at yellow

[storm-of-feathers]

christ.

[snailmail444]

Bachelor Head Cannons

18+ 🌱 NSFW 🌱 MDNI

Head cannons for all the bachelors masturbation habits under the cut! Send me asks if you want to see more head cannons from me 💞

Harvey-

💚 Harvey spends so much time antsy and anxious, poor guy.

💚 So when he’s getting himself off he needs a gentle touch. Literally and figuratively.

💚 He has a few favorite videos he likes of porn, which he goes back to when he’s getting off.

💚 Professional porn takes him out of it. He’s so worried about if everything is consensual and comfortable and compensated he’s not horny anymore. Even when he can get past that, he just isn’t into the fake porn premises.

💚 Do you really expect him to believe she’s stuck in that washing machine? Get real.

💚 Harvey can really get into it when it’s amateur, and the couple seems like they’re genuinely enjoying each other. Giggling, bumping the camera, whispered “I love you’s.”

💚 Uses a lot of quality lube. As a doctor, he’s going to take proper care of his body. Especially his dick. The last thing he wants is a friction burn on his junk.

💚 Goes nice and slow. He doesn’t want to rush himself when he’s working to relax, so it’s not a race for him.

💚 Eyes fluttering, cheeks flushed, hitching breath when he’s close.

💚 Can only get off when the people in the video have. Cums with a sigh, leaning back in complete satisfaction.

💚 Takes a long shower after and gets excellent rest. It really helps alleviate his stress, so he sleeps like a baby.

Elliott-

❤️ When I tell You this man makes it an EVENT!

❤️ He’s breaking out the candles. He’s got a bubble bath run. He’s got a glass of red wine.

❤️ Elliott is first and foremost a man of luxury. So when it comes to taking care of himself? He is taking CARE of himself.

❤️ We’re talking a long edging session that starts in the tub and ends in his bed. He’s so coy that he even teases himself. Gets him worked UP!

❤️ This is an erotic novel kinda guy if there ever was one. I mean come on. You KNOW he’s reading those flowing sex scenes with flowery language to get off to.

❤️ One hand holding his dick the other holding his book.

❤️ It doesn’t matter if he’s alone, he is talking. Elliott is a wellspring of words, so they’re flowing. Praise and curses and sweet names, all of it. He gets so wrapped up in the fantasy that it feels real to him, and that’s his way to engage with it.

❤️ He’s a romantic, but the stuff that really gets him off is hot and desperate and needy. The love interests of his novel devouring each other after a slow burn or a long break. The passion is where it��s at for him.

❤️ Secretly kinda loves it filthy. Chaste and loving is good and satisfying, but it doesn’t do a ton for him sexually. He wants his sex sloppy, spitty, and utterly human.

❤️ Probably gets off the least out of all the bachelors simply because it’s a whole process for him. He wants to enjoy it with unabashed hedonism.

❤️ Sometimes he’ll eat fruit while he’s doing it just to engage all his senses.

Alex-

🤎 Alex would absolutely be a morning jerker if Evelyn and George weren’t up at the crack of dawn.

🤎 Man wakes up rock hard and would love to do something about it, but since Evelyn knocks on his door for breakfast at a routine seven am, he has to will it away.

🤎 The tradeoff, though, makes it worth the wait. Both of his lovely grandparents are hard of hearing, go to bed early, and George has a loud CPAP machine.

🤎 So when I tell you Alex can be as loud as he wants at night. He can be as loud as he wants. Unless you’re physically shaking his grandparents, they’re sleeping through it.

🤎 Which is a good thing, because Alex is a mouthy guy. Moans, groans, curses, whines, whimpers, you name it. If he has a hand on his dick, he’s making noise.

🤎 It’s a little old fashioned, but Alex has sexy magazines stashed between his mattress and box spring. Video porn is overwhelming to him—he doesn’t know what to search, he just wants some eye candy—so this is the best option he can think of.

🤎 He’s not very fussy, honestly. Low maintenance kinda jerker. As long as he’s looking at somebody he finds attractive, he’s gonna get off.

🤎 And Alex is such a secret romantic, he’s thinking about sweet, tender sex with somebody he would love a whole lot. His hand takes the same rhythm he imagines he’d use fucking slow and deep.

🤎 This is the way that Alex ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper. Man is whining as he strokes himself through his orgasm.

🤎 Has a few tissues he uses to clean up and then passes directly out. Rinse and repeat three times/week.

Shane-

💙 Okay it depends.

💙 If he’s still drinking he doesn’t jerk off that much because he’s got chronic whiskey dick.

💙 BUT. After that? Oh boy.

💙 Shane’s surprised by his own libido when he’s sober. It’s, like, all the time. He thinks maybe it’s because he didn’t get off for so long that he’s making up for lost time.

💙 He gets a surprising amount of privacy in the old ranch house, which he has never been more thankful for. It doesn’t hurt that Marnie snore pretty loud and Jas sleeps like the dead, so most of the night is free to him.

💙 However. Some nights it’s just not feasible. Cough, cough, thanks Lewis.

