Scubasteve
March 6th, 2006, 10:16 AM
This may be of help to some of you, because this condition is fairly common and alot of people may have it and don't realize, since well, your asleep when it happens. Anyway, for the past 3 or 4 years I've been really sleepy. Not just occasionally but pretty much all the time. At work it was a constant battle to stay awake. At home if I sat down on the couch for more then a few minutes, I was asleep. Sometimes when I would lay on the floor to play with my 2 year old, Id fall asleep. When I drove, I would be sleepy. When I woke up I'd be sleepy. After lunch I would be sleepy.(getting the picture) Anyway a few months back my wife finally convinced me to see a doctor about it (I hate going to the doctor) and they signed me up for a sleep study, where they discovered that I have a particularly bad case of sleep apnea which is a condition where your windpipe closes off and stops breathing as you sleep. (this is not a good thing it turns out) This basically takes you out of a deep sleep into a light sleeping stage. On average, I would stop breathing 130 times an hour. (about every 30 seconds) Anyway, after my diagnosis, I got a breathing machine called a CPAP machine. Its uncomfortable at night and I have to wear an oxygen mask, but I feel like a new person. Im not tired and feel about 15 years yonger. I wanted to let everyone know because it made such a difference in my life. I didn't realize how important sleep could be. Anyway, if you wake up unrested (alot), never dream or wake up choking, I emplore you to get a sleep study and see if you are getting the rest you need at night. Also some of the more severe effects of sleep apnea are stroke and high blood pressure (which I have!). But even if they weren't it is the best money I've spent, just for feelin good!