Results are in: I have sleep apnea

I’ve been having sleeping problems for many years, which became aggravated when I left college for the 8-5 life a year ago. I recently went to a sleep disorders clinic for a sleep study and was warned by the doctor it may be sleep apnea because of the way my boyfriend described my occasional snoring and my huge tonsils.

I was shocked. I knew that sleep apnea meant your airways were blocked at night, but I’d only heard it associated with overweight people, whose windpipes were crushed at night due to their sheer weight. A former boss of mine was overweight and had it and had to use a CPAP machine, which has a mask you wear at night that pumps air down your throat. I’m not at all overweight and quite young, so I was puzzled. But the doctor explained that sleep apnea can be caused by a variety of other reasons, including large tonsils, a receded chin, a deviated septum, and an enlarged tongue.

Yesterday I went in to learn my sleep study results. It turns out I stopped breathing completely at one point during the night, and at many other moments, my breathing was reduced 30-40%. Your blood oxygen levels are supposed to stay at 92% or above, and mine dipped down to 89%. There is a number called AHI, or apnea-hypopnea index, used to determine how restricted your breathing is at night. A very normal person would have a number of 1 or 2. Someone who snores or has very minor breathing issues would have a 3 or 4. Anything above 5 means you have apnea. Mine was 5.2.

Sleep apnea can result in depression, headaches, memory and concentration problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, and even high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. I battled depression and fatigue for years, so I am thrilled to finally have a potential cause.

One option to eliminate the apnea is the CPAP machine, but it is very large and bulky, not to mention totally unsexy! And I’m sure uncomfortable. My other option is to have my monster tonsils excised. The doctor said it can be extremely painful for a week or two since you have to swallow, and are constantly irritating the area. While I hate the thought of surgery, the doc said apnea only gets worse with age, and I think better sleep for the rest of my life is worth a week or two of severe pain.

The sleep doc recommended I see a local ear, nose, and throat doctor who is known to be conservative with surgery, so he will be able to let me know if I should remove the tonsils and possibly the adenoids. If I do get the surgery, I will do it during the holidays in Houston so my wonderful mom can take care of me while I’m on the mend. Nothing like being nursed by your mother!

Anyway, the most interesting thing about this is I’ve probably had this condition for many years, if not my whole life, and had no idea until now. The side effects of sleep apnea can greatly affect your functioning, especially as you get older, so if the tonsil removal takes care of it, I can’t imagine how wonderful I’ll feel after a true good night’s sleep. I want people to know that if they have been experiencing a problem that interferes with their life, they shouldn’t just hope it will just go away or get better. I had no idea it was even a possibility for me to have sleep apnea, and lo and behold, it could be the root of so many problems for me. Don’t hesitate to have a doctor look into something because of embarrassment or worrying that it’s not a big deal. It could change your life.

 

Where’s my work/life balance?

When I was being interviewed for my current job, I was told that the company encouraged a work/life balance, which was a huge turn on for me. Now that I’ve been there for a while, I’ve found that’s not really the case — especially after reading about so many companies that allow working from home once or twice a week and have very flexible hours. Some even allow you to bring your dog in once a week. According to a Workforce Management article, offering more of a work/life balance is increasingly important:

Recruiting the best and brightest is only half the game; retention is the other half. Competitors face the same issues. Gaining a competitive advantage is the key. Inflexible work arrangements are a primary reason top talent leaves an organization.

The article goes on to say that the employee’s relationship with his or her manager was once the No. 1 reason for leaving a job, but it is now lack of schedule flexibility. People want their lives back.

Because so many companies are beginning to offer flexible options, more employees are starting to look for (or even expect) those perks. I think this is great to put the pressure on other companies to offer options that help employees have more of a work/life balance. After all, happy employees work better and harder. Now that people have cell phones and laptops, it’s easy to work from home or at a coffee shop. Not that we should be encouraged to be “always on” and working at home when we don’t have to, but I think allowing someone such flexible options will allow employees to take care of more medical appointments, spend more time with their families and save on gasoline.