💙 Luckily, Shane’s got his secret spot. The dock never gets any foot traffic, literally ever. He absolutely will go out there to take care of himself if he needs to.

💙 Big lotion guy. He needs it especially because his hands are rough from all the work he does with them. The callouses feel good if he’s got enough lubricant, though.

💙 Can go either way on porn. Sometimes he likes to watch a good video of what he’s in the mood for, but he doesn’t need it.

💙 He gets off more on memories than anything else. Some of his best fucks are vivid enough in his mind he almost feels like he’s back there when he gets off on it.

💙 And if he has a crush on somebody? Man doesn’t need much. Getting off thinking about how they looked on their knees the other day, about how his cum would look on their face. In the moment he has no shame in thinking about the object of his affections. That’ll come later.

💙 Bites his wrist to keep himself quiet. Not because anybody can hear him, but because he gets embarrassed about the noises he makes and how into it he gets.

💙 Gets desperate for release towards the end. Bucking his hips up and fucking his fist until he cums over his tense stomach. His face is complete bliss, and typically he forgets to muffle that last moan anymore because he’s too caught up in his pleasure.

💙 Post nut clarity hits him a little too hard sometimes. He feels a lot of guilt and shame he’s still working through. Therapy’s helping, though.

Sam-

🩷 Poor Sammy never gets any proper alone time. It’s not the easiest for him to just get off whenever the urge comes on him.

🩷 Which is incredibly unfortunate, because the urge comes on him…often, to say the least.

🩷 Let’s be real. It’s probably once a day, sometimes twice. Man’s sex drive is insane. Truly just insatiable.

🩷 But the walls of his house are paper thin, he has no lock on his door, and his mom and Vincent are always busting in. He only gets a shred of privacy in his shower, and even that’s difficult because he shares with Vincent. Hard to get off when his tiny fists are constantly pounding on the door.

🩷 So Sam can’t just jack it at a moments notice. He has to wait until everybody is asleep, because blessedly Jodi and Vince go to bed early, and Kent is usually in bed by ten pm sharp. Thank God for that military sense of routine.

🩷 As soon as it’s lights out, Sam’s got an earbud in and a hand in his boxers. He’s so desperate and needy by the end of the day that he has to bite his shirt to keep from moaning with relief.

🩷 Man adores porn. LOVES. Porn. He needs a visual aid for his fantasies, and some good audio doesn’t hurt his feelings.

🩷 Sweet Sam has a possessive streak. He tries to find videos where one of the people looks like whoever he’s into at the time, and he imagines it’s him fucking them.

🩷 And if the video has a good cumshot? He’s gone. Fucking wasted. His hand will slide feverishly up and down his cock until he’s cumming right along with them, the whole time imagining it’s him marking up his crush and making them his.

🩷 By the grace of Yoba he hasn’t been caught yet, but he’s always rushing because he’s paranoid somebody will find him with a hand around his dick or cum all over his abdomen.

Sebastian-

🖤 Unlike Sam, he has almost complete privacy the majority of the time.

🖤 Robin spared no expense on soundproofing their house, so nobody can hear anything unless they’re pressed up against his door.

🖤 And since nobody bothers him, and he’s got a sturdy lock, it’s never a problem. He can get off really whenever he wants to.

🖤 When he was in high school, it was all the time. If he had a second alone, he was probably jerking off.

🖤 Now though, it’s tapered off. He only has to get off once a week, maybe a few times if he’s really worked up about something.

🖤 And with his computer setup? He has a full Cinematic experience. Full screen, over-ear headphones, reclined back in his gamer chair. His dick pulled out of his boxers and his shirt rucked up to his chest. Sebastian is taking complete advantage of every luxury he has available to him.

🖤 Let’s be real. He’s an Only Fans kinda guy. Sebastian has specific tastes, and he likes the convenience of having content he likes ready and available. Plus, he’s not about to risk any viruses on his computer.

🖤 It doesn’t hurt that it’s more ethical that way. Sex work is real work, and deserves proper compensation, which he’s more than happy to give.

🖤 As for the content? We circle back to his specific tastes. He likes soft BDSM. No intense stuff, but the dirty talk aspect especially does it for him. Spanking or light choking are about as hardcore as he likes.

🖤 But the thing that’s guaranteed to get him off? Oral. Every single time. He loves to go down on people—he’s borderline obsessed with it, actually. It’s something he can’t personally put his finger on (it’s called an oral fixation buddy), but he cums so hard thinking about leaving purpling hickies along thighs and using his tongue to get his partner off.

🖤 And since he prioritizes heavily on having a clean space, he has everything ready to clean himself up. Especially important since he cums a lot.

