Presenting: #CPAPBabe of the Week! The first one!

Posted February 25, 2017

OMG, I am SO excited to post Lana, the VERY first babe of the week! How cool is that?

If you want to be the babe of the week, go on over to submissions and fill out the form.

Name: Lana

Location: South Texas

Tell us about why you use CPAP and how you got diagnosed.

I had been feeling fatigued for so very long. I had blamed everything from working nightshift 18 years, shift sleep disorder, age, secondary trauma from my job as a nurse, other people making too much noise, you name it… I never thought the real problem could be within me.

I asked my doctor if there was anything she could give me to either help me stay awake during the day or help me sleep better at night. She said I needed a sleep study first. I agreed, although I was skeptical. I thought it was something that it was something large men who snore too much needed- not me, but I went. The technician who did my study stated I was fine until I went into R.E.M. sleep and then I showed my “true colors”. When awake and when in Non-R.E.M. sleep my vital signs are pretty normal- no apnea. But when ever I slipped into R.E.M. sleep my heart rate increased 114, respiratory rate dropped to 11, and oxygen saturations plummeted to 82. My AHI was 40! I have severe sleep apnea and I had absolutely no idea. So basically, I had been getting no R.E.M. sleep and whenever my body slipped into it it would startle awake so I wouldn’t die- 40 times an hour.

What do you LOVE about CPAP treatment?

I finally feel rested when I sleep. And I know it sounds crazy but I even feel “smarter” when I wake up. It’s like my brain is finally getting the oxygen it needs when I sleep. My sleep is so much deeper and better. I hadn’t noticed I hadn’t dreamed in years because I never could sleep deep enough for a long period of time. It’s nice to dream again.

Any advice for other CPAP Babes?

Relax! Getting used to CPAP reminded me of learning how to scuba dive and not just because of how I look. It’s because when learning to breathe underwater one of the most important things you learn is you have to relax and breathe calmly and let your body adjust to breathing differently while under the water- panic and you won’t succeed. Acceptance of yourself, your medical issue, and your new sleep reality (CPAP) is most definitely the hardest part, but it’s also the most important part.

From Stacy, CPAPBabes Founder: Thanks so much, Lana, for being the brave first babe! It’s crazy how similar your story is to mine! I also asked for some stay awake drugs…and got a sleep study instead! <3 <3