Tweet
I received a email this morning telling me a post had been updated so I had a look in the forum including some of my posts over the last 18months .
I hope this posting will provide some guidance to anyone starting the process of diagnosis . Hopefully my passion and style of writing doesn't come across as a " look at me " because that's not my intention .
My story
I believe that I may have suffered from OSA from early teens and always had problems with concentration which was documented on a early school report as doseydoe has a lethargic approach to life my parents also tape recorded me snoring as it was a bit of laugh . That would have been in 1977ish . My father was a snorer with huge breathing gaps , sadly he has now passed away aged 66 from liver disease which was possibly related to undiagnosed sleep spnea .
His symptoms were falling asleep at the wheel regularly , massive indigestion problems , generally tired and up several time of the night etc .
keep an eye on other members of the family chances are your not the only one .
I will leave a huge gap and move to my early 20's . I did the studying bit and got a very good education but had to work far harder than fellow students .
Undiagnosed OSA makes studying 10 times harder and can mess with your head as you believe you are bit slower than others , why should anyone think differently .
Once you have been treated be tolerant of other people around you who get into work late are caught napping , look like they have been on the lash all night , fall asleep on training courses and usual OSA symptoms .
Another gap moving on to 30's , still no idea I had OSA . Several visits to the doctor and I was sent away with advice like . Go and sort yourself out do more exercise , get more sleep !!
That its what I did ,worked out , swam miles , cycled , walked and did get very fit . But still dosed off inappropriately .
If the word inappropriately start appearing in your life your probably on the right path . Its the equivalent of " my name is and I am an alcoholic "
The advice my doctor gave was wrong not because he was a bad doctor but the information I gave him was uninformed .
We all need to exercise and the odds are OSA = Overweight " there are exceptions " go for fat burning cardio type exercise , stay away from being a prop forward , weights etc put the strength in your legs not chest and neck How many rugby players , weight / body builders are on this forum ? quite a few I would guess .
If you have children try and guide them into sports that will develop the lower body , if like mine they are rugby mad keep them on the wing . Leave someone else get the 20inch neck ! .
Yet another gap now 40's . Moved house changed doctor big leap of faith as I had the same doctor from childhood . Had a minor motorcycle accident after falling asleep . This has happened 100's of times over the years but my odds ran out .
My wife did some research and made me go to the doctor to explain my symptoms blokes are rubbish at this bit " your partner is the 1st to know " .
Sleep study arranged 3 months waiting !.
Pick the phone and phone the DVLA . It is probably the hardest part of the process but you must do it . Not because its the law , laws are made to be broken .Its simpler that that, you will probably kill someone . Don't kid yourself in to believing you will pull over and have a coffee .
Sorry to go on about this one but
You must must tell them , the 1st few days are bizarre if you cant drive . There are alternatives . Depending on your employer it may be to your benefit for Occupational health to know . In my experience your Manager or HR don't have a clue what OSA is and never will . However looking at my manager he is probably prime suspect no 1 !! lol .
It took me 9 months to get my license back .
At this stage I knew with the help of the internet there was no question that my problem was OSA even before the sleep study . So I bought a Auto Cpap on the internet while waiting for my sleep study .
That was scary I had no idea what I was doing , set it to auto put full face mask on and hit the button . I though I was going to die , for a few days I felt like dying no sleep , dry mouth and headaches but I stuck with it and after a few weeks and things improved a little .
I am sure someone will disagree with the next bit .
Buy yourself a AUTO cpap they are available and dont cost £500 . If you have a xbox or ps3 you can afford an auto cpap . Just search for 2nd wind cpap .
I eventually got my sleep study and a CPAP machine after 6 months .
Personally I think it wrong to have a NHS machine when my own is far better but you have to have it to stay in the system . There are times when a Auto CPAP works better , eg After a lot of alcohol .
Dead hands . I had real problems with dead hands and arms , this started the same time a OSA treatment . The final out come was Carpal Tunnel release in both wrists . I would add this was only done after through blood tests to eliminate thyroid , diabetes and all other nastiest .
Approx 1 year after diagnosis things were going well , people had commented that I look well but I still suffered from day time drowsiness . From here the NHS really dragged their feet .
Again hours on the internet guided me to Modafinil . Unfortunately you cant just go to your sleep study center and ask for it because you have read on the internet that its what you need .
If you are compliant and use your CPAP and your o2 levels are fine but you are dissatisfied with the outcome its probably the route to go .
If you use your CPAP but still feel tired don't give up . Unlike buying a CPAP machine Modafinil is not so easy to get . Yes you can buy it on line but even I draw the line at that one , you just have to go through the system .
Conclusion . It takes time , for me nearly 2 years , use Forums if only to get a worry of your chest , use the internet and other peoples experience to learn about OSA .
Its a bumpy ride you may have to deal with employment problems , no driving , extra stress for your family , roll a coaster emotions , sitting in waiting rooms , having a mask attached to your face every night .
