Was it the Sleep Apnea?

For the longest time, I’ve had to struggle with the knowledge that I had no idea what had caused my stroke back in April of 2008. For the six days that I was in the hospital I was tested in every way imaginable (and a few more) to figure out what exactly had caused the malfunction within the brain inside my head. Over the last year I’ve tried to explain it away with the stress I had at my former job in the call center together with the unhealthy life I was living.

While I accepted this explanation I still felt there was something missing from the confounding puzzle. My aunt recently called me after discovering there was a connection between strokes and Sleep Apnea. She was recently diagnosed and multiple members of my extended family suffer from the affliction. With her motivation (and my mother’s insistence) I setup an appointment for a sleep study at a nearby hospital.

I won’t lie to you, I was increasingly curious as I read more into the correlation of why Sleep Apnea carries the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It would make sense. I often complain of being tired as the day is just getting started even if I get more then acceptable amounts of sleep. I’ve also had more and more bouts of insomnia over the years that it is starting to become an unbearable problem.

And so I hauled up and headed to Skyridge Medical Center over in Highlands Ranch, CO to do my test. I have to say I’ve been in many a hospital (heck, I work at one!) and I was fairly impressed. Skyridge had the appearance of being clean and well managed. Check in was easy and I waited to be called for my test.

I’m not sure why I had the stroke a year ago, but I’m pretty sure God has had this planned out from the very start. When you have a small stroke, you are at first thankful. Stronger strokes have a habit of killing people. Yet there are always after effects, even with a small attack that haunt your daily life. I’ve learned to move slower in life and to enjoy the small things. Sweating the small stuff? Not so much anymore.

I’ve also come to realize that my temple more or less resembled an abandoned 7-11 with several unwelcome homeless guests. Translation? My health and body were in different time zones when it came to being where they were supposed to be. I signed up for a 24 hour gym membership and over the last two months I’ve lost fifteen pounds. Some has come back as muscle and I’ve fallen off the wagon more than once. I keep coming back to it because I want to live to see many more tomorrows.

Back at Skyridge I’m escorted downstairs by a nurse in blue about my age. He’s an affable guy like me and we quickly become pals. As it is he’ll be watching me sleep. It’s all for science he says with a grin. I laugh. At least he’s got a sense of humor.

I’m soon hooked up like Frankenstein. I lost count at how many things are stuck to my head, feet, face and body. I’m ushered into bed and told to try and sleep. I give a thumb up and we’re off.

I can tell you this without question. I don’t sleep on my back. I don’t move for fear of unhooking the wires and inspiring a Kathy Bates Breaking My Legs-esque evening. I need my appendages. I don’t remember much of the night, aside from being hooked up to a CPAP machine. I fought that thing for the better part of an hour and faded in and out of sleep off and on. Throughout it the entire thing the affable nurse continued to help, check up and otherwise get the job done.

Morning came and I woke up unusually refreshed. I was out and on my way to church. As I sit here now I can tell you whatever the machine did, it worked. I feel more refreshed, more focused and far more rested than I ever have been. Results come in about five to seven days to confirm whether indeed I have Sleep Apnea or not.

All told, it was a fascinating experience. I will not miss the wires and Darth Vader gear. As cool as I once thought it would be to be the Dark Lord himself…never again.