Are you feeling tired and having a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning? For the last few months, I have been feeling tired when I wake up. And by 4 PM, I felt ready for a nap, or maybe to go to bed for the night. I was also gaining weight. My doctor had suggested a sleep study. I told her I would wait and see if I started feeling better. It only got worse. And then I noticed I was waking up with a headache.
Complications
Sleep apnea can cause a variety of complications. Besides the chronic fatigue that I noticed, you can notice that you are snoring, you wake up with a dry mouth or have a sore throat. These are other common complications (but may not be a complete list):
- Depression
- Stroke
- Weight Gain
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Restless sleeping
- Night sweats
- Excessive waking up to go to the bathroom
- Pulmonary Hypertension (a type of high blood pressure)
- Cardiac Arrhythmia
These are not something to ignore. It is possible to die from some of these, so I strongly recommend you get tested if you think there is even a slight chance you have it. I already have pulmonary hypertension, but it has been kept under control through a prescription for as long as I’ve had it, which I believe has been about twenty years.
Who is likely to get sleep apnea?
I gave in and did the sleep study. Much to my surprise, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. After my diagnosis, my doctor ordered my CPAP machine. I have been using it for weeks now and I have so much energy. I feel happier and I get more done in a day. It wasn’t a diagnosis I ever expected, but I’m happy for a diagnosis that is relatively easy to get better. I’m not sure why I have severe sleep apnea. It is more common in men, smokers, drinkers, and obese people. Those don’t apply to me, but I fall into the “being older,” “high blood pressure,” and “having gone through menopause” categories. I’m only on week four of catching up on my sleep. Also, getting rid of the headaches.
Finding out you have Sleep Apnea
As I mentioned, my doctor recommended a Sleep Test. I’ll be honest, the reason I avoided it was I did not want to sleep at a Sleep Disorder Center. I figured I wouldn’t be able to do it. To my delight, I found out I could do it at home. My appointment was a few days later. The appointment involved going to the Sleep Disorder Center, filling out a form with my information, and picking up something in a case that included the instructions. The actual equipment looks very similar to the photo on the right. I took home the wristband with an attached oxygen level tester for my finger. I wore it overnight and returned it the next day. It was so simple and I could sleep in my normal bed.
I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. If your number shows how many times you stop breathing in an hour is under 5, you are fortunate to not need a CPAP machine. If your number is 5-14 you have mild sleep apnea and your doctor may try lifestyle changes before you would need a CPAP. You may be asked to lose weight, quit smoking, reduce your alcohol consumption, etc. If this doesn’t work, you might need to use a CPAP machine after all. If your number is 15- 29 you have moderate sleep apnea. Anything 30 and over is severe. Mine was 33.6. If you figure you are asleep 8 hours a day, and you stop breathing 30 times an hour. That means 240 times a day you stop breathing and wake up. No wonder I was so tired.
CPAP use
My CPAP looks like the picture below. It is not the large face-covering masks from years back. You will be given the opportunity to pick out the mask that you feel is best for you. Mine was ordered by my doctor’s office through Apria Healthcare. A prescription is
required to place the order. I can order replacement supplies directly through Apria Healthcare. I was given a list of how often supplies should be replaced. Apria sends out my supplies, but I must pay the copay, which I feel is small.
Maintaining your equipment
This was something I never thought about. My insurance (Medicare) covered a large part of my CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and I paid a small co-pay.
However, having a CPAP machine involves purchasing replacement supplies (with a copay) and cleaning parts of the CPAP machine regularly.
Each day I clean out and air dry the humidifier tub. Distilled water should be used in this tub, not tap water. Weekly, I wash the humidifier tub, air tubing, and the outlet connector in warm water using household dishwashing liquid, then rinse each item and allow it to dry. Also, wipe the exterior of the device with a dry cloth. It might seem a bother, but it really doesn’t take much time. And keeping the device clean is important. Breathing in dirty water vapor is not good for you.
Going Forward
It is possible to overcome sleep apnea. Check with your doctor to see what you can do to end sleep apnea.
If you feel tired all the time, maybe you should talk to your doctor. You may not have sleep apnea but, it’s important you check it out. Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder. You stop breathing repeatedly during the night. In my case, I stopped breathing over 30 times an hour. That horrified me. And sleep apnea can increase your likelihood of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and more. Get tested if you think you may have sleep apnea. Don’t risk the consequences of not being treated.
