Sleep Study

Just before 9:00PM last night, I pulled into the Valley parking lot of Aspen Sleep Center. My new doctor thought it would be a good idea to see how I am sleeping. He had asked if I snore or ever stopped  breathing when I sleep. I told him that Susan has never said anything and I always wake up rested.

So I checked in with this technician named Chris. He took me to a comfortable little bedroom and explained what was going to happen. He hooked me up to a bunch of electrical leads...many more than they would place on you for an EKG. So, with this gathering of octopus leads, I was immediately set up for a comfortable, restful evening.

Once prepared, he left the room and let me prepare to go to sleep. I watched a little TV and then shut down a little after ten.

I felt like it took me forever to fall asleep but Chris woke me up about 1:00 and told me I had stopped breathing several times. Which means of course that I have Sleep Apnea. It occurred enough times that their protocol allowed for him to place a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) mask on me. It only covered my nose but it was still a bit uncomfortable and definitely unusual for me.

It created a weird pressure whenever I opened my mouth. It almost felt like I couldn't get a breath. Sometimes the pressure would build in my mouth and then air would slip gently through my lips. It was a very weird experience. One that I suspect is now in my future. 

I continued to doze throughout the night. 

When Chris woke me up at 5:30, he said the CPAP mask had worked. He wouldn't give me any results. He said that had to come from my Doctor...which would happen within se7en days.

Even though I didn't think I slept very well, I felt rested when I got up.

So I used the shower in the nicely appointed bathroom in the room, stole their extra soap and shampoo packets and got ready for work.

I still had a good hour to kill before work started so I got some nutritious breakfast at Carl's Jr.

Doesn't it sound like a Good Friday?! That's a little religious joke there!