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CPAP: The key to everything

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Posted by Easy Breather on November 29, 2008 at 14:18:38:

First of all, I would like to say, that I think I have had sleep apnea most of my life since I was very young. I am not certain, but I have heard of people having smaller throat openings, and I believe I may have this as well. As a young man I snored, even at age 17. As I was an athlete, played the clarinet, sang in choir, and ate healthy I believe all these things helped keep my throat healthy and staved off my apnea. But I have always had a difficult time breathing when I was running, even when I was in cross country, and I was not prone to any allergies (that I am aware of).

When I hit age 19 I became sedentary. Years of heavy weightlifting started to swell my muscle size. My diet shifted from fruits and vegetables based to meat and carbs. By age 21 I was drinking regularly in college, and the beer added a thick ring of fat to my belly, further adding to the stress on my throat. I was snoring so loud people could not stand to be int he same room with me at night. I had friends tell me I quit breathing at night. It was at this time I believe my APNEA and alcoholism began to spiral into each other, exacerbating both conditions.

By my late 20's early 30's I was heavy and had been so ever since I started college. My snoring progressed. I self-medicated with beer and so I was able to 'sleep' (or so I thought). Periods of insomnia set in. I was on a roller coaster ride of binge eating, strong sugar cravings, drinking, and staying up for days. My emotions began to spiral out of control. I was not employable and worked for years as a temp, even though I was very talented at what I did (admin asst). In later years I could not stay awake in front of the computer.

In the weeks before my diagnosis, I could not sleep, and I could not stay awake. My life was a series of uncontrollable cravings. At night I woke up regularly from terrible nightmares about being suffocated. I had to lay on my stomach to sleep at all, and I spent whole weeks on the couch. When available I slept in front of the air conditioner, which I ran constantly. At one point I was so tired and dehydrated, I could not walk with out falling over or going into a wall (even though in my head it looked like I was walking straight on). I was terrified of falling in front of a car and so I stayed in my house and had to call in sick to work for this at least once. I couldn't even drink at this point, although I tried to so I could sleep (and because I am also an alcoholic).

One day right before I was diagnosed, I fell asleep in mid sentence talking to my mother in the car!!! I thought I was dying, and I thought there was no hope for me. I felt insane. I was afraid all of manner of potential mental illnesses. I finally went in to a sleep clinic in Seattle, and I was diagnosed for obstructive sleep apnea. I was waking up 111 times an hour, and my blood oxygen level was in the 70 percentile (I don't recall exactly). I was a mess.

Then I got my CPAP machine. WOW! I never knew how good I could feel, I slept for the first time whole nights without tossing and turning or having awful nightmares. I too realized a sharp drop off in my hunger and eating binges. I lost 20 pounts almost immediately (I was nearly 300 when I started CPAP). I became able to stay awake during the day, even watching tv or sitting in front of the computer. I was more rational, and emotionally stable. I was able to make better healthier decisions.

My life has continued to get better since then, except for a period just recently when I quit using the CPAP. At first I seemed okay since I wasn't snoring or having nightmares (yet) but my condition did deteriorate to where my weight came back as did the snoring and lack of energy. At a friends urging (she has CPAP too) I started using the machine again and I am once again AMAZED at how much BETTER I feel.

I am going to continue with my CPAP irregardless now forever. Because my food cravings are gone, my weight is coming off, my alcohol cravings are gone, and I JUST FEEL HEALTHY. God bless the people who treat us, and may we all be saved the pain and torture of SLeep Apnea.

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