While flex time sounds like a great deal, my friend Lisa Takeuchi Cullen wonders if it is a load of hooey.

Does your workplace offer any perks that help you have a better work/life balance?

 

Exploring Pilates

All my life I’ve done things that have bulked up my muscles: gymnastics, sprinting on a track team and some weight lifting. I’ve always felt too short and stocky (though my dear boyfriend insists I’m just “athletic”). I’ve been having upper back problems recently and my chiropractor suggested I try Pilates. After reading how it can make your muscles longer and learner, I decided it was definitely something worth looking into.

I’ve done yoga before, and while it’s very calming, it’s difficult for me. I am a little ADD and have a hard time going so slowly, even though my mom and several health professionals have encouraged me to give it another try due to its stress-reducing qualities. Pilates seems a little more active and focused on physical strength, while yoga is greatly about the mind, breathing and awareness. This About.com article discusses some of the other differences.

After doing some research, I discovered that it is advisable to do a private lesson the first few times you do Pilates in order to learn how it works and how to use the bizarre-looking equipment. It’s a bit expensive, but most studios give you a discount if you do it with a friend or two. From then on, you can continue the costly individual lessons or do group mat classes, which are $15 a piece at most places. It’s cheaper when you buy multiple lessons at the same time. I’m already paying for a membership at Gold’s Gym, but from what I’ve read, cardio and Pilates complement each other, so I’m going to need to do both. Which will actually be great for my health if I can commit to it.

Even the Australian government likes Pilates. It provides a list of benefits Pilates provides:

• Improved flexibility.
• Increased muscle strength, particularly of the abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of the body).
• Balanced muscular strength on both sides of the body.
• Enhanced muscular control of the back and limbs.
• Improved stabilisation of the spine.
• Greater awareness of posture.
• Improved physical coordination and balance.
• Relaxation of the shoulders, neck and upper back.
• Safe rehabilitation of joint and spinal injuries.
• Aids in prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.

This sounds great to me, especially because my posture is so bad (I played cello in all my formative years and still do from time to time, which encourages hunching over, in addition to sitting at a desk all day) and my balance is a little off. I also look forward to gaining back some of the flexibility I used to have in my gymnastics days.

If you are looking for mental soothing, yoga is the way to go. But if you are looking for greater physical strength, flexibility, balance and posture, it seems to me that Pilates is the winner. My friend and I are currently in the research phase, and hope to go to our first private duet lesson together soon. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Have you tried Pilates? Has it helped you?

 

When your body tells you to stop

I have found many times in my life that when I am running on empty for too long, my body gives out as a sign for me to rest. It happened when I came down with strep throat in college one semester during finals week from hell. There are many more examples, but it most recently happened several days ago.

On Thursday, I felt like I had been hit by a train. I attributed it to waking up extra early that day, but the next morning, I realized I was sick. I was hoarse, coughing and had the same fatigue, but had an important interview at work that day, so I stuck it out. By that night, my throat hurt so badly I was in tears, alternating between sucking on Halls and spraying chloraspetic down my throat.

Friday was the worst of it, and fortunately, this happened at the start of a three-day weekend. As disappointed as I was to miss out on holiday festivities, spending the weekend holed up in the apartment sleeping, reading and watching movies gave my mind and body a much-needed break.

Why did I get sick in the first place? That’s easy. I had been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for months. I am going to Europe next month for two weeks, and because it is going to be so costly, I’ve been babysitting like crazy. I’ve also been doing some freelance editing and transcribing in my free time, in addition to doing major trip research and planning. I had been going to bed too late and sleeping poorly. To put it simply, I was hardly giving my mind or body a break. When I get that busy and wrapped up in making ends meet and checking things off my to-do list, I forget that my immune system isn’t infallible.

