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ElvisChrist

ElvisChrist
Joined May 2018
ElvisChrist
Joined May 2018

Hello everyone... This is my first post here. I just wanted to share my experience so that someone like me, who may be lurking (as I did), doesn't make the mistake I made. I've been aware that I probably have sleep apnea for well over 10 years. An ex-girlfriend made a video of me gasping for breath in my sleep 12 or so years ago. As time went on, I kept getting worse at things I am good at, having memory problems, feeling tired after sleeping for 12 hours, being cranky, depression, brain fog etc. It crept up on me very slowly and I attributed a lot of my physical and mental decline to aging and just accepted it. I'm a professional musician, and in that capacity, I could really notice the decline: I had a hard time learning new material, being creative, staying alert (I often don't get home until the wee hours) etc. I'm also fairly certain that, due to my crappy attitude and lack of patience, I've ruined many potential relationships that could have furthered my career. Turning down many opportunities because I knew I simply wouldn't have the energy for them or would be too tired to do a good job certainly hasn't helped either. I actually practiced my instrument (guitar) more than I ever had, but seemed to get worse. It made me begin to hate the only think I am good at. Anyhow...I kept feeling worse and worse and I finally got a sleep study done a little over a month ago, and it confirmed severe sleep apnea: I was experiencing 41 events (AHI) per hour, and my oxygen was as low as 70%. I've been on my machine since 4/13 and am feeling better every day. It's a noticable, remarkable improvement (fortunately, I've had no issues with adjusting to my equipment) and I look forward to regaining my full capacity; I think I've probably forgotten what that was after so long. Circles under my eyes are disappearing. I have dreams and don't get up to take a leak 5 times a night. I actually remember the plot to shows I watched the night before. I don't waste the first 4 hours of every day drinking coffee, waiting to get some kind of surge of energy. As a musician, I am already able to learn things much faster (like I remember being able to do several years ago) and...my singing voice is massively better (a nice side effect I didn't expect). I don't have a feeling of constant dread anymore...I am happy. So, here I sit, 45 years old, thinking I've probably wasted some of the best years of productivity and creativity due to not seeking treatment. I am lucky I am still married. I am lucky I did not suffer a more severe health problem such as stroke or a heart attack. I regret not getting treated sooner, but post this mostly to share my, thus far, very positive experience and also in hopes that someone like me...knew I had it and let it go...will get it treated and not waste their life. It's an insidious health problem...it crept up on me so slowly that I forgot how it was to feel normal.