[unveilandresist]

extreme fatigue and fogginess?

hi! if you're super fatigued you should rule out sleep apnea, 80% of people with it are undiagnosed, 1 in 5 people has it. it's when your airway collapses when you are sleeping. it's unsurprisingly seriously bad for your health for you to stop breathing while you're sleeping and even apparently puts you at risk for a higher chance of 'sudden death' (terrifying, and why I am gonna give my new cpap machine a real try).

just a psa because i have had chronic fatigue (the symptom and also likely me/cfs, unless i make a miraculous recovery) and needed a sleep study for a long time and lo and behold i have it, i stop breathing 12 times an hour. some people like my dad have apneas like 45 times an hour. take it seriously. here's hoping the cpap helps with my fatigue, i have heard glowing reviews from several people.

also if you are in the US and able to fork over $180, i have heard someone recommend lofta, you can get the sleep test equipment sent to your house and a prescription for a cpap if you have it. you can't get a cpap without a script.

if you don't have it and/or it doesn't make a significant impact, many people are developing me/cfs as a result of postviral illness (even if you had asymptomatic covid, 60% of cases are and they still cause damage to your body). this also could be you, get some bloodwork and start ruling things out if you can.

[damnfandomproblems]

763632033850327040

TW.

I know I'm going off on a tangent here, but I want to say that people using the term "mouth breather" is always really disheartening. It's a huge gut-punch in a situation many people have been dealing with for decades.

Here's my deal: I've had sleep-disordered breathing since I was a kid. It started with bad nasal resistance issues, which meant I I couldn't breathe through my nose and had to use my mouth. Parents didn't do jack shit about it because they didn't know it was a big problem. And it totally messed up the formation of my skull. Now my jaw is slightly recessed, I have vertical maxillary excess, I can't fully close my lips, and my airway looks like a coffee straw (I've seen an MRI of this and it's totally pinched when I'm on my back, and even when I'm upright), so I can't even breathe through my mouth properly without a ton of noise and resistance. Every day, I wake up with a sore throat, dry mouth, and feeling like death. That "mouth breathing" has given me sleep apnea and UARS. CPAP doesn't help so I'm looking at a bilevel now and failing that, ASV. My jaw joint sounds like gravel and constantly clicks out of place.

And doctors don't do shit. I've seen three different ENTs for my nasal issues, and all three of them just scoped my nose and said "idk, looks fine". None of them actually looked at the skeletal structure of my face despite being fucking ENTs who are supposed to, you know, know everything about the nose. None of them actually thought, huh, I'm using the pediadric scope for your nose, that might indicate there is a bigger fucking problem than just your turbinates, which you've already had a reduction for. Nope. Nothing.

The one jaw surgeon I went to told me, "idk, I can give you a sliding genio, but that's it, I don't want to mess up your ~pretty face~ (yerk) by doing an advancement". When I literally need an advancement of some kind because my jaw and tongue is encroaching on my fucking throat.

Meanwhile, I've been suffering for 20 years thinking I had treatment resistant depression and insomnia when in reality, it was my shitty breathing and every day, currently stuck with a CPAP, I look at my data and breathing waveforms and I observe they look like they've been shot with buckshot. All my breaths are flat or ragged. I see myself constantly gasping because I can't get enough air. My DME (CPAP) provider won't even look at that data, because all they want to look at is a shitty single number that isn't even accurate, because CPAP machines are garbage with actually detecting breathing issues so they constantly spit out lower-than-reality numbers, especially for people with UARS.

Now I'm looking into double jaw surgery and EASE, and the initial consultations for each are months away. I can't do anything in the meanwhile. And the real fuck-shit part of this? I live in a country with "free healthcare", but the doctors can't even solve this. And the system moves way too fucking slowly. Twenty years of languishing, only to be told over and over "you must be a hypochondriac, it's just depression, we don't need to look at the data"? Fuck that. So I'm going to go into debt paying nearly 200k for double jaw surgery and for nasal expansion. I've considered killing myself over this plenty of times. I can't imagine how many people have killed themselves over this. All because they can't breathe through their nose.

From the bottom of my heart, fuck anyone who uses the word "mouth breather" like it's a fucking joke or an insult. Fuck them.

Sorry, I saw an opportunity to vent and took it.

Posting as a response to a previous ask.

[pinehutch]

Brief Dispatches

The good:

It stopped being so outrageously hot today

Have made and executed plans the last several weekends in a row (I missed the world, over the last year and a half)

Extension on a work deadline kind of

Drove for about 4 hours today and can still walk

Good sandwich, great (sour) pickle for dinner

My benefits continue to cover my exorbitant prescriptions

My American friends seem to be experiencing something like hope, or at the very least the lightness that comes with the lessening of despair. I like that.

The less-good:

Car making weird noise when it gets too warm?

Extension on a work deadline is only until 9 tomorrow morning

Driving for 4 hours has resulted in a serious case of Knee Hurty that I'm not sure I can tape my way out of

I can't eat as many gigantic sour pickles as I want to because the number is >5 and no one needs that much sodium

My benefits have still not figured out that they're supposed to cover my CPAP machine

My TBQ7 submission was rejected after almost a year (BUT extremely kindly, specific feedback, "we loved this", looking forward to seeing more etc., and it was one of the last to get the no, so a very fine rejection all things considered)

The quietly unhinged:

I played Disco Elysium for the first time in March of this year. I've completed 2 or 3 playthroughs and started others. I have talked about it to my therapist. I've wondered if i could write fic and I can't, because I don't know what else I would say. I leave enthusiastic comments on the fic I read. I'm in playlist-making mode now. It's really great to have fallen so hard for something. (I knew I would love it but Not Like This. Yes I recognize that capital has the ability to subsume all critiques into itself, and if i were a real one I'd have bought it in 2019 - or at least in 2020 - or at least before 2024. Fortunately there is no timeline on being moved by things, even if capital has subsumed them etc. to a degree many find distasteful-to-intolerable. )

Still me. Still cry at the drop of a hat but - and this is kind of a big deal - it stops, now. Letting myself feel something isn't an unstoppable off-ramp to Sob City for the next 4 hours. It's a relief. I suspect this means my nervous system is being restored by actual sleep at night.

