Ted On Flash: Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea - Yuck!

DIGG IT! 1 Comments Published Sunday, August 03, 2003 at 9:25 AM .

I am in Washington DC recovering from surgery this week. My tech blogging is on hold until I return. This is an off topic post for me but hopefully it will help someone in a similar situation.

For the past few years, I have had trouble with work and life as my concentration and ability focus was less than normal. I just couldn't seem to complete tasks and it was becoming ever more frustrated. I went to see a Dr who promptly sent me in for a sleep study. During the study they attached 50+ wires to me while I attempted to sleep. It wasn't fun but the results showed that I was waking up 16-20 times an hour. They estimated I had not slept well for the past 10-15 years. Basically, I would fall into REM sleep, stop breathing, gasp for air and wake up. I personally had no idea that this was happening, until I saw the video. I thought they had me confused with another person. It came as a real shock.

Last Tuesday, I checked into Georgetown Medical Center in DC and had surgery to fix the problem. They did 3 things,

1. Fix a deviated septum so I could breath unrestricted
2. Sinus Surgery
3. Reduce the volume of my tongue to prevent it falling back in my throat - Coblation

The root cause of Apena is different in everyone, in me, my throat structure is small and if I turned a certain way, I would cut of my own breathing. Reducing the volume of my throat was the only way it could be fixed. And yes, I got several opinions on the surgery. Coblation uses radio waves to destroy tissue. It was used on the back of my tounge to reduce the volume by 30-40%. It essentially melts tissue without burning or scaring and is painless. It just feels like a sore throat.

Just 4 days after surgery, I had a perfect nights sleep, probably the best in my life. I feel like a new person and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. It is crazy to think that sleep can affect ones life so substantially. It is even stranger to find that what you think was normal wasn't. I guess it is true, perception is reality.

I am better than ever and should be back in Jamaica by the end of next week.

Cheers,

ted ;)

1 Responses to “Sleep Apnea - Yuck!”

# Vic January 25, 2010 6:19 PM

I might be heading the same way and might want some advice.

Ted Patrick - Demos & MAX @ Adobe Systems

Note: This is the personal blog of Ted Patrick. The opinions and statements voiced here are my own.

Sleep Apnea - Yuck!

1 Responses to “Sleep Apnea - Yuck!”

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