But believe me it is worth every discomfort every bad emotion . To feel alive and motivated again .
I hope this posting will provide some guidance to anyone starting the process of diagnosis . Hopefully my passion and style of writing doesn't come across as a " look at me " because that's not my intention .
My story
I believe that I may have suffered from OSA from early teens and always had problems with concentration which was documented on a early school report as doseydoe has a lethargic approach to life my parents also tape recorded me snoring as it was a bit of laugh . That would have been in 1977ish . My father was a snorer with huge breathing gaps , sadly he has now passed away aged 66 from liver disease which was possibly related to undiagnosed sleep spnea .
His symptoms were falling asleep at the wheel regularly , massive indigestion problems , generally tired and up several time of the night etc .
keep an eye on other members of the family chances are your not the only one .
I will leave a huge gap and move to my early 20's . I did the studying bit and got a very good education but had to work far harder than fellow students .
Undiagnosed OSA makes studying 10 times harder and can mess with your head as you believe you are bit slower than others , why should anyone think differently .
Once you have been treated be tolerant of other people around you who get into work late are caught napping , look like they have been on the lash all night , fall asleep on training courses and usual OSA symptoms .
Another gap moving on to 30's , still no idea I had OSA . Several visits to the doctor and I was sent away with advice like . Go and sort yourself out do more exercise , get more sleep !!
That its what I did ,worked out , swam miles , cycled , walked and did get very fit . But still dosed off inappropriately .
If the word inappropriately start appearing in your life your probably on the right path . Its the equivalent of " my name is and I am an alcoholic "
The advice my doctor gave was wrong not because he was a bad doctor but the information I gave him was uninformed .
We all need to exercise and the odds are OSA = Overweight " there are exceptions " go for fat burning cardio type exercise , stay away from being a prop forward , weights etc put the strength in your legs not chest and neck How many rugby players , weight / body builders are on this forum ? quite a few I would guess .
If you have children try and guide them into sports that will develop the lower body , if like mine they are rugby mad keep them on the wing . Leave someone else get the 20inch neck ! .
Yet another gap now 40's . Moved house changed doctor big leap of faith as I had the same doctor from childhood . Had a minor motorcycle accident after falling asleep . This has happened 100's of times over the years but my odds ran out .
My wife did some research and made me go to the doctor to explain my symptoms blokes are rubbish at this bit " your partner is the 1st to know " .
Sleep study arranged 3 months waiting !.
Pick the phone and phone the DVLA . It is probably the hardest part of the process but you must do it . Not because its the law , laws are made to be broken .Its simpler that that, you will probably kill someone . Don't kid yourself in to believing you will pull over and have a coffee .
Sorry to go on about this one but
You must must tell them , the 1st few days are bizarre if you cant drive . There are alternatives . Depending on your employer it may be to your benefit for Occupational health to know . In my experience your Manager or HR don't have a clue what OSA is and never will . However looking at my manager he is probably prime suspect no 1 !! lol .
It took me 9 months to get my license back .
At this stage I knew with the help of the internet there was no question that my problem was OSA even before the sleep study . So I bought a Auto Cpap on the internet while waiting for my sleep study .
That was scary I had no idea what I was doing , set it to auto put full face mask on and hit the button . I though I was going to die , for a few days I felt like dying no sleep , dry mouth and headaches but I stuck with it and after a few weeks and things improved a little .
I am sure someone will disagree with the next bit .
Buy yourself a AUTO cpap they are available and dont cost £500 . If you have a xbox or ps3 you can afford an auto cpap . Just search for 2nd wind cpap .
I eventually got my sleep study and a CPAP machine after 6 months .
Personally I think it wrong to have a NHS machine when my own is far better but you have to have it to stay in the system . There are times when a Auto CPAP works better , eg After a lot of alcohol .
Dead hands . I had real problems with dead hands and arms , this started the same time a OSA treatment . The final out come was Carpal Tunnel release in both wrists . I would add this was only done after through blood tests to eliminate thyroid , diabetes and all other nastiest .
Approx 1 year after diagnosis things were going well , people had commented that I look well but I still suffered from day time drowsiness . From here the NHS really dragged their feet .
Again hours on the internet guided me to Modafinil . Unfortunately you cant just go to your sleep study center and ask for it because you have read on the internet that its what you need .
If you are compliant and use your CPAP and your o2 levels are fine but you are dissatisfied with the outcome its probably the route to go .
If you use your CPAP but still feel tired don't give up . Unlike buying a CPAP machine Modafinil is not so easy to get . Yes you can buy it on line but even I draw the line at that one , you just have to go through the system .
Conclusion . It takes time , for me nearly 2 years , use Forums if only to get a worry of your chest , use the internet and other peoples experience to learn about OSA .
Its a bumpy ride you may have to deal with employment problems , no driving , extra stress for your family , roll a coaster emotions , sitting in waiting rooms , having a mask attached to your face every night .
But believe me it is worth every discomfort every bad emotion . To feel alive and motivated again .
Comment