How Your Life Has Changed with Sleep Apnea

How did you find out you had sleep apnea?

My family and friends were concerned about a noise while I was sleeping - this went on for several years.  Tired when waking up, had a couple of episodes of nodding off while driving, waking up about three times during the night for the toilet, and a desperate need for an afternoon nap. I was always extremely uncomfortable at the dentist when expected to lie down during treatment - not being able to breathe when mouth-breathing was restricted. I was also told brusquely by one dentist ‘Well, just breathe through your nose’ which did not help, because I couldn’t! Concerned GP putting me through many tests to eliminate problems (asthma, heart, blood pressure, cholesterol etc) eventually led to one specialist who suggested sleep apnea, and referred me for a sleep test. Finally at the age of 70, the test proved positive, and a further test with a cpap machine showed the enormous difference this would make. I wish the diagnosis had happened many years earlier.

How has your sleep routine changed?

Would not be able to sleep without my cpap machine. I now sleep through the night, only waking up occasionally. I am not tired when waking up, or throughout the day, but do resort still to a ‘Nanna nap’. I am now able to enjoy hobbies, restricted only by other physical problems (eg OA).

What is the best advice you would give to someone recently diagnosed?

I think the advice should come much earlier, and diagnosis much earlier. GPS should routinely query noisy sleep and other sleep-related problems. My advice to those just diagnosed would be to not give up on the cpap machine - keep asking for modifications if necessary, and try any other methods available. This is a physical problem that will not go away; it is also a serious problem which will impact your future health.