Yesterday, I finally received the results from my sleep study. It’s confirmed: I have obstructive sleep apnea.
While sleeping, my airway becomes obstructed and I stop breathing from time-to-time. (How often? I’m not sure.) As a result, I get less oxygen than I need, and wake frequently in order to begin breathing again. This would explain why I am so damn tired all the time. It would explain a lot of things, actually, though I’m unwilling to assign blame for all my bad habits to apnea until I learn more about my condition.
The symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- loud snoring
- morning headaches
- unrefreshing sleep
- a dry mouth upon awakening
- high blood pressure
- overweight
- irritability
- change in personality
- depression
- difficulty concentrating
- excessive perspiring during sleep
- heartburn
- reduced libido
- insomnia
- frequent nocturnal urination (nocturia)
- restless sleep
- nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up)
- confusion upon awakening
I suffer from twelve of those seventeen symptoms. Some of them — unrefreshing sleep, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, perspiring while sleeping, insomnia — are severe, especially since last fall. The lack of motivation has been a particular problem lately. (I recently learned to counter the insomnia with melatonin.)
I know of three people (including Scott) who, upon learning they suffer from sleep apnea, have begun using a C-PAP machine, a device that gently forces additional oxygen into one’s lungs during sleep. All of them claim that this machine has changed their lives. “It’s as if I’d never actually slept before,” they say, “and now, suddenly, I’m completely refreshed. I’m a New Man.”
It would be nice to think that sleeping with a C-PAP machine will make me a New Man, too, but I remain skeptical. I’m also worried about the expense. (Though just about any expense would be worth it to be a New Man.) Too, I wonder if I mightn’t solve my apnea simply by continuing to lose weight. Who can tell?
I’m scheduled for a second sleep study next weekend, at which time I’ll actually be tested with a C-PAP machine. Perhaps I’ll emerge the next morning as a New Man.
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I have a great tollfree number available for you to use, 1-800-Snoring. If you are interested in having this number, please email or call me at that email or phone number listed below.
Andy Owens
1-800-AndyOwens
1-800-263-9693
[email protected]
http://www.1800pathways.com
Am I the only person who finds sleeping with someone on a C pap machine very undesireable?
I hear the rave about how good the “patient” feels but it really does make me dread going to bed. What can I do?