From Frustration with Sleep Apnea to Hope

by H.P Singh
(Mumbai)

Hello folks,

I'm Harry, aged 66 yrs, though had it not been for my dear wife,I should have wound up a decade ago!

Years back, I was in a high-flying high-pressure job....hectic, but having no time to attend to health problems.

My wife tried several times to tell me that I was snoring erratically & heavily, I dismissed her each time bursquely, with comments like "everybody snores","if you are uncomfortable,sleep in the other room",etc.

What a fool I was.

After 6-8 months of procrastination,I finally consented to her continued pleas,took a day off,and,saw a Chest Specialist in April 2004.

After a Sleep Study,I was put on a CPAP for chronic Sleep Apnea!

I had my own struggles with the equipment, but, persisted, and life moved on. However, silently, the damage had already been done.

In early 2006, on complaints of severe chest-burning sensations, lasting for 30-45 minutes intermittently for 2-3 weeks, an angiography revealed 100% blockages in two of the three main arteries ,and 75% blockage in the third.

The Cardiologist was shocked as to how I had been carrying on, as if normally, all this while.

A complicated triple-vessel CABG was done by one of the finest Cardiac Surgeons in Mumbai. Only later I was to learn that the acute heart condition was caused by my ignoring the typical Sleep Apnea symptoms for so long.

The deprivation of adequate oxygen to the heart-lung at night over the past few years, succeeded in almost choking me to death.

Today, thanks to my ever watchful & concerned wife, I lead a peaceful retired life.

Over the years,I have had to struggle & experiment, for sure, with the CPAP machines, masks, etc. Thats a small price to pay though for a refreshed feeling on awakening in the morning.

Sometimes, I start to snore inspite of the mask, and my wife wakes me, asking me to sleep on the side! Its a loving gesture,and,I'm no longer irritated.

My experience since 2004 has been that nasal-pillows are easier to use, for CPAP pressures lesser than 14-15. I'm still trying to get the AHI down from 16-17 levels.

Maybe it's due to the small leakages in the masks, periodically, in-adequate pressure setting of the CPAP, or the darn 3-4 Kgs weight gain over the last few months.

I'm still to determine why and set it right. But with a loving spouse next to me and a reliable CPAP at night,I know that as long as I wake up each morning relatively refreshed & eager, I'm OK...and thank GOD for it.

Harry.

I hope it helps. Don't be afraid to comment back.

Remy Thierry
Founder of Sleep Apnea Guide

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