For years my husband thought the freight train sound I make when I sleep was just noise – loud noise that kept him awake all night. He never imagined that loud snoring could be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night.
Sick and tired of feeling nauseous and exhausted all day, I had a sleep study conducted at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Based on the results of the study, my doctor recommended a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to help me breathe properly during sleep. The machine features a mask that is placed over the nose and pushes air through the airway with enough pressure to prevent apneas from occurring.
Using the machine took a few weeks to get used to, but now it’s part of my nightly routine. I have been using a CPAP for over a month and I can’t believe the results. Not only has it eliminated the snoring completely, I wake up feeling rested without headaches and nausea. I can’t recall the last time I slept through the night before using the CPAP and now my husband and I both get a good night’s sleep. More importantly, I don’t lose valuable oxygen during the night that can lead to serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease or memory problems.
I want to thank the staff at Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center for giving my husband and me some much needed peace and quiet!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
Showing posts with label Sleep Disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleep Disorders. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
CPAP Means No More Night Train
So it took me a while, but I went back to the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center to have the second part of my sleep study conducted. This time was to see if a CPAP machine would help increase my oxygen level and reduce the loud snoring while I slept.
I have to admit that I was afraid to try the mask. I’m not sure if it was me or the mask, but I felt like I looked like something out of a late-night horror movie. I definitely wouldn’t wear it in front of my grandchildren.
Feeling the air pressure through my nose seemed difficult to adjust to at first, but I was surprised at how quickly I was able to fall asleep with the machine running. It was very quiet and compact and easy to maneuver – I did move around until I got comfortable and I didn’t even notice the flexibility of the air hose.
The technician monitored my sleep and breathing, and adjusted the pressure while I slept. I can’t say that I woke up feeling refreshed because the tech woke me up at 5:30 a.m., which is earlier than normal for me.
However, the test results showed that my oxygen level was steady at 95 to 97 percent. When the original study was conducted without the CPAP machine, my oxygen level dropped to 69 percent. It also showed that there were no abnormal respiratory events scored, which was a great improvement from 18 times per hour as indicated in the first study.
And the best news of all, according to my husband, is that there was no significant snoring noted. The freight train may have come to a stop.
The next step is to see my physician and get a prescription for a CPAP machine to use at home. My husband said he doesn’t care what I look like wearing the mask because hopefully without my snoring, he will be able to sleep and won’t see me anyway. We are both looking forward to a better night’s sleep in a week or so. Wish me luck!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
I have to admit that I was afraid to try the mask. I’m not sure if it was me or the mask, but I felt like I looked like something out of a late-night horror movie. I definitely wouldn’t wear it in front of my grandchildren.
Feeling the air pressure through my nose seemed difficult to adjust to at first, but I was surprised at how quickly I was able to fall asleep with the machine running. It was very quiet and compact and easy to maneuver – I did move around until I got comfortable and I didn’t even notice the flexibility of the air hose.
The technician monitored my sleep and breathing, and adjusted the pressure while I slept. I can’t say that I woke up feeling refreshed because the tech woke me up at 5:30 a.m., which is earlier than normal for me.
However, the test results showed that my oxygen level was steady at 95 to 97 percent. When the original study was conducted without the CPAP machine, my oxygen level dropped to 69 percent. It also showed that there were no abnormal respiratory events scored, which was a great improvement from 18 times per hour as indicated in the first study.
And the best news of all, according to my husband, is that there was no significant snoring noted. The freight train may have come to a stop.
The next step is to see my physician and get a prescription for a CPAP machine to use at home. My husband said he doesn’t care what I look like wearing the mask because hopefully without my snoring, he will be able to sleep and won’t see me anyway. We are both looking forward to a better night’s sleep in a week or so. Wish me luck!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Getting Closer to Better Sleep
I had a sleep study conducted recently at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center and the experience was a lot better than I anticipated. The staff was really nice and informative, and my room was like a luxury suite – the bed was surprisingly comfortable and I fell asleep quickly. I thought I slept like a baby.
