I am headed to Tacoma General's Sleep Center Tuesday evening. I found out six years ago that I had sleep apnea... during the time we fall asleep, the brain stops stimulating the muscles in our throats, the airspace behind our palates and tongues get smaller. Some of us end up with our airways beomcing too small, our bodies lose their ability to breathe properly, we become strangled or suffocated from the inside.
Heart attacks, strokes, death can follow. We go through our days tired, irritable, incapable of focusing, feeling lousy. For more very important details, check out the website where my doctor, Daniel Clerc, M.D., is highlighted--
http://www.compsleep.com/
After my conversation with Doctor Clerc Monday, I am very grateful to: my mentors, supervisor and coworkers at St. Joseph's Hospital, my primary physician at Allenmore, my friends in Marriage Encounter, those wonderful folks who have stuck with me for many, many years, and our Loving God, who never fails to watch out for me...
because I have finally gotten past that, "well, I'm ok, I'll leave the doctors alone until I really feel I need them," attitude... (thanks B H D for driving me to the hospital tomorrow evening and bringing me home early, early,
early Wednesday morning-- World Healing Day!!!---)
I feel comfortable and I look forward to getting great care. Look forward to regular posts following this one... I think my way of approaching life is about to take a new, important twist. I am honored to be able to share it with you. Here's some quick video info on sleep apnea...
