Not about the kids

Most everyone who knows me in real life is aware of the fact that I snoar. I'm talking house shaking snoar. 7 years ago I went for an overnight sleep study because I was/am ALWAYS tired no matter how much sleep I got/get. In the morning the tech who listens to people sleep for a LIVING said I was the loudest snoarer she had EVER heard. It was confirmed I had sleep apnea where about 100 times a night I would stop breathing. My brain in turn makes me wake up to breathe but I don't remember it happening. Some people can have this happen up to 500 times per night. This keeps a person from ever getting any solid sleep which explains the exhaustion.

So a few days later I had to go pick up a CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) machine. This machine is attached to a tube which is attached to a mask that is worn over the nose. The reason you stop breathing is because when you breathe out your throat closes and stops air flow. This machine constantly blows air into your nose which keeps your throat open even when you breathe out. It takes a lot of getting used to.

People I know who have one have said that they felt better then next day. I certainly did not. I was told it can take a few weeks to feel a difference. I felt no difference. Even 4 years later I was still exhausted all the time. I went for another study and that one said I did not have sleep apnea. Chris and I didn't think that was true since I was still snoaring up a storm (I can't tell you how many nights I slept on the couch so Chris could actually sleep) and he said I was still ceasing to breathe. So I continued to wear the mask because I knew how dangerous it could be not to.

So quite a few months ago Chris was saying that I was still snoaring even with the mask on. So I went for ANOTHER sleep study last night. The tech asked me what level my machine was set at. I said, "5". He said, "Oh, wow, that's low! That's what we start people out at". So I go to sleep and throughout the night the tech was making adjustments to the air pressure to get me to stop snoaring. He said it had to put it up to 16 in order to get me to stop!!! No wonder I'm tired all the time! I haven't had a solid nights' sleep in probably 8 years!!

I should have a new machine soon. Hopefully I will get some relief!