Something Sweet with Susan

If you’ve kept up with my story, you know about my sleep study a little over a year ago when it was determined that I have sleep apnea.   My desire to wake up feeling rested has taken me on quite a journey over the past 13 months.  As I share my experience, I hope you will learn about some of the options that are available to help people get better sleep.  Though I’ve not found my perfect solution, my efforts have not been exhausted.

The first step was seeing a sleep specialist.  After a sleep study was completed, the specialist recommended seeing a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea.  The dentist told me he thought I was a good candidate for an oral appliance that realigns the jaw and tongue to keep open the space in your upper airway.  This device is worn like a mouth-guard while you sleep. This sounded simple enough, especially since I’ve worn a retainer at night for many years.  Little did I know this appliance was going to be huge in my mouth.  I felt like the dude on the front of the game box called Watch Ya’ Mouth.

After a few months and many frustrating nights, I sought a second opinion.  The new sleep specialist agreed that the appliance was huge and could understand why it caused difficulty sleeping.  She recommended seeing an ENT as they can sometimes perform procedures in the office to open nasal airways.  The ENT informed me that I have a deviated septum and recommended a relatively simple, in-office procedure called turbinate reduction surgery.   Opening the nasal airway is sometimes all that is needed to correct sleep apnea.  My nasal breathing greatly improved, but my sleep did not.  I pretty much gave up seeking other options at this point.

A couple of months ago Greg said to me, “You struggle so much in your sleep, I don’t know how you get any rest.  Sometimes you stop breathing and I sit up and look at you to make sure you are going to take your next breath.”  Well alrighty then!  That was my cue – It’s  time to give CPAP a try.

I don’t know how people adjust to this thing I’ve named The Beast.  Hat’s off to those of you using one of these devices!

I started out with the nasal cushion type of mask.  This is when I learned that I was a mouth breather while sleeping.  Every time I opened my mouth the air rushed out sounding like an ocean wave was crashing into the bedroom.  After the first night I used the chin strap that was provided.   Greg said it looked like I was on life support.  After a few mornings of waking up with the machine stating “adjust mask,” I changed to the nasal pillow mask.  This mask was comfortable and stayed in place, but waking up with a Sahara-dry mouth several times during the night was not pleasant. One of my family members told me to try mouth tape.  Who knew – they really make such a thing!  Bought it, tried it, and it didn’t work for me.  It has become a joke around my house that there is nothing that will keep Susan’s mouth shut. Ha,Ha.  It was apparent that I would have to use the full-face mask if this device had a chance of helping me.  Hoping the third time would be the charm, I was given a hybrid full-face mask.  I have tried to sleep in this mask three nights and one nap and I have yet to be able to go to sleep while wearing it.  Each try I was awake over an hour before it came off and went to the floor.  I’m about ready to give up, but I’m not a quitter.

When I was pregnant with my first child my mother told me, “Your sleeping days are over.  When you’re pregnant you can’t sleep because you wake up to go to the bathroom all night and you can’t get comfortable.  When you have the baby you can’t sleep because they don’t sleep.  When they become teenagers you can’t sleep if they are out with friends until they are home in their bed.  By the time they leave home you can’t sleep because you’ve spent so many years not sleeping that it’s become your normal.”  I’m beginning to believe she was right.

Parkinson’s causes me to feel and look like the Tin Man on The Wizard Of Oz when I get out of bed in the mornings.  If there was a way to get a drop of WD40 on all my joints that would be awesome.  I’ve adjusted to slow moving mornings – I’m just looking for a good night’s sleep.  I don’t think that’s too much to ask.

I’ve decided to give CPAP a full 90 day chance.  Hopefully, I’ll be back with a positive update sometime soon. 

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

Do you see the resemblance?