Sleep Awareness Month

I have been given the opportunity to go on a local TV news program to discuss sleep apnea for sleep awareness month. I was wondering what would have caught your attention before you were diagnosed to make you consider discussing your sleep problems with your DR? I would welcome any advice.

My issue was napping at work due to lack of energy. Feeling run down and dragging even though I went to bed at 9:30-10:00 PM.

Becky

Good luck with your show, KansasRT!

I brought up the possibility of OSA to my doctor in the summer of 2005. He didn't think it likely, because I wasn't "tired enough". I took his word for it because deep down I didn't want to have it. It took 18 more months of bad sleep, weight gain, raising blood pressure, and lack of concentration before I brought it up again. If only I had done some homework, I would have realized:
1. OSA progresses - it doesn't go away
2. OSA causes additional weight gain
3. OSA will take years off your life
4. You can have severe OSA and not "appear tired"

Maybe if I'd known this and more about OSA's devistating effects on the body, I would have gone back to the doctor's and insisted on a sleep study. I'd be rested today instead of paying back my sleep debt.

Snoring. I had been told all my life, "You snore LOUD!!" I never heard it, of course; and while I was sorry to think it bothered others who were in the same room, I assumed, "Well, some people just snore. I wish I didn't since it annoys others, but I can't help it."

Finally, at the age of 57 or so, I realized one night as I was drifting off to sleep and muscles were relaxing... "Gosh, when I let my throat relax as much as possible, it SLAMS shut. NO air can get through like that!" If I deliberately kept it relaxed and made a huge effort to get air in, there was a horrendously loud snore sound. I had finally heard it myself.

I searched the internet for "snoring." The words sleep apnea kept popping up again and again. That was the first I was aware of the connection between snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring wasn't just unladylike sounding. And snoring isn't normal, no matter how common it might be. It's a big red flag marking a potentially devastating breathing problem during sleep.

I read and read and read about OSA, found sleep apnea message boards and read more. I read about how OSA is successfully treated with a "CPAP" machine. I read about "autopap" machines that can vary the pressure as needed throughout the night. I picked up the phone and told a good old family doctor in town that I wanted an autopap...and why.

He said "ok."

Thanks for the responses. It ended up going better than I thought. I definitely will not switch professions to be a newscaster. I emphasized snoring and daytime sleepiness. Our local news is doing specials all week on Sleep Awareness Month. Thank You.