I dream, now. (I had stopped, mostly, for a couple of years, while the OSA was going through the roof.) Instead of my childhood home I keep dreaming of my grandparents' house, as it was 15, 20 years ago. The old electric kettle, the kind that didn't whistle or shut off but would boil dry, if you let it. The flour-bin my grandpa made. The pine hutch in the dining room, designed by my grandmother, built by her brother and my grandfather and their friends. Boxes of cereal for the grandkids that were slightly more fun than the ones we had at home. Scraps and ends and cuttings and seeds; pressed plants and flowers in the pages of the field guides; a steel desk from an old office; a root cellar and a pantry and a summer kitchen in the basement. My subconscious is rooting away down there, these days.

[davidjordanphoenix]

Went to see the doctor today. Apparently there is blood in my urine still even after finishing the antibiotics for my UTI, and my nasal passages and throat are inflamed. Likely there is inflammation in my vocal chords as well. Also I know for a fact my digestive tract is inflamed.

Basically I'm probably feeling so sick because every part of my body is swollen. Even my family can tell my face and neck are swollen.

The likely reason? Back during my 30 day hospitalization in 2023, my CPAP was mishandled by the staff and I was unable to clean it. I have asked my doctor 3 times over the course of 2024 to help me get a replacement because I have been waking up with residue on my face and weird smells and even after cleaning it with vinegar several times the smell is still there.

I asked 3 separate times for help getting a new machine and only now has she actually decided to do something, now that I'm having such pervasive issues with my throat that it's affecting my vocal chords.

Fuck the American healthcare system. I am never treated for my pain even as it worsens. I am never treated for my fatigue. I'm told every issue is a weight issue when, right now, my weight is back down but I have so much full body inflammation that I look like a diseased marshmallow.

How can I complain for a year about an issue with my medical breathing machine that I HAVE to use every night and I'm not taken seriously until it is literally affecting my ability to speak?

I have been mistreated again and again by the systems put in place to help me and it's MY fault because I eat too much Mac and cheese.

I am not saying certain issues wouldn't be improved with weight loss. There are many health benefits that would come with a better diet and exercise, and both of those things are goals for me. I would like to get to a place where I am eating better and moving more, because yes, there are health benefits to those things that would help with my pain and inflammation.

But you are also asking me to prioritize those things without treating the VERY REAL pain and fatigue and symptoms that make pursuing those things more difficult. When was the last time you asked a healthy person to exercise through 6/10 pain? When was the last time you told a thin person complaining of persistent fatigue to just eat better?

My diet needs to improve. You cannot prescribe diet as a treatment for pervasive and consistent pain. Both of these statements are true.

I'm so angry and sick of not being taken seriously. Medical gaslighting is real and does real harm. Why do I only fucking deserve treatment when I have lost enough weight to please the BMI gods who are fucking wrong anyways?

Sick of it. Absolutely fucking sick of it.

[rachelsquill]

grrrrr i passed out at like 7 unintentionally because today was so fucking stressful and draining which means i wasted my whole goddamn evening sleeping and not doing the things I enjoy and now i need to try and go to sleep for real like with my stupid fucking CPAP machine because i have work tomorrow lololololol

i really am not doing well rn

[regalvoid]

Having to go a week+ without proper glasses has really cemented in the fact that having poor vision is a disability.

Its the one disability that society has kind of "normalized" so people dont view wearing glasses in the same vein of using a mobility aid or like a cpap machine.

At home ita easy, I will just mostly do things in front of me like read or use my phone, no real need to see more than 8 inches away. But at work, I cant do that, I need to see so I am left swapping between my prescription shades and the taped together broken pair, noth of which cause headaches if worn for too long.

This has been a humbling experience and once I finally get my new pair of glasses in I will not take being able to see without difficulty for granted.

[undeadorion-archive]

I recently had a sleep study done and t he whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt more like dealing with a slimy salesman than a medical professional. Insisted I absolutely had sleep apnea and needed a CPAP machine. Didn't give me a chance to say no or think about it.

Most of my sensory issues involve touch and sound. Especially things touching my face. Especially near my eyes. Especially between my eyes. I asked the doctor how intrusive the mask would be and she literally laughed it off. She said "it depends on the person." Yeah. The person is me. I tried saying I had sensory issues and she just completely ignored it and went on with her speech about what would happen next.

