Tweet
Why oh why wasn`t my sleep apnoea discovered before? My life has been blighted by fatigue - people thinking I`m lazy, can`t wake up, always yawning, never having any motivation.
My husband and I divorced years ago - my snoring wasn`t the reason but it didn`t help matters - me snoring and him grinding his teeth and having restless leg syndrome! And of course, since our divorce, I could never have a relationship because just one night with me and any man would head for the hills! My husband used to say I stopped breathing for long periods of time and my sons have also said I stop breathing when I`m asleep.
As the years went on I got weaker and weaker - depression, muscle pain and weakness, thyroid problems etc. Trying to get to work each day was like climbing a mountain - I could never understand why other people could get up so easily. I eventually had to retire early at 63 just totally knackered. My GP could only dish out anti-depressants which have only made matters worse. Then last year I had to plead with her to get something done - I don`t think she believed how tired I was. I was then sent from one medical department to another, trying to find out what`s wrong. It was a rheumatology consultant that queried the fact that I snored and sent me to the respiration department. The consultant there didn`t think I had sleep apnoea because I`m slim but said they`d do a sleep test anyway. And bingo, I do have sleep apnoea AFTER ALL THIS TIME ! What would my life have been like if I`d known before? I have snored all my life - my brother said I snored as a child and I remember not being able to stay with friends because of my snoring. My sons have now told me that I`ve always snored and its just what they`ve always known - in fact one son said it was comforting to stay at my house one night and hear me snoring ! Another son said he didn`t like to tell me in case it upset me.
I am really relieved that they`ve found out what`s wrong and that it can be treated, but there`s also a sadness at so many lost opportunities. Just hoping that I will be able to get some deep recuperative sleep and my muscles will get repaired.
btw - I`ve since found out that a small lower jaw can cause sleep apnoea, which is what I have, plus a low soft palate and split uvula.
My husband and I divorced years ago - my snoring wasn`t the reason but it didn`t help matters - me snoring and him grinding his teeth and having restless leg syndrome! And of course, since our divorce, I could never have a relationship because just one night with me and any man would head for the hills! My husband used to say I stopped breathing for long periods of time and my sons have also said I stop breathing when I`m asleep.
As the years went on I got weaker and weaker - depression, muscle pain and weakness, thyroid problems etc. Trying to get to work each day was like climbing a mountain - I could never understand why other people could get up so easily. I eventually had to retire early at 63 just totally knackered. My GP could only dish out anti-depressants which have only made matters worse. Then last year I had to plead with her to get something done - I don`t think she believed how tired I was. I was then sent from one medical department to another, trying to find out what`s wrong. It was a rheumatology consultant that queried the fact that I snored and sent me to the respiration department. The consultant there didn`t think I had sleep apnoea because I`m slim but said they`d do a sleep test anyway. And bingo, I do have sleep apnoea AFTER ALL THIS TIME ! What would my life have been like if I`d known before? I have snored all my life - my brother said I snored as a child and I remember not being able to stay with friends because of my snoring. My sons have now told me that I`ve always snored and its just what they`ve always known - in fact one son said it was comforting to stay at my house one night and hear me snoring ! Another son said he didn`t like to tell me in case it upset me.
I am really relieved that they`ve found out what`s wrong and that it can be treated, but there`s also a sadness at so many lost opportunities. Just hoping that I will be able to get some deep recuperative sleep and my muscles will get repaired.
btw - I`ve since found out that a small lower jaw can cause sleep apnoea, which is what I have, plus a low soft palate and split uvula.
Comment