I Have WHAT?

To be cleared for my surgery, one of the things I had to do was a sleep study. You know, you go to one of those sleep places where they put all these monitors on you and then watch you sleep. First of all, the last time I remember being able to sleep with someone watching me was when I was about 10 months old. I must admit that I did not welcome this news with open arms. I could not see the need in going to some other place to sleep since I had no symptons. I don't snore, don't have problem falling to sleep, no morning headaches, no stoppage of breathing. I was tired all the time but that was due to my weight. This was not necessary! But I had to do it to be cleared for surgery. So I made the appointment.

First of all, it's not real easy for me to sleep any where besides my bed. If the bed is too tall, I can't get into it. If it's too low, I can't get out of it. It's hard for me to move around much in bed. My spirit is willing but my butt is too big. In my own bed, I know how to get in and out of it and move around if needed. This made me nervous.

Then, they hook you up with all these monitors - chest, on the back and sides of your head, where your jaw joint is, in the middle of your forehead, at your temples, on your calves. Then, they put one in your nostrils. You know, like you were taking oxygen only there's no oxygen. Just this metal monitor. They put a belt around your waist and one around your - uh - "chest", so they can monitor your breathing. The last thing is one of those pulse-oxygen monitors. They tape that to your finger. (Oh, I forgot to mention that they stick all the monitors to your hair and body with some kind of paste. Not easily washed away!) Once they get you all connected, they tell you to lay down and get comfortable. Have you ever tried to get comforted with wires, belts, and things glued and taped to you. Not an easy job!

I'm all hooked up and laying in bed trying to fall asleep. We've already done our biometrics which is blinking, wiggling your feet, grinding your teeth, holding your breath, moving your eyes - just to make sure all the monitors are working. The next thing I hear is "Good Night Miss Wells". Right! I'm supposed to fall asleep now.

I laid there and told myself to go to sleep. Oh, did I tell you it was 9pm. I'm now talking to myself in my mind - Landa, you better go to sleep; you don't want to have to do this again; come on sleep; you're getting sleepy, sleepy; 1 sheep, 2 sheep, red sheep, blue sheep. Nothing seemed to work. The lovely tech came in the next morning to wake me up. I apologized for not sleeping. She said I was wrong. I had slept really well!!!

Well, I got dressed, went home, showered to get that lovely paste out of my hair, and went to sleep. It was over and I slept well. See, I told them I didn't have sleep apnea!!!

A week later, I received a call from David at the sleep center. Miss Wells, the doctor wants you to come in for another sleep study and be fitted for a CPAP machine. WHAT!!!! Are you sure?? Yes maam, you have severe sleep apnea with an average of 60 occurances each hour. He was telling me that I stopped breathing every minute. How can that be! How can this be happening and me not know.

I'm picking up my CPAP machine Monday. You know, they say the way to beat a problem is to admit you have one. Okay, I admit it. I have embraced the idea and am looking forward to the benefits that my CPAP will bring me. The doctors and many friends have told me it will make a tremendous difference in my energy, my focus, my oxygen level, etc. They say I'll be a new woman! With benefits like that, what could be so bad!!!