Interestingly, a day or two after I fell ill, I watched a CNN special called “The First Patient,” all about the health of presidents — what happens when they get sick, the medical team provided for them, medical cover-ups, etc. Most fascinating was the segment on how the severe stress and lack of work/life balance of the presidency can lead to depression and illness. It discussed how chronic, long-term stress truly takes a toll on all aspects of your health. Stress wrecks your immune system. While it’s frustrating getting sick and having to miss work, making yourself sick is a gift your body is giving you. It is telling you to chill out, lay down, and take a break. It’s forcing you to rest.

What can we learn from this? When we feel our lives becoming so rushed we can’t think straight, it’s time to take care of yourself BEFORE we get sick. Take vitamins. Go to a yoga class after work. Meet up with friends to watch a favorite television every week. Wake up a little early to go on a walk. Most importantly, learn to say no. I am so guilty of this — when I am tired and fatigued and know I really should stay in, many times I find myself saying yes anyway. I think I am doing myself a favor by seeing friends (which is certainly important), but sometimes I overdo it, and end up scrimping on sleep or alone time.

The key is to finding your own personal equilibrium. Make sure you are getting enough time with your peers, but learn to say no when you really need a night to stay home and relax. Have a strong work ethic, but when you find yourself on the brink of exhaustion, listen to your body and rest. Think big picture. Is it really worth it to be so stressed out? Are you really accomplishing that much when it could affect your long-term health and sanity? Learn to take a break before your body forces you to.

 

Why I’m here

Some days are fine. I feel successful, proud and on top of the game. Other days leave me fatigued, drained and completely depressed. Transitioning from college life with a flexible schedule to the rigid adult world of 8-to-5 has been brutal for me. It would be better if I knew I would get used to it, because I’ve only been out for one year. Thing is, older co-workers have told me they still haven’t.

The main issues I’ve encountered include exhaustion. I am a terrible sleeper, and when I was in college, I planned my classes so I could sleep in and take naps. But I’m feeling constantly exhausted and fatigued with a “real-world” schedule. I recently did a sleep study at a sleep disorders clinic, and they think I may have obstructive sleep apnea due to large tonsils. If I do, the tonsils can be removed and my sleeping problems will be solved. If it’s not it, I’m not sure what I can do to get more restful sleep.

I have a wonderful boyfriend of nearly three years, but we don’t live together and are both very busy. We have to spend a lot more effort making time for each other now, and it’s been a difficult adjustment. I’ve also had to work much harder to make the effort to see friends and maintain relationships. Get-togethers usually have to be planned further ahead. Many nights I’m too tired to see friends; other nights I see them but am so tired, we don’t have much time together. I’ve lost touch with many people. I used to be somewhat of a social butterfly, so this has been a rough and lonely transition.

I’m on an entry-level salary and live alone, so to help make ends meet and fund vacations, I babysit and do some freelance work. It’s incredibly beneficial, but adds more to my plate. Not to mention I have a digestive disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which makes me feel crummy and sick very often. It’s something I could manage well with college — the flexible hours, the ease of missing class if I needed to, the long holidays. But having to be somewhere about nine hours a day, five days a week is tough on someone with an unpredictable and uncomfortable illness. I try to tough it out because my boss isn’t keen on us working from home often, but I question how much longer I can take working full-time with my condition. There are times where I feel working from home is the best answer for me, but then I worry I’d be too socially deprived.

Now that I sound like a total grump, I’ll let you know why all this disturbs me on a deeper level. I feel that balance in my life is hard enough to find right now. I feel like my head is always spinning and I’m always drop-dead tired. I feel like I can barely make enough time for my loved ones. So this makes me wonder how I could ever handle having children, especially while trying to maintain a marriage. I think of how exhausted and hungry I am when I come home from work, and try to imagine having to spend the rest of the evening caring for children and taking them to and from lessons and games. It seems completely impossible and I am afraid I could never juggle it all. To add onto my fears, my parents are divorced and my mom has divorced again since, so I’m already scared enough about trying to make a marriage work. Is it really possible for us to do it all? Was it always this hard, or does modern society put more pressure on us to be superheros and juggle too much at one time? How can I find a balance and keep my head on straight? That’s what I’m here to figure out.