Zzzzzzzzzs Please...

Originally posted in August 2010

As most of you know, I have sleep apnea. Another lovely side effect of morbid obesity. I use a CPAP machine (almost) every night when I sleep. Albeit the fact that it helps me sleep and that I wake up rested and with energy, I hate that friggin machine. I have strap marks when I wake up in the morning. I have skin irritation on my forehead, nose and above my mouth. It royally bites and I can't wait until the day I do not need it anymore.


While I was on the cruise I did not use it. I had it with me but shampoo splooged in my suitcase and got all over it. Then when I got home I washed all the parts but then lost the nose piece. Well last night Dave said that although I did not snore, he heard me gasping for breath and was concerned. Sleep Apnea is very serious and can be fatal. Well in the interim, I ordered another nose piece and I got it today. Whew! I am tired and can feel the effects of not using it the last 10 days.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

 

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

• Male gender 
• Being overweight
• Being over the age of forty
• Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
• Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw bone
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems

 What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

 

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Worsening of ADHD

In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

 

Common sleep apnea symptoms include:  

• Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
• Loud snoring
• Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
• Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
• Sleepiness while driving
• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep
• Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex
• Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

If you have any of these symptoms, it would be worthwhile to have it checked. The polysomnigram is an easy test they use to determine your oxygen levels while you sleep. I even did mine at home.