But the real kicker is when I finally opened the data she'd barely given me a chance to look at. It wasn't a nice, modern dashboard showing the results. There were no graphs to click or expand. It wasn't even a PDF. It was 4 extremely crunched down PNGs. at 72dpi. And scanned printouts from some other software, that printed it out with an absurdly massive margin. So the actual text that should have filled a letter sized page was shrunk down by 25%, then reduced further to likely meet the attachment limits. Using the image format that puts out images that use the most data. Just print to a PDF for fuck's sake!

[jodilin65]

And now the ball is rolling toward hopefully—hopefully—getting my energy back and my nose cleared. Now that the new insurance has kicked in, I messaged Rhonda on the portal to ask for a referral to the ENT she recommended and also the first pulmonologist I saw. Tom and I both agreed it would be good to go back to him because he's not only close but also has all my records. He's the one who first diagnosed me with sleep apnea, so he has a definite head start on understanding what's going on.

Unfortunately, he's going to want me to do an out-of-home sleep study, but I'll do what I need to if it’s going to help me in the end. He told me when I saw him a little over a year ago that if I gave up on the CPAP and changed my mind later, I’d have to go to a sleep lab. That’s definitely going to be tough because, first, there’s my schedule to consider. We’ll want to time it for when I’m at the end of my day. Plus, I’m not used to sleeping without my sound machine. I could probably put a foam earplug in my good ear, but that’s about it since they’ll be monitoring me remotely and need to hear what’s going on. I think they’ll be watching me too, which will definitely feel weird and nothing I’m used to.

All I have are nightgowns that I wear around the house but not to bed. I sleep in just a g-string because I don’t like how nightgowns tend to bunch and twist around me. Knowing it’s likely to be chillier in there than I keep it in the house most of the time, I’d like to get some pajamas for the occasion. It’s definitely going to be tough because I’ll have the double whammy of having to give up my favorite sleeping position, and second, I’ll have to get used to the CPAP. Something’s got to give, though, because my brain and body can’t take this much longer. I’m waking up every fucking hour and spending almost all the time exhausted.

I know part of it is age, and maybe the Levo is connected to it as well, but according to all my research, the bulk of the problem seems to be the sleep apnea. Since I’m not going to be able to lose any more weight without damn near starving myself, I’ll have to work around it. I think the fatter I got, the more it became a problem. Not always, but sleep apnea is usually connected to weight. While I’m not overly big, I’m still a little heavy. I’d probably be fine if I lost 20 lbs, but that’s like asking me to lose 100. If I could manage to get my thyroid within range, that might make a difference, but I don’t know. Most older people are fat, and they don’t all have thyroid/med issues.

I don’t expect the pulmonologist, the study, or getting the CPAP back to take too long, but I doubt I’ll be able to get into the ENT before June if I had to guess. 

I was still up when Tom got up this morning because I was afraid to go to sleep, knowing it would be a disaster. He asked if I had any visions like I often do on New Year’s, but I didn’t sense any real change anytime soon. I swear I picked up more about the mystery girl than us, but I don’t know if it means anything or not. Not sure how much I should share or where because I don’t want to freak anyone out. It’s nothing bad—though I’d be tremendously worried if I had a bad dream about her. I have been known to have nightmares about people I’ve never met face-to-face and then learned something bad happened to them even if it wasn’t like in the dream. The only thing I sensed was that she might not get the job she interviewed for, and something about a supermarket. I don’t know—maybe she’s meant to work there instead, or maybe a close friend of hers is going to start working at one. I don’t know what it means, if anything at all. I thought of telling her about this directly, but again, I don’t know how she might react, and I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.

The only other thing going on is that I’ve been lightheaded, but Tom and I are pretty sure it’s because my ear needs to be cleaned. I’ve been oiling it, and I’m going to have him blast it tomorrow with the water thingy to see if any dead skin clears out. 

Anyway, after five hours of pathetically shitty sleep, I was up for a while, then napped for a bit, and then got up to do some cooking and cleaning. I golfed with Tom and played with the rat as usual too.

[we-dont-matteratall]

Jordan Zulick I hope you don't mind. I drafted a story based on your post.

Title: Range Anxiety

Chapter One: The Perfectly Imperfect Couple

Brad always woke up in the same way: early, gasping for air, his Apple Watch buzzing frantically to remind him that yes, he was still alive, and yes, his blood oxygen was low again. He coughed, adjusted his CPAP machine with clammy hands, and rolled his soft frame onto his Star Wars-patterned sheets. On the nightstand, Han Solo and Boba Fett figurines stood frozen in plastic confrontation—heroes on a battlefield that never moved.

“You’re breathing like you ran a marathon,” his wife Lisa said flatly, sipping oat milk matcha. Lisa was gorgeous, her edges finely manicured, her wardrobe perfectly suburban but with just enough edge to suggest an Instagram-worthy identity: athleisure sets, designer sneakers, and pearl hoops. Her ebony skin contrasted like a shadow cut into their gleaming white IKEA bedroom. “Did you weigh yourself today? You said you would.”

Brad’s anxiety hit like a misplaced Force choke. “I will. I just—can’t do it first thing. I’m… pacing myself.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “Pace faster.”

Lisa was in “wellness mode” today—doing lunges as she scrolled her phone for affirmations. She was always “proud” of Brad’s wokeness and understanding of privilege (“It’s why I dated you,” she said more than once) but lately, her praise tasted clinical, transactional.