But that’s not what my test results showed.
I have obstructive sleep apnea which causes my oxygen level to fall to 69 percent during REM sleep. Although the obscenely loud snoring that keeps my husband awake at night is an issue, knowing that my oxygen level decreases is much more important. I also had no idea that I wake up an average of 18 times per hour and have periodic limb movements 38 times per hour.
No wonder I’m exhausted! It is fascinating to discover something about myself that I didn’t know.
The next step on my path to a better night’s sleep is to have another sleep study. This time, I will be tested using a CPAP machine to determine the extent it will help my breathing while I sleep.
In the meantime, my husband will just have to use ear plugs!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
But that’s not what my test results showed.
I have obstructive sleep apnea which causes my oxygen level to fall to 69 percent during REM sleep. Although the obscenely loud snoring that keeps my husband awake at night is an issue, knowing that my oxygen level decreases is much more important. I also had no idea that I wake up an average of 18 times per hour and have periodic limb movements 38 times per hour.
No wonder I’m exhausted! It is fascinating to discover something about myself that I didn’t know.
The next step on my path to a better night’s sleep is to have another sleep study. This time, I will be tested using a CPAP machine to determine the extent it will help my breathing while I sleep.
In the meantime, my husband will just have to use ear plugs!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Rock-a-bye Baby – or Else!
Parents of young kids have plenty of stress on them (or so I’ve heard). The formative years from conception to age 30 – when they finally move out of the house – are crucial to the development of good, decent, tax-paying members of society.
There are so many things to consider. Make sure you take prenatal vitamins. Read to the kid in the womb. Baby Einstein or Barney? Organic strained carrots or the regular stuff? Cloth or Pampers? Day care or stay-at-home parent?
Now a new study suggests another possibility for worry. The recently published Harvard study suggests that babies and toddlers who get less than 12 hours of sleep a day have a higher risk for being overweight by the time they get to preschool.
Preschool. Now we’re worrying about kids being overweight in preschool. Who ever used to think of that? I carried a lot of chunk around when I was in preschool – and elementary, junior high, high school, college and on up until today. But back then, it wasn’t viewed as anything more than a slice or two of Velveeta too many.
Now a study comes out that shows lack of sleep for kids in this age group means the likelihood of the kid growing up “husky” (as my mom used to call it) jumps as much as 12 percent.
Throw in watching television and the number balloons to 17 percent. So now it seems that nearly two out of every 10 non-sleeping, TV-watching babies has a higher likelihood of being overweight. And they haven’t even had the option of making their own bad judgments, like a Dr Pepper and Hostess Cupcake lunch in the school cafeteria.
The bottom line, experts say, is to get kids on a regular sleeping schedule. Make sure they get exercise. Don’t let them watch too much TV. All of which is good advice that should help you have a healthier kid.
I just wonder if we’re spooking ourselves too much with these studies. I wonder sometimes why parents just don’t lock their kids into hermetically sealed rooms and leave them there until they’ve passed the FCAT.
The fact is, simply by being born we’re exposing them to danger. Are we really helping things by worrying about every single thing that may or may not occur, based on a study? Probably not.
So don’t worry if your kid sleeps 11 hours instead of 12. If he gains a few extra pounds, make whatever adjustments you can. But losing sleep over every health study that comes down the pike won’t do anybody any good.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
There are so many things to consider. Make sure you take prenatal vitamins. Read to the kid in the womb. Baby Einstein or Barney? Organic strained carrots or the regular stuff? Cloth or Pampers? Day care or stay-at-home parent?
Now a new study suggests another possibility for worry. The recently published Harvard study suggests that babies and toddlers who get less than 12 hours of sleep a day have a higher risk for being overweight by the time they get to preschool.
Preschool. Now we’re worrying about kids being overweight in preschool. Who ever used to think of that? I carried a lot of chunk around when I was in preschool – and elementary, junior high, high school, college and on up until today. But back then, it wasn’t viewed as anything more than a slice or two of Velveeta too many.
