(Originally written in July 2021…)

So, a little while ago I was referred for an oximetry sleep test and was subsequently diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome. I kind of knew myself that it was highly likely, and in fact I suspect I have had it for quite some time — I have always snored, sometimes quite badly, and would wake up gasping for air as if I had been holding my breath… However, even I was taken aback to hear that in my case, I stopped breathing on average 41 times per hour… Anything over 30 is counted as severe OSA. I was to stop driving, inform the DVLA, and wait for further appointments for the respiratory clinic and to be started on a CPAP trial.

Three weeks later, I got a call one Wednesday afternoon: “We know it’s really short notice but we had a cancellation… Are you free tomorrow morning?”
Knowing how I could be sitting on the waiting list for several more months, I jumped at it, and within 24 hours I was sitting at home looking at this machine and various accoutrements. The girl at the hospital was really lovely, showing me how it all worked (without actually switching it on, because, covid), fitting me with a mask (taking claustrophobia into consideration), answering all my questions and alleviating my concerns.

Night one was a success, according to the sleep report provided by the machine. I wore the mask for 7:16 hours (70 out of 70 points), had a good mask seal (20 out of 20 for that), 0.8 events per hour (how do you stop breathing 0.8 times? 5 out of 5 for that), mask off 4 times (only 3 out of 5 for that, tut tut!)… giving me a grand total of 98 out of 100! Go me!

Now, “success” is an interesting word. And one’s experience of success can vary wildly…. For example, 7:16 hours does not indicate 7:16 hours of actual SLEEP (that was more in the region of 3 hours). A “good mask seal” takes into consideration a certain amount of leakage…. The kind of leakage that makes farting noises every time you try to doze off during those 7:16 hours due to the mask moving oh-so-slightly on your face. I still managed to stop breathing 0.8 times an hour — a huge reduction from 41 times an hour, but possibly explained by the fact that I wasn’t actually getting any sleep. The mask off 4 times was due to having to reposition it to stop it from farting at me, and having to get a drink of water due to my mouth being like the Sahara Desert. Then there was that moment where I rolled over in the middle of the night and the tubing got caught on my huge glass of water, sending it toppling onto the extension set that the machine was plugged into and killing the electricity to every socket in the house….

Fun times.

Still. Onwards and upwards, right?!

A week into it, I ended up with a head cold… That was fun.  A few drops of Olbas Oil or similar on a hanky near the air filter really helped that!

Another week later, we had a heatwave…  Putting ice cold water into the humidifier and leaving an ice pack next to the air filter was a good solution for that.

Three weeks down the line, I’d love to say it’s become a walk in the park, but it is still difficult. Definitely not AS difficult, but it’s still not easy. For someone who hates having anything touching her face and can’t even wear face masks during a pandemic, it’s still tough to put this one on at night, though I’m no longer feeling quite so panicky and like I’m suffocating. I’ve had to adjust the way I lie, the height and position of my pillows, and it’s definitely taking a lot of getting used to.

However, the benefits (no snoring and, oh, you know, actually BREATHING) will definitely outweigh the negatives in the long run…  Especially now that I have banished glasses of water from my bedside locker.

(Update:  I’m still using the CPAP and, while it took me a long time to get used to it, I’ve noticed a big difference and don’t think I could sleep without it now!)