IT'S AN ANNOYING CLICHE', BUT....

[alandhopewell]

     Something happened on Friday that actually has changed my life!
I got fitted for my CPAP machine....for the last few years, I've been suffering from a raft of symptoms, from mental sluggishness to shortness of breath to eneuresis. My doctor suggested that I have a sleep study done, which I did a coupke weeks ago.

     Come to find out, I have sleep apnea, which has been causing oxygen deprivation in my body. I took my machine home last Friday, and have slept wearing a nose mask with air ever since. Already, I'm seeing amazing improvements-I don't drop off to sleep in the afternoon (or at church), I don't snore anymore, or thrash around in bed, I've stopped talking in my sleep, and I feel so much better, I have energy like it's twenty years ago.

     If you're feeling old, sluggish, or just like a wreck for no good reason, get a sleep study done. It's no  big deal; indeed, you sleep through it!   

[Rev. Powell]

I actually think I need to get tested for apnea. It's pretty expensive though.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I tell you what, a CPAP saved my marriage. My wife was pregnant with our second child .  Her snoring has gotten very bad (I got no sleep, and she didn't believe she was snoring and we fought over it, I ended up sleeping away from her a lot), and she was short tempered with our little girl.  We were short with each other and things were VERY bad (like "I'm leaving you" bad).  Eventually had a total breakdown of weeping and "no coping", thinking she had finally lost her mind.
Out of desparation she had a whole battery of tests including a sleep test, and found out she had life threatening apnea. Literally every minute she had a significant risk of a stroke. She got her machine, and within two nights all was 100% better.  Now we both evangelize over apnea treatments.

So, I am so happy for you!
-Ed

[indianasmith]

I had this test done two years ago and was found to have SEVERE Congestive Sleep Apnea.  The CPAP has made me happier, healthier, and I get deep, restful sleep.  I have to do a full face mask because I am a mouth breather.  CPAP's are awesome!

[Jack]

I've stopped talking in my sleep,

How's Tracy going to find out all your secrets now?

Seriously though glad to hear you're feeling so much better!  Very happy for you Alan.

[Flangepart]

YES!
Back in 07, I was so tired, I nearly fell asleep while driving! More than once. It's how I make my living.
Half way through the test, they put me on a machine, and in four hours, I felt better than I had in a long time.
I could not sleep without it, I need it that bad. The doc said I had 94 s breathing stoppages an hour, and the longest was 94 seconds. Yeesh!

Seriously, get checked out.

[tracy]

I've stopped talking in my sleep,

How's Tracy going to find out all your secrets now?

Seriously though glad to hear you're feeling so much better!  Very happy for you Alan.

I'll just ask him...I'm that way.

I must admit,though,that it's helped me,too. I have a bad back that would occassionally have a spasm whenever he moved about.

[alandhopewell]

I tell you what, a CPAP saved my marriage. My wife was pregnant with our second child .  Her snoring has gotten very bad (I got no sleep, and she didn't believe she was snoring and we fought over it, I ended up sleeping away from her a lot), and she was short tempered with our little girl.  We were short with each other and things were VERY bad (like "I'm leaving you" bad).  Eventually had a total breakdown of weeping and "no coping", thinking she had finally lost her mind.
Out of desparation she had a whole battery of tests including a sleep test, and found out she had life threatening apnea. Literally every minute she had a significant risk of a stroke. She got her machine, and within two nights all was 100% better.  Now we both evangelize over apnea treatments.

So, I am so happy for you!
-Ed

     THank you; glad for you and your wife.

[alandhopewell]

YES!
Back in 07, I was so tired, I nearly fell asleep while driving! More than once. It's how I make my living.
Half way through the test, they put me on a machine, and in four hours, I felt better than I had in a long time.
I could not sleep without it, I need it that bad. The doc said I had 94 s breathing stoppages an hour, and the longest was 94 seconds. Yeesh!

Seriously, get checked out.

     Same here....the woman who administered  the test said that, in two years of working at that facility, I was the worst she'd seen; 100 stops an hour.

     The amazing part is how fast you start to improve....as you said, you can see a difference from just the few hours you sleep with the device during tesating.

[indianasmith]

The nurse who did my sleep study told me how many stops an hour I had, but I can't remember the number now.  But what did stick in my head was when she told me that my blood oxygen level, which is supposed to be in the 90's, was down to 45 at one point. She said "That's heart attack territory!"

What I do remember is being cranky, feeling drained every day, and falling asleep every time I sat still.  I even fell asleep while lecturing to my seventh graders one day!!!  They were laughing when I shook my head and came to, but no one would tell me what I had said.

[alandhopewell]

The nurse who did my sleep study told me how many stops an hour I had, but I can't remember the number now.  But what did stick in my head was when she told me that my blood oxygen level, which is supposed to be in the 90's, was down to 45 at one point. She said "That's heart attack territory!"

What I do remember is being cranky, feeling drained every day, and falling asleep every time I sat still.  I even fell asleep while lecturing to my seventh graders one day!!!  They were laughing when I shook my head and came to, but no one would tell me what I had said.

     Sounds familiar....it 's so cool, how much stuff has gotten better....

More energy
Better attitude
Clearer thoughts
Food tastes better
Not as tempermental

     And afew more private things.