I stop breathing in my sleep 70 times an hour.

[kevyn]

Just got back from meeting with my sleep doctor, to go over the results of last week's sleep study (which I think I neglected to blog about).

Turns out, I stop breathing an average of about 70 times an hour when I am asleep, in all sleeping positions.

More than 30 times an hour is considered severe sleep apnea. I'm WAAAAAAAAY beyond severe -- the doc called it "super-severe," and insisted that I come in tomorrow night for an emergency sleep study with a CPAP.

70 times an hour? That's more than once a minute! ("Stop breathing" is defined as not breathing for more than 3 seconds).

No wonder I am always tired, depressed, moody, unstable, unable to focus, unable to complete tasks, overweight and suffering from heart problems! It seems that this may be one of the key factors in all of my health problems.

Here's hoping that the CPAP works.

Comments

[djmadadam.livejournal.com]

I never had an offical sleep study, but neither my doctor nor my health insurance at the time needed any more evidence than what I was reporting, what had collectively been reported to me. I would frequently snore loudly, stop breathing and sometimes gasp. I had persistent headaches and fatigue and I was often irritable. Plus, my dad is an awful snorer and also gasps in his sleep.

Now 1 year and almost 4 months on a CPAP and I can say that I haven't slept more soundly since I can recall.

I hope you find relief soon.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hope so too.

[fzks-cub.livejournal.com]

jebus, that's fucked up man... hope the thingy works.. *hugs*

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[atldaddybear.livejournal.com]

According to Bryon/hangnaildhole, my snoring and obvious apnea got progressively worse and worse the longer I was in Tennessee. While he says I still have my "moments", he also reports that I've gotten much, much better since we moved to Canada in May.

The apparent main reason? Between giving up most of the alcohol I was pounding in NashVegas (I'd drink around a 6-pack of cheap "light" beer each evening), along with us becoming much more physically active, I've lost at least 29 pounds in the last 3 months. In mid-April, around the same time Bryon took the pics I comment-whored posted, I weighed myself and the scale screamed in terror "293". Early last week I weighed myself, and scale yelped out "264".

Given my family history, that's still much too much weight for my 5'11" frame, but 29 pounds is a damn fine Good Start to it.

So, this is a long fuckin' way of stating that, if you can do so, work on the weight loss. You'd be surprised what all will be helped by carrying around less poundage. :-}}}}

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am aware that the weight is a problem.

But when I barely have the energy to get out of bed, exercise is almost unthinkable...

[rosetta-torture.livejournal.com]

*hug* seeing as to how I had to stay the night in one of those scary sleep analyzes clinic places when I was younger, I know how scary and uncomfortable it is!

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[sonoranbear.livejournal.com]

Yeeeikes! I think you're really onto something here and I hope the CPAP works wonders for ya, handsome.

*HUGS*

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kadyg.livejournal.com]

Wow! 70 times a minute? That's insane, no wonder you feel like crap. Although, I think that in addition to a CPAP you should follow atldaddybear's fine example and move to Canada. Obviously it's a good place for sleeping.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

He's my hero ;-)

[seespikerun.livejournal.com]

my dad and i have that, it sucks, i dont do any of the things im supposed to... except medicate (self) my dad has some machine that sounds like darth vader... his count was like 75 or 80 an hour so you two are peas in a pod. good luck, i know getting excercize and loosing weight helps, they relentlessly bitch at me about weight when i go in....no good evil doer-doctors.