I won’t bore (put you to sleep) you with the details, but four-to-four-and-a-half hours of sleep a night isn’t enough sleep. Last week I went for a consultation with a sleep doctor. Actually, I knew the drill. I had a sleep study done prior to having sinus surgery and a UPPP to eliminate the problem. I guess you could say, “Nothing lasts for ever”. It’s only been two years and the problems have resurfaced.
In answering questions related to the time of morning I generally awaken, “3:30 a.m.” was my honest response. The sleep specialist offered a plausible explanation. I had not considered the possibility before. Reportedly, with sleep apnea, your brain forgets to tell you to breathe when you are sleeping. Wouldn’t you know it, the General says, “I can’t remember anything.” Little does she know that the list includes my remembering to breathe. “Hello Houston, we’ve got a problem!” All I can say is, “I am grateful that it is not a character flaw. It simple is nature’s way of making me old before my time”.
According to the doctor, "If I awaken gasping for air due to my brain's failure to send my body a message to breathe, I would involuntarily revert to a "fight or flight response". That chemical response could provide enough of a buzz that I'd be wide awake. I guess you could say the boost of adrenaline and cortisol would definitely be a wake-up call.
Did I know the seriousness of sleep apnea? “Truthfully, I had no idea of the potential seriousness of sleep apnea”. There is a lot more involved than just being a sleepy head. The doctor listed stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, etc. Okay, he said enough to garner my attention. It wasn’t that sleep apnea is a life and death issue, but it has the potential to be life threatening.
At any rate, another sleep study was indicated. I made the assumption that I’d stay overnight and be connected to a fairly detailed monitoring device and tracking protocol. That had been my experience before. In fact, the doctor requested authorization from the insurance company that the testing be done onsite at their sleep lab.
Apparently, insurance companies now practice medicine and determine what testing is indicated and what is not. Instead of approving the onsite sleep study, the insurance opted to limit their approval to a home study that would include two nights.
I couldn’t imagine. Like I said, I had previously undergone a sleeps study. The process included a bundle of monitoring wires that strategically were placed to get the best readings. I went by the doctor’s office on Friday to pick up the home monitoring device. It is about as simple as a home-pregnancy test. I wasn’t asked to urinate in a cup, but it was close. There isn’t much to the home device.
The person assured me if there were any problems, there’d be someone available by phone to answer questions. In addition, she’d email me a link that showed a U-Tube video of setting the device up. “Simple – extremely simple” was the message I was provided.
I followed the written directions to the letter on Friday night. The lady who promised to email the u-tube link for the device failed to do so. I did a Google search and found the U-tube video. The video was very helpful. I guess I learn better through "show me" rather than "tell me".
I went to bed Friday night with all four lights glowing green, just as they should. When I awakened Saturday morning, all four green lights were still glowing. I turned the machine off and the four green lights disappeared. Unfortunately, the testing completion light turned red. Did I mention that a red completion light reflects that the testing did not operate properly? The testing completion light should have been green to reflect completion.
So where was the number to call? The only number I had in my possession, was the office number. I tired it and the recording indicated the voice message would be handled the next work-day. Okay, so I’m innovative. I went to the firm’s website. As luck would have it, they had a number for “after hour phone calls”, why not us that number? It was posted on the website.
One of the “Why Not’s” was associated to time zone issues. The area code for the number provided was in Portland, OR. It was 6:00 a.m. in Texas. That would make it 4:00 a.m. in Oregon. Okay, so I opted to wait until 8:00 a.m. I had responsibilities at work on Saturday and I had to leave the house at 8:00 a.m. I called the number. I let it ring about five times before hanging up the phone. No one answered.
Around 2:00 p.m. Oregon time yesterday, I dialed the same number again. This time the phone was answered. As it turned out, the man was a resource for the on-sight sleep study lab, but knew nothing about the at home study. He said, “Wait until Monday and contact them again.”
On Saturday night I switched out the batteries for the second night’s study. All systems were go. The obligatory green lights were all glowing. I’d try for round two. Under the auspices of “if you keep doing what you’ve always done” you get the same results. Actually, when I awakened this morning at 3:30, none of the lights were still glowing. Fortunately, I am alive and well, but I am less than impressed with the efficacy of the home sleep testing.
All My Best!
Don