| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a serious | | | | because I've had sleep apnea my entire life, and |
| condition that is not well understood. It generally | | | | chronic fatigue for only for two years. However, |
| causes its sufferers to not be able to deal with | | | | any improvement in my sleep may result in a big |
| life's daily issues as they are simply too tired. | | | | improvement of my CFS. Makes sense, no? |
| Moreover, it results in "Brain Fog" (cognitive | | | | Thus, I was sent to the sleep clinic for a second |
| deterioration) and/or poor memory, weakness of | | | | time, to try sleeping using a machine called CPAP |
| muscles, irritable bowel syndrome and a host of | | | | (which stands for "Continuous Positive Airflow |
| other problems. Those that are diagnosed with | | | | Pressure"). Sleeping with CPAP is a very strange |
| CFS often find that sleep is simply does not | | | | feeling, as the machine constantly pushes air into |
| refresh them; no mater how much they sleep, | | | | your nose, basically keeping the air passages open. |
| hey still wake up feeling tired. | | | | The idea is that it will prevent the choking that |
| Sleep Apnea is a different issue that is | | | | takes place, and the person could reach a deeper |
| occasionally relates to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. | | | | level of sleep. Some people have reported a |
| As you may know, there are five levels of sleep. | | | | almost miraculous improvement in their quality of |
| The deepest level is called REM (for Rapid Eye | | | | life using a CPAP machine. |
| Movement) and is dream sleep. Most people | | | | Unfortunately, I never got my results. I came to |
| spend a quarter of heir time at level 5 sleep, | | | | the clinic feeling ill, and simply was not able to fall |
| which is refreshing and necessary. People who | | | | asleep.Particularly with a machine stuck up my |
| suffer from Sleep Apnea, for various reasons, | | | | nose, and tens of wires hooked up to me. At |
| literally choke in their sleep for a very short | | | | 2am the technician and I gave up, and we decided |
| period of time. During this time, the brain detects | | | | to try it another time. My personal feeling is that |
| the lack of Oxygen and brings back the person to | | | | the machine would have helped me sleep better, |
| a lower level of sleep. This can literally happen | | | | despite the fact it is generally uncomfortable |
| dozens of time every hour, resulting in very poor | | | | (though it is said this is very easy to get used to). |
| quality of sleep, and consequently, a never ending | | | | I intend to go back and be tested again. But so |
| feeling of being tired. | | | | far have not. |
| Chronic Fatigue can explain a wide range of | | | | My conclusion: check with your doctor whether |
| problems, and sleep apnea is just one of them. | | | | you may have sleep apnea. If he suspects you |
| One of the doctors I was sent to sent me to a | | | | suffer from it, he'll send you to a sleep clinic. If |
| sleep clinic. I have to say that this was much less | | | | you do have sleep apnea, you'll be tested with a |
| pleasant than I thought it would be, trying to sleep | | | | CPAP machine, and if that proves effective, you'll |
| with so many things hooked on to me, and being | | | | be given one from your insurance provider (or so |
| unable to go to a restroom without calling an aide | | | | I am told). This could eliminate a large component |
| to untie you. But I eventually managed to. They | | | | if not the major component of what causes you |
| discovered I have "mild to moderate" sleep apnea. | | | | to be chronically tired. |
| Can this explain my chronic fatigue? Probably not, | | | | |