Since I was in my late 20's or early 30's I have complained to the doctor about feeling fatigued and tired all the time. During this period I had 5 children (4 in 5 years and the last one was 3 years after number 4). The doctor kept saying it was because I had 5 kids I was chasing after all day, plus a part time job for most of the time. I often felt like I could sleep for days and could barely drag myself around. This was in the late 70's and early 80's. Not a lot was known about sleep apnea during this time.
I have always needed a lot sleep -- I average between 9 and 10 hours a night. If I get the "normal" 8 hours or fewer I do not function well the next day. I contributed some of my tiredness on the fact that I require a lot of sleep and always have.
For the last several years my husband has complained of my snoring and has often woke me up during the night shaking me telling me to breathe. To be honest, I didn't think much about it but chalked it up to his ornery side. When my granddaughter was in preschool she stayed with me lots of times (I work in the same school she was attending) and several times she woke me up scared telling me that I wasn't breathing. This went on for approximately a year -- with her waking me up probably 6 or 7 times during that period.
I broached the subject with my doctor and she agreed that I should have a sleep study done. She had never mentioned getting one done -- although I often complained of being sleepy, tired, waking with raging headaches, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms related to untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can lead to depression, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and a whole host of other complications.
It took approximately one month to get into our local sleep lab (associated with our local hospital). My doctor told me that she had scheduled a split study. This is where they collect data for part of the night and if you are diagnosed they do the titration study the same night. Imagine my disappointment when during the night I was not hooked up to a cpap. I asked the lab tech the next morning about it and was told she couldn't give me any answers that I would have to speak to the doctor about the test results. It was a big disappointment. On the way out of the sleep lab she chimed in with a "Well technically I shouldn't tell you this but we will be seeing you again in the near future."
After a week or so without a word from my doctor I called and she stated that she had gotten the test results that morning and was scheduling me another sleep study -- this time with a cpap. My titration study was done a week later.
My tests results came back that I have severe OSA. I was prescribed a "smart cpap with c-flex with a heated humidifier with a pressure range of 8 - 12 along with a Fisher and Paykel HC 431 full face mask."
That was the beginning of my journey with an apap.
I can only encourage you if you or a loved one have the symptoms of OSA -- Please talk to your doctor about arranging for a sleep study or other available means to diagnose if you have sleep apnea.
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