Brad knew. Of course, he knew. She kept him, and he kept her financially. As he checked his privilege, he also checked the balance in his accounts.

---

Chapter Two: The Van

“It’s sustainable. It’s quirky. It’s us.”

The Electric Volkswagen van gleamed beneath the dealership lights, its absurdly cheerful curves exuding an earnest optimism Brad hadn’t felt since Obama was in office. “I think this is perfect,” Brad whispered, his voice vibrating with an emotion he couldn’t place. Hope? Anxiety? Sodium deficiency?

Lisa snapped selfies by the open door. “The world needs more of this energy, babe.”

The dealership guy—a tech-bro in loafers—explained the EV's range. It was… not impressive. “The anxiety fades over time,” he chirped. “The battery? Think of it like your relationship. Just trust it’ll get you where you’re going.”

Brad squinted at the metaphor as the van hummed to life. For some reason, it smelled faintly like ozone and fainting goats.

---

Chapter Three: Family Incentives

Lisa’s idea to adopt came over takeout. “It’s tax-smart,” she said through a chopstick-clutching bite. “And socially conscious.”

Brad blinked through heartburn. “Adopting a child for tax breaks seems…”

“Modern?” Lisa snapped. “Progressive? Forward-thinking? Don’t act like you don’t see the long-term benefits.”

And so, the application process began. When asked for preferences, they typed what they thought society wanted: “Asian female infant.”

---

Chapter Four: A Sword in the Van

The day they went to pick up their child—perfectly dressed for a new Instagram post—Brad’s blood pressure was already spiking. Lisa sat in the passenger seat, scrolling nonchalantly. The Electric Van chugged optimistically up the winding road. Its battery gauge dipped faster than expected.

“See?” Brad said, tapping the display. “This is why I said gas-powered might—”

“Trust it,” Lisa snapped.

And then, they arrived.

Instead of a cherubic infant swaddled in soft cloth, a woman—practically an adult—stood at the entrance of the adoption center, her posture ramrod straight. She wore hakama, black tabi socks tucked into geta sandals, and in her hands rested a real katana.

Brad nearly drove the van into a bush.

“This is a joke,” Lisa hissed.

The adoption official approached. “Congratulations! This is Suki. Her documentation confirms she’s legally adoptable—at seventeen years and eleven months.”

Lisa’s mouth opened like a glitching app. “We ordered a baby. What is this—Kill Bill?”

Suki gave them a long, assessing look before speaking in a flat voice: “I fight for myself. I do not need you.”

Then, she entered the van. Her sword clattered to the floorboards, nicking the pristine trim. Brad winced.

As the van hummed back down the hill, Lisa and Brad exchanged bewildered looks. The dashboard flickered: LOW BATTERY WARNING.

“Is she even allowed to be here?” Lisa whispered.

Suki, arms crossed, stared out the window like a silent samurai ghost. “If I am not here, where would you have me be?”

Brad felt something strange knot in his chest—a mix of dread and inevitability. For the first time, he looked at Lisa, and Lisa looked at him, and they both understood something had fundamentally shifted.

“Quirky,” Brad muttered weakly, pressing the accelerator as the van sputtered toward just enough charge to get home.

---

**Final Scene: **

Later that night, Brad sat on the couch surrounded by unopened Star Wars boxes, scrolling aimlessly. Suki meditated on the floor, her sword across her knees, the soft glow of the smart TV lighting her silhouette. Lisa paced the kitchen, muttering about tax loopholes.

And then Suki spoke, her voice cutting through the shallow domestic hum: “This van you own. It pretends to be strong but struggles under its own weight. Much like you.”

Brad looked up. He wanted to argue, but he couldn’t.

“It still moves forward, though,” she added softly. “Until it doesn’t.”

Brad sighed. He leaned back against the cushions, feeling the plastic wrapping of his unopened toy boxes press against his shoulders.

Modern life was like that van: bright, clean, full of features, and deeply, quietly flawed. And now, parked in the middle of their mess, sat Suki—something ancient, unflinching, and completely incompatible with their scripted life.

It was all just range anxiety. And none of them were going to make it without breaking down.

The End.

Credit to Lucio Vazquez on Facebook.

[mybookof-you]

