Hi Brianna,
I like to have several backups when I’m in bed. I’d never at home alone if I’m in bed. I feel too vulnerable.
I use a CPAP machine at night and recently was recommended to go to a full face mask. I found out that it muffles my voice and made it impossible for me to call loud enough to be transmitted by the baby monitor so my attendant could hear or to use my backup Google device or the phone that I can voice-dial — at least if I am laying on my right side. Even with my husband sleeping beside me. I was not able to be heard loud enough to wake him. So – so much for therapeutic recommendations! I could not sleep a wink if I didn’t have a way to call someone when I need to be turned in the night between 1 to 3 times!
The fears you raise are VERY real! True story: When I was in my 20s and had not yet experienced all the things that can’t go wrong, my attendant had a stroke right in the middle of putting me to bed! I did not have my phone beside me and was unable to call for help for her (and me). I kept calling to her and finally, she was able to answer even though she could not speak clearly at all. I asked her if she would be able to get to my phone so that I could call for help for her. Because the stroke affected only one side of her body, she was able to drag herself to my phone, yank on the phone cord near the floor which made it land on my bed. I was a lot stronger then so I was able to pick up the phone and call for help.
Because of that experience, I think I aged about ten years, but also became ten years wiser in the process. I’m never without at least two ways to communicate with the outside world whenever I’m home alone or in bed even though there is at least one other person in the house with me.
Your scenarios are indeed scary, but you know what? They help us make safety plans with redundancies in case things go wrong – power goes out, etc. so these fears are in fact a survival tool. Use them, just like you use every other tool at your disposal.