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New patient-depression

Posted by AJ on August 30, 2001 at 21:58:53:

Sunday night was my first overnight sleep study and I found out from the technician that I had sleep apnea. The next day I received a call to immediatly come back for a second test. I had that done Wednesday overnight. I have an appointment with my Academy-approved sleep study doctor on September 9 and the suspense is killing me.

Why would they make me come back so quick? Anyway, the first night was to establish a baseline and the second night was for me to sleep with a mask or the little "pillows" on. Having read this forum for about a week prior to going for my tests, I was well informed. I spent half the night with the mask and the other half with the "pillows".

I prefer the pillows because they seem, to me, less intrusive because of the position I like to sleep in. The only problem was one pillow was tearing into my right nostril like a drill while the other one was a little loose. I had to play with it constantly.

Having said that, the mask seemed to have it's own merits too because it seemed more capable of handling the "wind load" than the pillows did. There seemed to be a little more freedom with the mask because of the free space within it and the fact that more air can escape allowing you an easier breating pattern. (That's a no-no, I know.)

The pillow's "wind" has nowhere to go but right into your schnozolla, down your throat, and into your lungs. This can be a little overwhelming at first. I was started at #4 and it was cranked up as needed by the techicians while I "slept" but in the middle of the night I had to go to the bathroom and when she put the pillows back on me, my cheeks puffed out like hot air baloons.

She said "oh let me take it down a couple of notches to #6"! I had been on #10!! Isn't that high? Anyway, that morning, after I got home, a deep depression came over me like a dark cloud and I have not been able to get it to lift. I am on medication for depression and now I am totally confused as to the cause of the depression.

Do I still need the medication for the depression? I know you folks are not doctors but I really need help here. I have almost lost my job over this and in fact I just may but I don't care anymore. It seems that Apnea can cause depression (side effect from not sleeping properly for most of your life). Do I suffer depression from some other cause or from Apnea?

I am seeing my shrink tomorrow before I do something stupid. (I really feel suicidal over this). If I go to work in my present state tomorrow I will lose my job for sure but if I go in to work (because my boss really needs me)I feel like I will do something I will regret. I feel sick over this entire thing What to do?

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  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


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