I suffer from a severe case of sleep apnea. I have taken part in several sleep studies and it was found out about 6 years ago that while sleeping, I stopped breathing 87 times an hour. The good news was that I started breathing 88 times an hour. I also snore like a buzzsaw.
I first found out about my sleep apnea about 10 years ago. I would get very tired while sitting still, especially while driving. I figured it was due to working 10-12 hours a day, an hour's drive each way to work, and not getting enough sleep at night. One evening while driving home from work, I went onto I-76/US-224 from Ohio-21. Only I don't remember getting off the ramp. I do remember driving towards the speed limit signs, through one of the breakaway(thank God) posts, the car on it's side for a couple of seconds, then resting against a seedling. I fell asleep at the wheel. I wrecked the car. I was, thankfully, only shaken up.
My doctor at the time, sent me for a sleep study, which indicated that I had a mild case of sleep apnea. I was told to sleep on my side and try to lose some weight.
A few years later, after a change of health care providers and primary care physicians, I was being treated for hypertension and sent for another sleep study. That was the one which determined I had stopped breathing 87 times an hour. I was then prescribed a CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. The use of this machine would force me to breathe through my nose instead of my mouth by sending a prescribed amount of air via a mask attached to the machine. My health insurance has paid for this as part of my benefits. I got my first CPAP in June of 2003. A couple of weeks ago the readout was showing some error codes, which meant that it was starting to malfunction. My doctor prescribed and my insurance paid for a new one. My new machine is about a third of the size of the previous one. I had the same model pictured in the Wikipedia link posted above. I also don't snore while using the machine.
Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition. It was this that claimed the life of pro football star Reggie White.
I first found out about my sleep apnea about 10 years ago. I would get very tired while sitting still, especially while driving. I figured it was due to working 10-12 hours a day, an hour's drive each way to work, and not getting enough sleep at night. One evening while driving home from work, I went onto I-76/US-224 from Ohio-21. Only I don't remember getting off the ramp. I do remember driving towards the speed limit signs, through one of the breakaway(thank God) posts, the car on it's side for a couple of seconds, then resting against a seedling. I fell asleep at the wheel. I wrecked the car. I was, thankfully, only shaken up.
My doctor at the time, sent me for a sleep study, which indicated that I had a mild case of sleep apnea. I was told to sleep on my side and try to lose some weight.
A few years later, after a change of health care providers and primary care physicians, I was being treated for hypertension and sent for another sleep study. That was the one which determined I had stopped breathing 87 times an hour. I was then prescribed a CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. The use of this machine would force me to breathe through my nose instead of my mouth by sending a prescribed amount of air via a mask attached to the machine. My health insurance has paid for this as part of my benefits. I got my first CPAP in June of 2003. A couple of weeks ago the readout was showing some error codes, which meant that it was starting to malfunction. My doctor prescribed and my insurance paid for a new one. My new machine is about a third of the size of the previous one. I had the same model pictured in the Wikipedia link posted above. I also don't snore while using the machine.
Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition. It was this that claimed the life of pro football star Reggie White.
Comments
Peace - D
I'm sure my wife will weigh in on this if she reads the post.
Glad you were able to get a new one and no hassle w/ your insurance...you are very lucky.
I've seen C-PAPs at places I've worked. I guess they are difficult to get use to. Some patients complain about them in the beginning, but it helps once they get use to it.
One of the women in my small group has this (not quite as severe as yours, however) and the CPAP has done her a world of good. She now has much more energy and seems much happier.
I'm glad you were able to find the source of the problem... think of all the people, over time, who have struggled with this, having no idea what was wrong....
However, when I'm in bed and turn off the light, a lot of things come to my mind and I cannot fall asleep. I found this particularly strange in a person who has a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.