Now a study comes out that shows lack of sleep for kids in this age group means the likelihood of the kid growing up “husky” (as my mom used to call it) jumps as much as 12 percent.
Throw in watching television and the number balloons to 17 percent. So now it seems that nearly two out of every 10 non-sleeping, TV-watching babies has a higher likelihood of being overweight. And they haven’t even had the option of making their own bad judgments, like a Dr Pepper and Hostess Cupcake lunch in the school cafeteria.
The bottom line, experts say, is to get kids on a regular sleeping schedule. Make sure they get exercise. Don’t let them watch too much TV. All of which is good advice that should help you have a healthier kid.
I just wonder if we’re spooking ourselves too much with these studies. I wonder sometimes why parents just don’t lock their kids into hermetically sealed rooms and leave them there until they’ve passed the FCAT.
The fact is, simply by being born we’re exposing them to danger. Are we really helping things by worrying about every single thing that may or may not occur, based on a study? Probably not.
So don’t worry if your kid sleeps 11 hours instead of 12. If he gains a few extra pounds, make whatever adjustments you can. But losing sleep over every health study that comes down the pike won’t do anybody any good.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, April 4, 2008
Seeking a Good Night’s Sleep
My husband tells me that I snore like a freight train, keeping him up at night. He has even video taped it to show me and unfortunately for him, it actually sounds like the train is coming through the wall.
I wake up most days feeling more exhausted than when I went to sleep the night before. I’ve tried the usual suggestions, like reading before bedtime, drinking decaffeinated, hot tea and even counting sheep.
I fall asleep very quickly and I sleep through the night, even if I’ve had a daytime nap. I should feel fabulous the next day, but instead, I’m lethargic with limited energy. I fight to stay awake while driving too, which really scares me.
I’ve tried caffeinated drinks and medication to keep me awake, but I don’t know what causes my excessive daytime sleepiness.
My doctor suggested a sleep study to determine if I have sleep apnea, a condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.
On April 11, I will participate in a sleep study at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center. While I’m eager to find out if I have sleep apnea and discuss treatment options with my doctor, I’m also a little hesitant. I don’t like spending the night somewhere away from home.
I’ve been to other sleep centers and found their rooms very small and confined. When I visited the sleep center at Martin Memorial, I was pleased to see the spacious rooms and personal bathrooms – they looked like hotel rooms. I was welcomed by pleasant, knowledgeable staff that seemed to care about my sleeping problem and wanted to help me find answers and solutions.
I’m looking forward to learning more about my sleeping issues and I’m hopeful that my sleep study will produce results to help me get a better night’s sleep.
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
I wake up most days feeling more exhausted than when I went to sleep the night before. I’ve tried the usual suggestions, like reading before bedtime, drinking decaffeinated, hot tea and even counting sheep.
I fall asleep very quickly and I sleep through the night, even if I’ve had a daytime nap. I should feel fabulous the next day, but instead, I’m lethargic with limited energy. I fight to stay awake while driving too, which really scares me.
I’ve tried caffeinated drinks and medication to keep me awake, but I don’t know what causes my excessive daytime sleepiness.
My doctor suggested a sleep study to determine if I have sleep apnea, a condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.
On April 11, I will participate in a sleep study at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center. While I’m eager to find out if I have sleep apnea and discuss treatment options with my doctor, I’m also a little hesitant. I don’t like spending the night somewhere away from home.
I’ve been to other sleep centers and found their rooms very small and confined. When I visited the sleep center at Martin Memorial, I was pleased to see the spacious rooms and personal bathrooms – they looked like hotel rooms. I was welcomed by pleasant, knowledgeable staff that seemed to care about my sleeping problem and wanted to help me find answers and solutions.
I’m looking forward to learning more about my sleeping issues and I’m hopeful that my sleep study will produce results to help me get a better night’s sleep.
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
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