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| I felt like a sleepy zombie all day every day |
I thought I was depressed. I thought I was dying. Energy? I had none. Motivation? It was totally there...and I'd get around to it right after my nap. My apartment was messy more than it was clean. When I did work, on my days off or as soon as I'd get home I began taking naps. The naps became longer and longer. My sleep became heavier.
Trying to make it through the day feels like torture, literally. As soon as I wake up I spend the rest of my day fighting sleep and impatiently waiting for the time when I can lay my head down. WTF? What IS wrong with me?? I started to believe what everyone was saying. Maybe I am lazy and undisciplined. Maybe I am worthless. Shit, I hate myself. But if that is the case, why does it feel like my body is fighting against me every second of the day??
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| It's a medical mystery |
This health issue has been nagging me since about 2002. Yes..I know...It has been a long time and it's getting progressively worse. Doctors have not been able to diagnose me or give me medication that has made me feel better. I've had a CAT-scan, MRI, at least 20+ blood tests, 3 teeth pulled, oral surgery to remove 2 wisdom teeth, no diabetes, no thyroid problems, liver function is good, I've seen 3 psychiatrists, 2 mental health counselors, and 3-4 M.D.s. I've been dizzy, sleepy, confused, weak, sluggish, and my memory is getting worse with time. I feel a downright loss of control over myself. I have succumbed to the verbal abuse and labels everyone has put on me. I am a member of the walking dead. Incurable. As I type this blog post my head is swimming, my eyes feel heavy, there's this thick brain fog nagging and swirling throughout my head.
Thank God I decided to get bariatric surgery. The pre-op stage is saving my life already. A sleep study was on the check list of pre-op tests the doctor required. I was just going through the motions but as I answered a preliminary checklist I knew I had sleep apnea.
Q: "Do you wake up feeling unrested?"
A: Every snigle day
Q: "Do you fall asleep at traffic lights?"
A. I've been known to do so or pull over & sleep in a parking lot
Q: "When riding in the car as a passenger for more than an hour how likely is it that you will fall asleep?"
A. Very likely
Q: "Do you fall asleep while reading?"
A. Yes almost every time I read for more than 20 min.
So I go to my sleep study. It looked like a doctor office/bed and breakfast on the inside. There was a huge queen sized bed waiting for me. I cam in my jammies and basketball shorts. There were at least 20 wires hooked up to my head, torso, and legs. I also had a small oxygen tube placed under my nostrils. The nurses monitored me by video in a room nearby. That was awkward but I eventually fell asleep. I slept about 6-7 hours but kept waking up. When I woke up I'd fool with the wires tangled around my legs and fall back asleep. In the morning, they woke me up and I felt refreshed. They said my doctor would call me in about 2 weeks with the results.
The diagnosis came back "sleep apnea, obstucted type". I have a referral to an ENT doctor to get fitted for a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. I've read that the results from using a CPAP machine are instant. You will wake feeling rested and most symptoms will go away immediately. I will be able to breathe and get a full night's sleep. I can't wait to see if my zombie feeling will go away. So what, I have to wear a tube up my nose while sleeping. I am excited!!
I will update you after my appointment and let you know how the machine works. Does anyone else suffer from sleep apnea? Is it related to obesity? Do these symptoms sound familiar? Maybe you should go get checked out. Please comment and share your stories or questions below!
xoxo Diva KK
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