I started the #cpapbabes movement in 2015 after I got diagnosed with sleep apnea.
I first started seeing the doctor for fatigue at the age of fifteen. My health declined significantly the older I got, and I couldn’t figure out why. I could sleep 15-18 hours and still be tired. Doctors were sympathetic, but usually just tested me for anemia and mono and sent me on my way with no solutions.
I FINALLY got sent for a sleep study in 2015 – and I was absolutely convinced that I had narcolepsy, like my grandma did. (Contrary to popular belief, narcolepsy isn’t always falling asleep suddenly – it can manifest as excessive daytime sleepiness.)
Looking babely at my sleep study.
My sleep study was in the middle of October in 2015. Around Halloween, I felt to Los Angeles to attend my best friend’s wedding. I remember vividly on the flight back reading a book on setting goals and getting to where you want to be. It posed the question: If you could have/be/do anything you wanted in life, what would it be? All I could think of was that I needed my health. I couldn’t do anything without my health. The worst part? I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to get it. I feared I would be sick forever.
The sleep clinic was always booked up and had a crazy schedule. I knew I might not get my results for month, but somehow everything fell into place for me to get in to go over my results on November 4th. Even the receptionist on the phone noted that to get in for follow up so fast was nothing short of miraculous.
When I arrived to the clinic, a neurologist-in-training sat me down and said non-chalantly “So, you have sleep apnea…” and then went on to go over all my results.
The first thing I thought was “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! How can I have sleep apnea? I don’t snore! I’m not fat!”
The second thing I thought was “Oh damn I gotta get one of those machines.”
My results said that I woke up 29 times per hour due to breathing obstructions, making my sleep apnea on the high side of moderate (almost severe.)
After getting over the shock, I was taken to a room with a rep from the medical company to get me fitted for a mask and to try out the machine.
When I saw it I almost cried. I had to choke back tears.
However, after about five minutes, I decided that I had to make this work. I was not going to mess this up – after all, my health was the only thing I wanted.
I returned home to my then-boyfriend (my husband now) with the CPAP case slung over my shoulder.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“A CPAP machine,” I replied. ” I have sleep apnea.”
“No you dont!” he said.
The fact that I suffered for so many years is not okay. The fact that the public and the medical community doesn’t have the education that they need about sleep apnea to recognize that it affects all kinds of people is hurting us all. I lost so many years of my life in bed.
#CPAPBabes was born when I posted my first mask selfie. I knew I had to have fun with it and to have a sense of humor about it, so I did. Luckily, my CPAP brothers and sisters have joined in online and now we have a fun community of Cpappers in solidarity.
Other Stuff About Me
Here is a picture of me without a CPAP. Photo by Lydia Brewer Photography.
My name is Stacy Erickson Edwards. I was born in 1984 in Bellingham, Washington and currently live in Seattle.
I run two businesses – Home Key Organization, a professional organizing company specializing in child and family environments and Home Key: Organized Social Media, which provides affordable social media services for small businesses.
I have lots and lots of interests, including but not limited to: cats, hula hooping, polka dots, organizing, thrift shopping, fashion, babies, drawing and the internet.
I got married to Dave in 2016, who is also a #cpapbabe.
I have two cats, Darby (gray) and Momo (tabby.) I am beyond obsessed with them.
My favorite color is purple.