While my husband lay in a hospital bed recovering from heart surgery, the pulmonologist attempted to conduct a test for sleep apnea. When you are recovering from heart surgery, you don't breathe so good. This test disturbed his sleep, and I complained about how effective such a test might be when someone is not yet fully recovered from surgery. I demanded that the test be discontinued. However, based on the results at that time it was recommended that a CPAP machine be used at home. This doctor and a nurse banded together to try and get my husband moved to another hospital which can be described as a place of no return. It's was a death sentence. They believed he was not trying hard enough to recover. My husband is a tough Mid-Westerner raised to keep working unless you have to go the the emergency room, because your about to die. Yet, the doctor and nurse ignored the fight-or-flight behavior that my husband exhibited--a fact that would reveal something they had not considered was happening to their patient, something very real and which had not been addressed. It was a physical therapist who listened to my husband's grievances and acknowledged the abnormal pain he was experiencing. At that time, COVID was not a reason to prevent a loved one from remaining with a patient, and I was there a great deal of time, only going home to shower and check on our pets. I watched, and I complained, and somehow, miracle of miracles, my husband was released to go home and not that other place. He was provided with an oxygen tank for a specified amount of time. We prepared food that was healthy and palatable, exercised as much as he was able to bear, and slowly made the way to recovery. I was able to get the paperwork done which allowed him to be at home and not have to return to work before he was fully healed. That is another story. Submitting paper work to qualify for paid leave is a sea of confusing and well-designed ambiguity. How does anyone who is ill have the strength to wage such a battle? It shouldn't be that way. Somehow, I got it done, and my husband had enough time to get his oxygenation up to acceptable levels. We owe a lot to the physical therapist. Lincare was the CPAP provider. After my husband had fully recovered, we had the pulmonologist re-administer the test, and my husband was not required to use the machine any longer.

Changes to healthcare will equate to further hardships for hard-working and disadvantaged Americans. If you were an insurance company with the goal to maximize profits, would you be motivated to give money away to everyone who needs it or would you, instead, set down a lot of generally impossible-to-meet requirements? It is not far-fetched to expect the return of the denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions in the wake of the recent election.

[regesteringbettersleepwithdrmat]

Can I Use a CPAP Device to Rule Out Sleep Apnea?

Got sleep apnea? Maybe. Want to know for sure? Don’t count on your CPAP machine to tell you. Sure, it’s the MVP when it comes to treating this pesky disorder, but it’s not the detective you need for a diagnosis.

CPAP Machines: Your Breathing Buddies

Here’s the scoop: sleep apnea messes with your breathing while you snooze, causing you to wake up gasping for air. A CPAP machine steps in like a superhero, blasting a steady stream of air through a mask to keep your airway open. No more breathless nights!

Mask Up: Finding Your Perfect Fit

Our Top-Rated CPAP Masks for Sleep Apnea Relief | Order Your Supplies

Let’s talk masks—because a CPAP machine is nothing without its sidekick. You’ve got options:

Full-Face Masks: These bad boys cover both your nose and mouth. Great if you’re a mouth breather.

Nasal Masks: Just for your nose, perfect if you keep your mouth shut while you sleep.

Nasal Pillow Masks: Minimalist and snug, they rest right at your nostrils. Ideal if you feel claustrophobic with bigger masks.

Don’t forget the headgear—it’s the unsung hero keeping your mask in place, making sure you don’t wake up tangled in your own equipment.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea: Leave it to the Pros

Here’s the kicker: diagnosing sleep apnea isn’t a DIY project.

You need a sleep study (aka polysomnography). This is where the real magic happens, with sensors tracking your sleep patterns, breathing, and more. Only then can a doc say, “Yep, you’ve got sleep apnea,” and hook you up with the right CPAP gear.

Bottom Line

While your CPAP machine is a champ at keeping your airway clear, it’s not your diagnostic buddy. If you’re suspecting sleep apnea, it’s time to call in the professionals for a sleep study. Once diagnosed, your CPAP masks, nasal masks, and headgear will be your best friends in the battle for a good night’s sleep.

[portablegeneratorsreview]

