Candid talk about health issues.
About 8 weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night because I was not breathing. I do not normally have sleep problems, so this was more than scary. I made an appointment to see a sleep specialist– the only one in-network in my area.
While waiting for appointments and tests, I also took the Internet advice for dealing with sleep apnea, which is to lose some weight. Even a little loss can be beneficial.
Mind you, I’ve had “lose 20 lbs” as a goal since January 1, but have gotten nowhere on achieving it.
I’ve been running and going to the gym more in the past 2 months than I had in the previous 5.
My weight is the same as it was on January 1st. So, that sucks. I always have to focus not on the scale, although it’s gratifying when that does something good, but on what I can do.
For example: On Saturday morning, I ran for 4 miles, the longest I’ve run in about 10 years. I am now also at the point where I can stand up from a crouch without help. Stairs no longer make my knees creak, or make me winded. These are all beneficial. However, I know it’s easy to backslide.
I feel like I’m playing a video game with a built-in decomposition mechanic, and which get progressively harder as you improve, making the improvements feel less and less helpful.
As for the apnea– it’s too early to tell. I also haven’t had my final follow-up, where I’ll likely get a prescription for a CPAP machine and a lecture on using it every night. I did the overnight sleep study with the CPAP and can categorically say that I despise it and felt like I was drowning while wearing it.
Good vibes and good luck tackling this. You sound like you’re doing awesome at targeting your goals! Luck with the CPAP and all, it sounds really hard.
While you wait for the appointment, try sleeping on your side, not on your back, which helps. Good luck with the CPAP. Some people hate it. I love mine to death.
I primarily sleep on my side anyway. I was on my side when I woke up not breathing. So, yeah. Also, I roll around a lot in my sleep. Can’t imagine trying to tell my body what position to sleep in at night.
“I feel like I’m playing a video game with a built-in decomposition mechanic, and which get progressively harder as you improve, making the improvements feel less and less helpful.”
Holy shit yes. One of my fellow gamers is older than I, and looks in great shape. He also mentioned that he has to sink a considerable time into working out to maintain it. I already feel it at 40-ish, but I’m definitely not looking forward to that next level-up.
I’m now at the point where I can’t sleep at all without my CPAP.
It’s also been about 2 months since I ate pizza. Pizza’s probably my biggest trigger food, but I’ve needed the “fast.”
ooh, that extra energy you get from steady cardio feels so good.  Congratulations on that and on having the discipline to keep it going!
(also, have you asked/heard about dental appliances? They are supposedly way more comfortable than a cpap.)
TIL, Meera Barry! Thanks!
Sorry, I can’t figure out a text way to say all the things that particular sign means, but “we are alike in these things, I understand you,” is kind of the words of it.
I grok, Meera.
That must have been scary! If you do get prescribed a CPAP, try out different masks; none of them will be great, but some configurations are less Darth Vader-y. Definitely sending supportive thoughts as a fellow not-as-young-as-I-once-was and never-as-in-shape-as-I-wanted-to-be human trying to lose some weight and stay alive for many more years.
Thanks! Yeah, it was a little frightening.