Hello, so I have decided to start a blogg to reach out to people who are either suffering or know of someone suffering from Sleep Apnea or anything related to sleeping disorders.
My goal is to have a place where people can connect, offer advice, support, or just be a sound board for people who just need a place to vent.
My name is Robyn and my husband has been suffering from Sleep Apnea for the past 12 years or more, however it has become more serious since 2005.
Here in Calgary, Sleep Apnea is just being discovered and there isn't a whole lot of information or support to help us.
Sleep Apnea, as some of you may not know, is a sleeping disorder effecting breathing while a person sleeps.
There are three forms of sleep apnea: central (CSA), obstructive (OSA), and complex or mixed sleep apnea (i.e., a combination of central and obstructive) constituting 0.4%, 84% and 15% of cases respectively. In CSA, breathing is interrupted by a lack of respiratory effort; in OSA, breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow despite respiratory effort, and snoring is common.
Usually in any case, an individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Sleep apnea is recognized as a problem by others witnessing the individual during episodes or is suspected because of its effects on the body.
Symptoms may be present for years (or even decades) without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.
There are many different types of ways to help control this, surgeries, mouth guards, and lifestyle changes, but mostly they put you on a machine called a c-pap or bi-pap. This pump air filtered through a mask to help open up the airway allowing you to breath while asleep.
My husband, suffers from Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea with a mixture of Central too and is presently using the bi-pap machine, it does alleviate his apnea, but even on the highest "air pressure" level he still has apnea throughout the night.
We found out about his apnea when he was rushed to emergency with what the hospital classified it as a "minor" heart attack back in 2005. I love how they use the word "minor" like it's a scratch or something and to just put a band aide on it to fix it, but regardless of how "minor" it is to them, it did 9% damage on his heart, and that will never heal. It was during this visit that they did tests only to discover that his arteries were clear and other than being a bit over weight and having high cholesterol, they couldn't understand why he had it at all. It wasn't until he fell asleep and started to choke and gasp for air that they figured out the problem.
Since then, he has developed Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, seizures, and now possibly mini strokes.
When I talk to people about sleep apna, I always hear about how minor it is and how it is more of a nuisance than anything serious like Cancer or Aids, but from what we have experienced it's quite serious.
I have called this post "I'll get enough sleep when I'm dead", because that is exactly what my husband use to say and now it is slowly killing him. I get really annoyed when I hear people use this saying because they don't realize just how true it really is.
My husband, whom wishes to remain anonymous, is 38 years old and for someone who should be in the prime of his life is instead stuck at home, unable to work because he falls asleep eating, watching TV, talking, and even on the occasion...walking. I know that some of you are asking how that is possible and you even think that I am exaggerating, but I assure you; I am not.
We are just in the process of meeting with Cardiovascular specialists because a few weeks ago the doctors were certain that he had a minor stroke. While we were doing the tests to determine the results one of the tests came back saying that while he is asleep, and on his mask, his heart stops for four beats every couple of seconds; so now he will need to get a pacemaker.
I am very grateful for our medical system, as he is on AISH (Assisted Income for the Severe Handicap) they cover all of our medical bills including ambulance. They also give him a monthly allowance, but base it off of what I make a month. The problem with this is that I am only able to work so many hours a month and if I go above $900 they start cutting his pay cheque in half, making us rely on the food banks and charity of others.
My biggest challenge is my children, we have been blessed with three beautiful children. Their ages are 10, 9, and 5. They are so amazing and try to be as helpful as they can be, especially my 10 year old, she is usually the one keeping the other two occupied and calm while the ambulance takes my husband away. She always seems calm and collective on the outside, however inside she wants to find a quite place and cry. I commend her bravery and admire her for it, but as we have no support here all I can do is hold her in my arms, rock her back and forth while reassuring her that daddy will be home soon.
Calgary is an amazing city when it comes to organizations that help families of low income. For Christmas we were adopted by a church that bought my kids new coats, mitts, hats, and scarfs that we would never have been able to afford. Now that our weather is so cold they skip to school in the morning bundled and warm.
Our church has also been amazing in helping us get through really tough times, we have made some amazing friends and met some amazing people...prayer has definitely helped boost our hope.
My parents are also incredible, without them I think I would have gone completely crazy. I work at a temp agency and my mom, bless her, is able to take my kids to school in the morning and take care of my husband during the times I am not available, she cooks, cleans and doesn't complain ever while my dad drives us around the city to various appointments as we don't drive...I love them so much I don't know what I would do without them!
God bless family! :0)
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