KELUNIS 1100Wh Solar Generator Review

The KELUNIS 1100Wh Solar Generator is a high-capacity portable power station that offers a range of features for powering your devices during emergencies or outdoor adventures. With multiple outputs and a regulated DC 12V output, this power station provides versatility and reliability. I recently had the opportunity to test out the KELUNIS Portable Power Station during a camping trip, and I was thoroughly impressed with its performance. The larger capacity and higher wattages ensured that I had power supply for my essential devices for several days without any issues. The real-time display and LED light were convenient features that allowed me to monitor the battery status easily. I also appreciated the regulated DC 12V output, which provided a stable and safe charging experience for all my devices. High Capacity and Wattage Credit - Amazon.com   Buy On Amazon The KELUNIS Power Station boasts a larger capacity of 1100Wh, making it a reliable source of power during unexpected outages. With a power output of 1200W (peak 2000W), this portable generator can provide energy for up to 2 to 3 days, ensuring that your essential devices remain powered when you need them most. Whether you're camping off-grid or experiencing a power cut at home, the KELUNIS Power Station offers a robust solution for your energy needs. KELUNIS 1100Wh Solar Generator: Versatile Outputs Credit - Amazon.com   Buy On Amazon With regulated DC 12V output, the KELUNIS Power Station utilizes voltage stabilizing technology to ensure safe and efficient charging for your devices.0 fast charging, USB-C PD3.0, and AC outlets, the KELUNIS Power Station caters to a variety of devices. From charging smartphones and laptops to running CPAP machines and outdoor appliances, this generator offers versatility and convenience. With its comprehensive range of outputs, you can power multiple devices simultaneously without compromising on performance. Smart Display and LED Light Credit - Amazon.com   Buy On Amazon The KELUNIS Power Station is equipped with a smart LCD digital screen that provides real-time information on battery status, input/output wattage, and AC/DC output. This feature allows you to monitor the power usage and remaining battery capacity with ease. Additionally, the built-in LED light offers illumination in low-light conditions, making it ideal for outdoor adventures or emergencies. Stay informed and prepared with the intuitive display and LED light of the KELUNIS Power Station. KELUNIS 1100Wh Solar Generator: Voltage Stabilizing Technology Credit - Amazon.com   The KELUNIS Power Station offers three convenient ways to recharge, giving you flexibility and versatility in powering up the generator. This technology maintains a steady voltage level, preventing fluctuations that could damage sensitive electronics. Whether you're charging your devices at home or on the go, you can rely on the KELUNIS Power Station to deliver consistent power without any voltage issues. Experience smooth and reliable charging with the advanced voltage stabilizing technology of this portable generator. KELUNIS 1100Wh Solar Generator: Multi-channel Charging Options Credit - Amazon.com   Featuring multiple output options, including double DC 12V/10A, USB-A, QC3. You can use 120W solar panels to create a solar generator system for sustainable energy solutions. Alternatively, you can charge the power station using a wall outlet or a 12V carport, allowing you to replenish power from various sources. Whether you're in the great outdoors or at home, the KELUNIS Power Station ensures that you can charge up anytime, anywhere. Embrace multi-channel charging capabilities for uninterrupted power supply with this innovative generator. Pros: - The KELUNIS Portable Power Station offers a larger capacity of 1100Wh, providing up to 2-3 days of power supply during emergencies. - It features multiple output options including DC, USB, and AC outlets, making it versatile for charging various devices. - The real-time display and LED light provide easy monitoring of battery status and wattage, ensuring convenience and efficiency. Cons: - The price of £1,937.91 may be a significant investment for some consumers. - The product's weight and size may not be ideal for those looking for a more portable power solution. - The peak power output of 2000W may not be sufficient for powering certain high-energy consumption devices. Read also: - VTOMAN Jump 1500X Power Station: Your Reliable Portable Solar Generator - Bohmer-AG WX-3000K - Reliable and Efficient Portable Petrol Generator - Fmooostore Portable Solar Power Bank Solution - Bohmer-AG i-2500W: Reliable and Efficient Portable Petrol Inverter Generator Conclusion Overall, the KELUNIS Portable Power Station exceeded my expectations with its reliable performance and versatile charging options. Whether you are using it for outdoor activities, emergency backup power, or on-the-go charging, this power station delivers on its promise of providing a dependable power source. I highly recommend the KELUNIS Portable Power Station to anyone in need of a portable and efficient power solution. Questions & Answers: Question: How long does it take to fully charge the KELUNIS Portable Power Station? Answer: The charging time for the KELUNIS Portable Power Station varies depending on the method used. It can be charged with 120W solar panels, a wall outlet, or a 12V carport. Question: Can the KELUNIS Portable Power Station be used to power CPAP machines? Answer: Yes, the KELUNIS Portable Power Station can be used to power CPAP machines, providing a reliable backup power source for users. Question: Is the KELUNIS Portable Power Station suitable for outdoor activities like camping or RV trips? Answer: Yes, the KELUNIS Portable Power Station is designed for outdoor use and is a convenient power backup solution for camping, RV trips, and other outdoor activities. Buy On Amazon Read the full article

[wanderingrustus]

I don't post much about my life all that often, but I feel the need to talk about personal life things for a moment. Don't worry too much, not trying to be doomy gloomy. Just gotta get things off my chest for a moment.

I was recently given instructions to participate in One Night Ultimate Mulbruk Simulator (which is my joke term for a sleep study) and got full confirmation that I have one of the most clear-cut cases of sleep apnea the tech had ever seen.

And now I have to do it again, this time with a CPAP machine.

Look, if it means an actual restful sleep I'll take it. I can't remember the last time I actually slept a full night's worth. It's drastically taken its toll on my mental well being and my energy.

I miss live streaming, even if I don't know what to stream anymore. I know I never had a big crowd or following but I was having fun. Even if it could also be anxiety inducing sometimes, I realize now that if I'm having fun, that's all that really matters. Technical issues be damned lol.

My only current event relevant remark: Palworld is Survival/Crafting with Creature Capturing, not Creature collection with survival aspects. Though you can focus on either one really. It's still fun no matter how you look at it. If anything, I hope it shakes Gamefreak AND Wild Card awake to be better devs. Is that not the goal of competing in the same space? Won't hold my breath about it though. Either way, thanks, Game Pass for letting me try it.

On the note of games, I can finally add Final Fantasy 2 to the list of Completed Games. Time has been overly harsh on this game, and most injustly so. It dared to be different, kinda like me. While that difference is not for everyone, I found it interesting. And considering thanks to the Dissidia games I was picturing Johnny Yong Bosch every time Firion speaks, it was glorious. There were some story hangups, but otherwise had fun with it. Now to save up for some art of Leila, Ricard, and Gordon...

Other than this, I am just floating on, enduring winter and the drop in mood it brings, and contuing to game, in hopes to find something to fully rekindle that flame within.

If you made it this far, you're a real one, and thank you.

May fortune smile upon the road ahead of you.