![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
It's All About Meee-eee-eee
Nov. 17th, 2016 01:17 pmThis morning there came a call from Dr. Sleepy with the results of my test. Apparently I have severe sleep apnea, with my breathing stopping more than 60 times in an hour. I thought I had slept for 6 hours but he tells me that the monitors showed a little less than 2.5 hours...
I am feeling decidedly grumpy about this. I went in sure that wasn't my problem and over the last few years have been somewhat superiorly snooty about the whole explosion of c-pap machines being rained down upon the general population. I was prepared to vent my scorn when I'd surely be told that I needed one, since that was the default that each tech or doctor in the clinic immediately jumped to before I was examined but, well - I can't argue with the machine's findings. If I am truly not getting sufficient oxygen and rest then that too neatly explains a lot of my difficulties. Probably not the leg cramping but the grogginess and lack of mental clarity, the irregular sleeping pattern, the odd depression I've been feeling, and the weight gain - those are all symptoms of apnea.
So I've humbly agreed to come back for another session where they will fit me with various masks and devices to see which one is the most effective. I expect that there will be a narrow selection given my history of chronic sinusitis.
A stupid sleep mask. Air being pushed into my face each night.
I am not happy.
But I'm desperate enough to accept the indignity if it will help me towards growing more healthy. Whether or not I'm going to tote the thing to and from SCA overnight events remains to be seen. I will have enough time to evaluate its benefits before the camping season begins again in the late spring. Nonetheless if it will help me change my sleeping irregularities and be able to think again, it will be well worth it.
I am feeling decidedly grumpy about this. I went in sure that wasn't my problem and over the last few years have been somewhat superiorly snooty about the whole explosion of c-pap machines being rained down upon the general population. I was prepared to vent my scorn when I'd surely be told that I needed one, since that was the default that each tech or doctor in the clinic immediately jumped to before I was examined but, well - I can't argue with the machine's findings. If I am truly not getting sufficient oxygen and rest then that too neatly explains a lot of my difficulties. Probably not the leg cramping but the grogginess and lack of mental clarity, the irregular sleeping pattern, the odd depression I've been feeling, and the weight gain - those are all symptoms of apnea.
So I've humbly agreed to come back for another session where they will fit me with various masks and devices to see which one is the most effective. I expect that there will be a narrow selection given my history of chronic sinusitis.
A stupid sleep mask. Air being pushed into my face each night.
I am not happy.
But I'm desperate enough to accept the indignity if it will help me towards growing more healthy. Whether or not I'm going to tote the thing to and from SCA overnight events remains to be seen. I will have enough time to evaluate its benefits before the camping season begins again in the late spring. Nonetheless if it will help me change my sleeping irregularities and be able to think again, it will be well worth it.
