i JUST BEEN DIAGNOSES WITH SLEEP APNEA, AND i FEEL WITH THIS TYPE OF CONDITION i MAY LOSE MY CAREER DRIVING PO
I DO NIGHT DRIVING AT PRESENT TIME, AND HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY DOSING OFF AT STOP LIGHTS, NOT ON PURPOSE. I’M AWARE HOW UNSAFE IT IS, IS THE REASON I SEEN TO IT. I GET 6~8 HRS OF SLEEP BUT STILL HAVE BEEN TIRED. NOW I GOT A MACHINE THAT HELPS FOR THE CONDITION, AND IM MORE GROGIER THAN BEFORE, BUT ITS GOOD IM NOT AT WORK. I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW FRESH AIR HELPS.
Tagged with: fresh air • present time • sleep • stop lights
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
As long as you are treating this condition you will not lose your job driving. The most probable reason that you are groggy is because your body goes into what is called REM Rebound. Which means that when you have severe enough sleep apnea you basically have very little REM sleep. Our bodies being as miraculous as they are start trying to make up for this loss. When you are treated with cpap you do not have the arousals causing loss of REM sleep or no REM sleep at all. Therefore with an abundance of REM sleep you will feel groggy until your body can catch up. Its very common for this to happen. Cpap acts as an airway splint to keep the airway open. Your machine is set at a pressure that was adjusted to you based on your respiratory events. Just give it some time and you should feel great.
The machine is not for the fresh air. It’s pressurized to prevent your throat from closing while you sleep, so you keep breathing properly through the night. Were you properly fitted for the mask by a sleep pulmonologist? If you are still groggy, then the machine may not be working the way it’s supposed to, or your mask may not fit properly. Please go see the doc again and let him know.
Yes, you could lose your driving career, but only if you don’t get this fixed. As long as the machine does it’s job, your career should not be affected by sleep apnea. Employers cannot fire you as long as the treatment plan works.
Good luck and I hope you’re sleeping better soon!
I also have (severe) obstructive sleep apnea. I’ve had my machine for over a year now, and when I am able to use it it helps a great deal.
Your unit may not be set right for you, you may either need a different kind of machine (such as BiPAP instead of CPAP). There are a few options. Either way, first see your doctor, speak with the facility you got your unit from, or where you had your sleep study.
The air is being forced through the obstructions that are likely blocking your wind pipe while you are sleeping, causing snoring and ‘apneas’ which are periods of time when you actually stop breathing. Whether you realize this is happening or not while you are sleeping, it interferes greatly with your quality of sleep.
It’s really important to follow up with your doctor, this problem can be resolved. You may have to try a few different units, or just masks or pressure settings. When I was having difficulty I just needed a different type of mask.
Once you have the right machine, you will likely find a remarkable difference in your quality of sleep and daytime alertness. Give it time.
Good luck!