Follow-Up:
Dear Terri :-) Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder caused by an obstruction in the airway passway, making breathing more difficult during sleep. Being overweight, including Obesity, is one cause of Sleep Apnea, and if you were to lose weight there is a good chance you would no longer have this condition provided there are no other factors, such as drinking or structure of the airway passage. Please see my reply to the posting of 1/31/2002 under the title "I am getting the CPAP machine today", as well as my reply to the posting of 12/13/2001 entitled "Is Sleep Apnea Stress Related." Terri, since this a condition which can cause serious problems over time (I can see you're very concerned about this), perhaps you should call a worker at your local Social Service office in the county where you're visiting to see what could be done in your case. Look under the County listings in your phone book. In many cases, Medicare won't cover medical services out of state, unless it is what they classify as an emergency or illness in which the patient needs urgent care. Nevertheless, if they are not able to help you in Maine, you may have to return to your home state to seek medical care for this condition. Good luck and I hope you find the good medical care you're seeking while in Maine. ~ Kayla