Reality Check

Hello guys- I have been getting a lot of good advice and help within this forum and I am beyond grateful for this.

Since I am new and getting up to speed I have had help from the forum to make tweaks to my settings and it is working very well. I am feeling a little bit better every day and have journaled my progress so I do not lose sight of my progress.

The other day I asked for a copy of my sleep study so I can see in detail what was actually happening and the results almost put me in tears. Outside of the 40+ events that were happening each hour by oxygen levels were dropping below 85% and several times into the 70's. This jacks up my heart rate to 120bpm. I truly had no idea how bad off I actually was. To add insult to injury I have a heart condition (Left Bundle Branch Block) so I have to visit my cardio every 6 months. I wonder if the damage to my heart is a symptom of the sleep apnea.

It was so sobering to see that essentially I was choking myself several times a night and slowly killing my body. I don't know if I should be grateful now that I am on treatment or kick myself in the ass for letting it go for so many years.

There is no help needed but I knew you would understand the emotional slap across the face this caused me and wanted to vent.

Don't kick yourself for not already knowing stuff the "insiders" don't bother telling us.
Thanks to the internet, our education need not end when they boot us out the school door.
Curiosity can lead you anywhere.

CreativeChris, Your post almost moved ME to tears! I, too, wonder if my PSVT situation was the result of undiagnosed sleep apnea. As my husband reminds me, I should only look forward, not backward - and I'm only 4 months into CPAP use. Yes, your report certainly must've caused you a "reality check", but isn't it good how you've now taken charge of your health and using CPAP therapy? Think of all of the positive health benefits coming to you! And, yes, this site is a wonderful place with many folks who have a wealth of knowledge ready to share with all of us! (I, certainly, am NOT in the "wealth of knowledge" category!). Best.

laprof wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 27, 2018 9:20 am

As my husband reminds me, I should only look forward, not backward

We can't change the past. All we can do is learn from it and maybe change the future.
I don't spend much time "what iffing" about the past since there's not a darn thing I can do to change it anyway.
I do try to learn from past mistakes and not repeat them but sometimes even that eludes me.

CreativeChris wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 27, 2018 8:58 am

kick myself in the ass for letting it go for so many years.

You are a member of a large club including me and most of the members here.

Thank you guys! I normally hate woe is me but it really bothered me. But I have been much more proactive in my health over the last 6 months so at least I am doing the best things possible to change the future! Oh- did I mention that one of the treatment points was to avoid anything sedative? I have taking every known supplement there is to knock out! Now I take nothing and I am off to sleep within 5-10 minutes.