I have just been diagnosed (officially) with sleep apnea.
I have been struggling with a chronic clinical depression for years, fatigue that has been increasing for a decade - with no clear cause identified.
I realised not long ago that it had been several years since I could remember having a dream, which distressed me since I used to have vivid, enjoyable dreams. Flying, floating over places I had been. Beautiful fully saturated with color and wonderful energy.
I had been having s dofficult time staying awake in ANY kind of stop\go traffic, dozingat work (not a great thing for job security!), increasing dificulty focusing. For a long time my therapist and I thought that it was one of the depressive cycles that can occur with dysthymia, until i made some comments about the drowsiness at work and she noticed my intermittent bouts of yawning. I also mentioned that I often had to press the top of my nose, just below the bridge, in order to get anywhere near enough air if I wanted to breathe through the nose only. <<red flag here!>>
She suggested I talk with my physician - and I am glad I did. In less than 3 weeks I got an appointment with a sleep \ pulmonary specialist [I was expection at least a 2 month wait] and learned a lot just on that first visit. The specialist coud tell right off I had braces 'about 30 years ago' with just a quick glance inside my mouth.
It did not take long to be dignosed as having apnea, but I needed a sleep study to determine which kind. Within 5 weeks or so I ended the year with my first sleep study. Tha tis an experience in itself!
Not many full-on obstructive episodes, but my air flow SUCKED! [That is my own technical term, by the way]. The problem with the bad airflow is that much of the nightmy poor brain is not STAYING fully asleep, since it has to become wakeful tohelp me breathe enoug to stay asleep. I only got 1 almost decent period of REM sleep that night. The charts were very interesting.
Three weeks later I had another study - with a lovely face decoration attached called a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Quite fashionable. I had a restless night in some ways, but when I finally got comfortable that night - I slept decently and I DREAMED a vivid dream. I have gotten several TO-DO's done in the 2 days since the CPAP night...and no naps either!
More in another article...
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 5
Looks like we have something in common. I, too, have sleep apnea. I didn't get the beneift of tests; two doctors looked at me and just decided that's what I had.
I wear a C-PAP every night. It sure isn't enticing for a romantic evening is it? Some nights I stay up late just so I won't have to put it on for a whole night. I've gotten to where I can tolerate it at least. I can say it is much better than wearing oxygen for a year and a half.
I've found a product at the health food store called "Cell Food" that helps me more than any inhaler does. I hate it when I can't get enough air.
Mom always said that after 40, it was patch, patch, patch. She didn't know the half of it.
Have a comfortable time with your C-PAP.
Barbara S.
I am sure I will feel very fashionable in it-
But the 'high' wore off and I am back to 'normal'
I look forward to the new normal