I am so sorry my readers for not welcoming the New Year on this blog with you all. I hope all my readers had a lovely New Year celebration.
For me the celebration was there but with a challenge in a rather bizarre way... from a simple recognition of snoring and a follow through with an investigation it has been found that I suffer sleep apneas and reduced oxygen saturations in the night.
The consultant as informed me that my body is on red alert stress through the night as it keeps detecting the low oxygen levels and floods my system with adrenaline in response to this. The long term effects of this are that of heart problems, raised BP and with this potential stroke...!!
It is no wonder that I have been feeling exhausted all the time and battling to keep awake through the day. Also finding it difficult to rise for an early shift ... especially as I have to set the alarm for 4:30 am to catch two buses to my work for a 7am start!!
I had not felt the impact of the sleep apnoeas when I worked on A/E as my shifts would be mostly lates and twilights...
But the whole idea of me the nurse/midwife now turning into a patient is horrendously frightening. Especially as I would like to keep my health to enjoy my marriage to Amine, my lovely husband.
The treatment for the sleep apnoeas are to reduce weight as this is usually a condiditon that effects overweight thick necked males.. I am of a slim slender frame but guess what my faithful readers you will remember I have an issue with over large boobs... this is the root cause of the problem as my breathing is affected by them. it is hardwork expanding my chest wall in inspiration against the weight - it is quite simply like breathing with someone sat on my chest. For those that have been my readers for the last 3 years you will know that I have had a battle with the local PCT for them to fund even a first line assessment with a plastic surgeon, let alone follow through with funding for the necessary operation!
I have renewed my battle to get the care I need and with the respiritory team now looking after me with the sleep apnoeas I hope that my condition will be fully cared for. I am in constant pain now both in my upper thoracic back region and in the breast tissue itself...
A couple of weeks ago I collapsed at work with raised BP giddiness and dizziness plus a sinus bradycardia... it was scary for me... I would rather be running around looking after patients that be a patient myself!!
Thankfully my 12 lead ECGS were deemed ok and my blood studies did not raise any concern of possible cardiac event such as MI...
I have now been issued with a CPAP machine however to help me in the night.. to keep me from snoring and reducing my oxygen sats...
so now I go to bed looking like a fighter pilot.... looooool
Lets hope that I can have some sweet sleep and sweet dreams with a sweet life to enjoy soon!
Here is a link for you to look up if you wish to learn more on snoring and apnoeas plus the CPAP...
http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/snoring_&_sleep_apnoea/what_is_sleep_apnoea.php
Join me on facebook marjfaith and we can talk more and share if you wish on this subject...
image from: http://sumikobnu.blogspot.com/2010/12/dare-to-dream.html
