This ‘sleepy boy’ has Sleep Apnea
Let’s talk about Sleep Apnea tonight.
I have it. I am not a typical candidate. I was shocked to find out (6 years ago) from a new girlfriend that I ‘stopped breathing’ in the night.
I said to myself, “this sounds like sleep apnea”, but I couldn’t have that for I was young (reasonably so) and in great shape. At the time, I was exercising intensely on a regular basis, had approximately an 11-12% body fat on a 6 ft, 182-185 lb athletic body. Supposedly, Apnea patients were overweight, out of shape, no exercising, older men — not me.
I knew all this, you see, because I had been studying sleep for a long time by then, and I even was tracking my own sleep in a journal as well as studying books, tv shows, and on the internet in preparation for designing and engineering the ‘total sleep system’ that I had envisioned for about 3 years at that time. This total sleep system will improve every part of your life and it is coming, the technology is here, now and you will be a part of the process as I will be writing about this system and how it will come about very soon. This is part of the 24×7 project that this blog will follow, week by week.
In 1999, I had also written a promotional brochure about the problems of Sleep in America which sold more than 100,000 copies – these clearly detailed the issues that we all face, for we all know someone that is suffering from poor sleep, insomnia and, yes, even sleep apnea. We all know someone, many people, more likely.
So, given my absolute desire to see how a sleep lab worked, and not fully believing that I could have sleep apnea, I went to the clinic and was studied for a full night and day to determine my daytime sleepiness as well.
The end result, as quoted by my nurse and sleep lab clinician, ‘you are a really sleepy boy’. That was the result of the MSLT. This is a Multiple Sleep Latency Test that is administered during the day at regular intervals wherein you are told to ‘try’ to go to sleep. Then, you are measured to see if you actually do go to sleep and how long it takes to do so. A questionnaire is given to you such that you can rate your experience.
Mine? I thought that I maybe went to sleep 1 time during the 4 different sessions spread throughout the day (up to 2pm, as I recall). The real results? I fell asleep all 4 times within 5 minutes.
And, yes, I had Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I basically quit breathing approximately every 2 minutes all night, like having my airways held shut until I would violently gasp through the choking to grab a much needed breath.
Thus, ‘you are a really sleep boy’.
As I am tired, now; and, I fear the writing is poor, I will wait until next time to give a full explanation of the MSLT, the Sleep Lab test, a good explanation of what Sleep Apnea is and how it is most currently treated, via the CPAP – a Continuous, Positive Airway Pressure mask that keeps air flowing directly to the nose and/or mouth such that you ‘don’t stop breathing’ during the night.
(note: the above was originally written, Feb 10, but did not get posted. Now, 4 days later, it is revisited and posted. We all struggle sometimes to maintain our efforts through the fog of fatigue; this blog is a living example of that continued fight to do all we can do, each day. Some days, some weeks will be better than others, thus, the true value of the effort is one that is ‘a real life example’ that everyone can relate to……)
Until next time, sleep well…..
Clay
“Thesleepguru in training”, a living self-experiment on a path to becoming a champion of sleep
By the way….
Today, Feb 14, is my father’s birthday. Happy birthday Dad!!
And, my grandfather as well, Happy Birthday Grandpa!
I hope you both live long, healthy lives – 100 years and more.
I am grateful that you are both here to see me succeed this year and beyond in my quest to bring better sleep to everyone through this intense 24×7 project, thesleepguru.com blog & website and the continued, daily study of everything about sleep that I have undertaken. These efforts are as much for you, my family as it is for all the families that will gain from even 1 father or grandfather – or son, or grandson — learning what it takes to sleep well and live with more energy, a better mood and greater productivity every day — especially those who don’t know what they are missing in life!
I can’t wait to see the pride in your eyes when this 24×7 project first reaches the mainstream – the first media report, perhaps, or when the first proof that all this effort will produce even some of the results I envision. I will be a part of the evolution of technology creating ‘the amniotic universe’ as we meld it all together for the brain/body bedroom of my 22nd century dreams.
Alive and having fun in the year 2101! Ya’ aa’ tey.
Happy birthday!!
