My night at the sleep clinic
I’ve been dealing with sleep apnea (snoring) for over ten years, so I decided to address it in 2010, and go to a sleep clinic. The results were that I have severe sleep apnea, and they gave me a CPAP machine. The machine was very awkward, and didn’t work for me (It was more of a sleep distraction than a sleeping aid for me). But nonetheless, I tried to make it work, but after many more sleepless nights, I decided to put it down indefinitely. Fast forward to 2014, I decided to use it again, and it still wasn’t working (even though I didn’t use it to break it).
So, there I was, back at the sleep clinic. For those who don’t know, they hook you up to a CPAP machine with a face mask. Then they put sensor pads all over your body, from your forehead to your leg (I’d show you a pic of me during my stay, but I was advised not to release that mug shot online). They gave me a bigger face mask this time, and it actually worked. So I just got up in the morning, filled out a couple questionnaires, then left.
Fast forward to November 26, 2014, I went to the clinic for the results and the doctor was telling me that I’m a hot mess, and giving me a lot of scare tactic (there’s nothing I hate more than a scare tactics). He told me that my heart stopped beating a total of 97 times (within my 6-hour sleep), and it’s very important to get the machine fixed and adjusted. So I went to the CPAP machine lady (in the same office), and she said my 4 year warranty expired this past April (just my luck), and I either have to repair my machine with at least $300, or buy a new machine for $800, or wait till 2016 when I’m eligible for a new one through my OHIP coverage, and pay $200 outright.
I don’t know if I wanna do any of those options period over that Darth Vader mask. But after reading the symptoms again for sleep apnea, I didn’t realize how much it affects my everyday life, especially my energy and alertness. Some people get more serious symptoms like depression or alcohol abuse; who would have thought that snoring leads to all of this? We all live busy lives and the two things we usually neglect the most is sleep and food (aka our health). A lot of us focus on handling business, and our health is an afterthought (until we get sick). So, if your spouse or loved one snore like a fog horn, maybe you should encourage him/her to check it out? Even public figures like NBA player, Anthony Bennett, suffered from it. Remember, if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything; period! You shouldn’t have to be taking kidney shots from your wife because you snore loudly. Prevention is always better than cure. As for me, I’ll probably get another CPAP machine soon eventually…