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For quite some time I thought I might have obstructive sleep apnea. But like most nurses I spend a lot more time and effort on my family members and taking care of them vs. myself. Well, then appendicitis occurred as did my visit to the ED and OR. Seems my suspicions were correct; one nervous Respiratory Therapist approached me while I was in the ICU and asked me if I knew about it. So, I couldn't ignore it any longer. And I was never so glad to get appendicitis! I had just moved to another state, didn't have a job or insurance yet, so I didn't have a Primary Care Doc yet either. But, thanks to that little problem, I was able to get both fairly soon after. Not long after that I got tested, and low and behold, I do indeed have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
I share this with you not because I want to be so public about my situation, but because I simply cannot believe the difference in just 2 night's use of using my CPAP machine has had on me. Before I started, I could not recall the last time I woke up feeling better than when I went to sleep, or without a headache, or didn't feel like I needed a nap during the day. The last two days when I've woken up it's like *bing!* I'm ready to face the day! No naps, no fatigue, no headaches. Truly a major difference.
Having untreated sleep apnea can lead to many comorbidities as well-- some are heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, and I'm told there's a link to Alzheimer's and dementia as well. When you don't get restorative sleep your body can rest and repair either. I'm also told apnea can cause vivid dreams too. This leads me to wonder if fellow Veterans with PTSD might reduce some of that burden if they were evaluated for sleep apnea and were found to have OSA. Could getting a restorative night's rest, help reduce the number of flashbacks or night terrors? Certainly it might help with all the hormones and adrenalin that is produced during a constant state of fight or flight. I don't know. But, I can tell you this: getting a good night's sleep for probably the first time in nearly 30 years is worth looking into! I highly encourage anyone who thinks they may have any of the symptoms to get evaluated. You do not have to live in a constant state of fatigue and foggy thinking!
I share this with you not because I want to be so public about my situation, but because I simply cannot believe the difference in just 2 night's use of using my CPAP machine has had on me. Before I started, I could not recall the last time I woke up feeling better than when I went to sleep, or without a headache, or didn't feel like I needed a nap during the day. The last two days when I've woken up it's like *bing!* I'm ready to face the day! No naps, no fatigue, no headaches. Truly a major difference.
Having untreated sleep apnea can lead to many comorbidities as well-- some are heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, and I'm told there's a link to Alzheimer's and dementia as well. When you don't get restorative sleep your body can rest and repair either. I'm also told apnea can cause vivid dreams too. This leads me to wonder if fellow Veterans with PTSD might reduce some of that burden if they were evaluated for sleep apnea and were found to have OSA. Could getting a restorative night's rest, help reduce the number of flashbacks or night terrors? Certainly it might help with all the hormones and adrenalin that is produced during a constant state of fight or flight. I don't know. But, I can tell you this: getting a good night's sleep for probably the first time in nearly 30 years is worth looking into! I highly encourage anyone who thinks they may have any of the symptoms to get evaluated. You do not have to live in a constant state of fatigue and foggy thinking!
obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults.pdf
Posted from thoracic.org
Master's Degree
66H: Medical-Surgical Nurse
Direct Commission
Nursing
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 14
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I can totally concur with your findings. I spent nearly 12 years with virtually no sleep. My first night with the CPAP saved my life! The more I got used to it and realized I didn't have to settle for a full-face mask and could try different masks until I got my nice nasal pillows I use now, I've been retitrated a few times and my settings are perfect (they also caught new onset CSA and changed me to a BIPAP SV), and I'm just good to go. A good sleep doctor is very helpful in the process. You were lucky to have someone in the hospital looking out for you - well, if appendicitis can be called lucky!
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1LT Susan Bailey
Well, I wouldn't wish appendicitis on anyone, or as in my case that and septic shock. (Wouldn't want to go to the ED with something silly as a nurse, you know ) LOL. But I have to say I learned a lot from the experience and it got my OSA treated, so I can't really complain!
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My first night on a CPAP was, for lack of a better word, magical. I slept deeply and had rather extraordinary dreams. I woke up with a feeling that I hadn't had in a very long time. I was well rested. I couldn't remember dreaming for years. For a week or two, I couldn't wait to go back to sleep and have those remarkably vivid dreams.
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