Tuesday 25 October 2011

Me Not Healthy: Always Tired (Part 2)

My apologies for the rather abrupt, sudden and uh, "enthusiastic" previous post. It's just that a story that I'm rather engaged has been on hiatus for several months now and the end of a chapter was posted like night. However, due to the "enthusiasm" of several hundred thousand people eager to see the end (and crashing many things on the way rendering it unviewable) there was a lot of tension, anxiety and we fed off each other.

It was still awesome though. Fang and Sophia don't think I'm crazy.

And now for a legitimate post.

The unique thing about this particular arc that I'm sharing with you unlike the lung cysts or my previous relationships is that I'm currently experiencing this one. The prior events are drawn from memory but this story I'm telling you as it unfold. So yeah, let's see where this takes us?

So, as I recall from part 1, I had been given a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to try and use. Basically this thing is constantly pumping air via a mask into either my nose, mouth or both to reduce the incidents of waking up in the middle of the night. During the sleep I would wake 10-15 times for less than a second (meaning I'm not consciously aware of it) in 5 hours of sleeping. 6 hours of sleep was equivalent to maybe 3 hours because of how little REM sleep I got.

And then I look like this for the rest of the day.

The good news is, the based on the data gathered from the CPAP, the number of apneas (waking ups) went down significantly. The bad news? I didn't feel a difference. At All.

The first mask I used was a nasal only. Breathing through my mouth would result in a sensation not unlike choking due to the pressure caused by the CPAP. Not a problem, I'm not a mouth breather unless my sinuses are clogged.

Which is exactly what the stupid nasal mask did to me. It first took an hour to fall asleep because it's weird sleeping with something strapped to your face. And then when I finally fell asleep, 1 hour later I'd wake up choking, nose all clogged and I'd rip the mask from my face, turn over and fall asleep.

So then we did the next logical step:


Next I went with the full face one, mouth and nose were covered and I could breathe through either one. It was a lot better but I was still unable to sleep for more than 5 hours at a time with the machine. The neat thing about the CPAP was it recorded data so after a month I sent some things to my doctor. He wants to discuss a few things with me now.

And I'll let you know what those things are when I find out.

Link to Part 3.

53 comments:

  1. I hope if you upgrade, it will be better. It must be so difficult to not get enough rest.

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  2. It's a shame it didn't work out so well :( I think I'd have trouble sleeping with something stuck to my face as well really. Hope the news ain't too bad from the doctor.

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  3. Dude, just don't give a damn about legit posting. It's the gogdamn EOA, it's okay to go a bit bananas, mmkay? Homestuck, Homestuck everywhere. Says the girl with 220 fewer followers but wwhatevver *waves hand*

    I just. Love the link to me under that picture. Probably dressing up as John VERY SOON.

    Indifference of comments on previous post both saddening and amusing.

    Impulses to hug everyone I know, or know of, who reads this comic only saddening as some of us are divided by oceans. *pap pap* that was not creepy at all

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  4. I've known a couple people that needed these. It didn't look fun at all.

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  5. Good luck with your doctors visit!

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  6. How awesome would it be if you were a sleep walker/sleep eater/sleep exerciser, etc.

    I've heard they exist and really don't remember!

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  7. Hopefully they're helpful things o.o

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  8. Apnea must be the worst! Hopefully things get better.

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  9. I thought I had problems sleeping, sucks to be you man!

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  10. Sounds like a rather exhausting process in and of itself, hopefully it gets better some how.

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  11. Ah that whole being tired all the time thing really isn't good for anybody. Keep us updated on how it goes, I hope you begin to feel less tired as quickly as possible buddy, I know this must really suck.

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  12. Good luck, hopefully everything turns out alright.

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  13. Huh... This is actually pretty interesting to read. Hope everything works out okay.

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  14. I would have trouble falling asleep too, good luck with the doc meeting.

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  15. I hope the upgraded mask will make things better.

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  16. Aww, CPAP machines are no fun. :/ Hope your sleep improves though. :)

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  17. that thing can't be too comfy to sleep with man hope things get better soon

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  18. You know what they say. Stuff sucks, then you die.
    But seriously, good luck with that, I know what it's like to never feel like you've enough sleep :/

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  19. good luck with the sleep problems

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  20. Hope everything gets well.

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  21. My uncle uses one of those masks.

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  22. Sounds lame, hope things get better

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  23. Hope the doc comes back with good news and he'll have a way to finally make you feel like you've actually achieved a good nights sleep

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  24. Glad there are things that can possibly be done for your sleep troubles. Insomnia is a hell unlike any other, and one I never wish on others.

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  25. Wow geez, what ever is going on, I hope you get better or at least get some shut eye. Have you tried changing your sleep schedule so that you don't actually need to sleep in one continuous period?

    It sounds a bit like a lifehack more than anything but it's worth a try.

    http://www.dustincurtis.com/sleep.html

    BECOME THE UBERMENSCH!

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  26. Lets hope he has some helpful news.

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  27. oh, such troubles ... I do not envy you at all, my friend ... Hope you will find a solution

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  28. Full body armor is obviously the way to go.

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  29. I am sure I would not be able to sleep with a mask on my face ,I hope you get well soon

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  30. Hope they figure out something that'll help you sleep better :(

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  31. Good luck with doctor appointments

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  32. I'm not a good sleeper and I know I'd have a heck of a time sleeping with a mask...hope you get some good advice from your doctor!

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  33. That’s a nice color on your blog and of course your post is good too

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  34. You'll be fine. Just keep posting (y)

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  35. good luck with doctor visit :)

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  36. Too bad it didn't help you. I'm waiting to hear about what your doctor told you.

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  37. Aw man... that sounds terrible.

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  38. yeah, i suck without sleep. get better

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  39. the fact that you will have to wait for that findings-sucks! and yeah, pretty tiring too.

    I hope your doctor will tell you good things =))

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  40. Oy, my father-in-law had the mask too, and you have my complete sympathy! I'm clausterphobic and don't think I could do this, but who knows? Your condition is serious and even dangerous. If I had that much of a sleep issue, I'd probably find a way to beat my fear. Probably.

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  41. That's some really cool, high tech stuff. At least they're collecting data that can help you. Keep us posted. I hope things pick up!

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  42. im always tired and i hate it -.-

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  43. glad to be back, needed a break. hopefully things improve. i feel tired a lot as well, like im not 100%. i tend to sleep too much or stay up too late.

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  44. have to be unconfortable, best luck with it and hope you heal soon as possible.

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  45. man, that sucks I couldn't imagine trying to sleep with something like that on my face. Hehe I can't even with ear buds in.

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  46. lol u still havent fixed your self? this must be the doing of the american government.

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  47. Yeah I second Berscules. Good luck indeed!

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  48. Nice post, good luck with the doctors visit.

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  49. Here's to hoping for many solid, non-waking up in the middle of, naughty dreaming, wonderfully refreshing zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's for you!

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  50. I misread CPAP as CRAP. Haha. I too sometimes have trouble sleeping.

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