Not too long ago, I wrote an article about my customer service experiences while getting a sleep study done. I received a lot of email and messages about others who had experienced sleep apnea and gotten a CPAP – and for them, I’m posting this. If knowing about my sleep is TMI, I understand.
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and have now slept with a CPAP for the last eight nights. For anyone ‘on the fence’, as I was for years, about dealing with my sleep apnea (I’d been told that I had it), the only thing I can say is – DO IT. Get the study done. Get the CPAP. Figure out how to be OK with sleeping with it (I get it; it’s not easy). It’s worth it. It’s already been a difference maker in my life. I no longer get drowsy after lunch or midafternoon….or, really, until it’s time for bed again. I have much more energy later in the day, and I just plain feel better. I now feel silly for putting it off for the last few years.
Yes, I get it. They’re expensive (my insurance covered it). Getting comfortable with sleeping with a mask over your nose and straps around your head isn’t the easiest thing, and you’re limited as to your sleeping positions. Plus you look like Dumbo with the hose coming out of the mask (at least I do). But it’s WORTH IT.
For the record, I have the ResMed AirSense fully automatic version. I just plug it in, put the mask on, and start breathing, and the machine figures it out from there. The mask has exhale vents on it (very important in my opinion).
So, this isn’t a sales message. Consider it public service to my friends. Deal with your sleep apnea if you have it; you’ll feel so much better you’ll wonder why you waited.
