The last Polysomnogram was fairly uneventful, and they basically glue a bunch of electrodes to your head and body and then strap some breathing straps around your chest. It felt like any other night’s sleep on an uncomfortable bed, and the technician woke me up at 5:30 AM and kicked me out. I was told about 1-2 weeks later that I had mild to moderate sleep apnea around REM sleep time.
So last night I reported for part 2 of my test, which was essentially part 1 except with a CPAP machine. I got fitted for a mask, which was a little intimidating, as the mask looks kinda clunky. I had been told previously that I breathe through my mouth when I sleep (though not much when awake), so I was afraid that I would need a full mask, but my worries were unfounded. I just got the nasal mask and soon found it impossible to breathe comfortably through my mouth.
I had done enough reading to know that CPAP works similar to the way a hose gets stiff when water is run through the hose (except CPAP uses air instead of water). It is really an odd sensation once the CPAP machine is turned on. You feel the pressurized air on the mask, and breathing feels very manual, especially when you exhale. I felt, when breathing, like I had to regulate the whole process as if I was pacing myself while running and taking especially deep breaths. Any time you open your mouth, you feel like the wind is instantly sucked out of you, which is an odd and uncomfortable sensation. So basically, it is hard to talk with the mask on or breathe through your mouth (or even yawn).
Once the mask was on, it wasn’t too bad, and I got some humid air too. My nose itched in the mask, but I didn’t find out till later that I was allowed to lift the mask and scratch my nose. Still, I fell asleep fairly quickly. Unfortunately, I then woke up and was extremely awake. It felt like it’d only been a few hours, but later the technician told me I had been asleep for a good amount of time. However, I was completely unable to fall back asleep, and so the technician came in and switched me to a BiPAP machine.
When I was first switched from CPAP to BiPAP, inhaling felt much harder, since I didn’t have so much air pressure coming in at me. Unlike CPAP, BiPAP has two different pressures instead of just one; it’s like dual-wielding. With BiPAP, my breathing (especially exhaling) was much more natural, and eventually I fell back asleep. I actually ended up dreaming about my sleep study, and in my dream the following conversations occurred:
Technician: Wow, you sure were cursing a lot in your sleep. You kept talking about Stephon Marbury and [some other people who I couldn't remember when I woke up].
Kabitzin: Really? He’s actually been pretty good for the Celtics, though…
Technician: And then you were discussing [obscure anime series whose title I can't remember anymore].
Kabitzin: That is an obscure series!
At that point I felt like a switch went on in my head… probably because the technician had actually flipped on the real light switch. I was told I’d get the BiPAP and then I got kicked out of my room again. Even though I probably only slept 4-5 hours and I woke up in the middle, I felt mentally superb. My body kinda ached from the hard, tiny bed, but I was so incredibly alert (and still am). I feel like I downed a large tall grande coffee (which I rarely drink, so it has a huge effect on me) except I don’t have any of the jittery or diuretic effects!
All in all, it was a fantastic procedure, and I can’t wait to actually get my own BiPAP machine and have the kind of rest that you get 150% experience from.
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