The Beast!!!

Jason: ...snoring...
Carla: Jason, Jason?
Jason: huh?
Carla: turn over.... Jason, turn over! Jason, lying on his back, turns his head to the side
Jason: ...snoring...
Carla: getting huffy, Jason, turn over!
Jason: getting huffy and raising up in the bed, TURN WHAT?
Carla: TURN YOUR BODY!!!
Jason: being compliant, Jason lies back down- on his side. :)


Nights at the Ramsey inn are...interesting; to say the very least. We haven't yet gotten our sleep cycles synced, so often times I'll be in a comatosed state for hours before Jason even thinks about coming to bed. On the other hand,  I dread the nights that Jason sneaks off to bed before me. Why? Because I know that there will be another visitor in the house that night...the Beast.

As soon as Jason's head hits the pillow, the Beast comes out. He snores sooooooo loudly. The sounds that come out of his mouth and nose are in no shape or form normal. Jason's sleeping name is the Beast. I will admit that the Beast doesn't bother me quite as much if I'm able to slip into slumber before Jason, but on nights when he goes to sleep first, I can be awake for hours trying to go to sleep. I.HATE.THE.BEAST. With every grunt, groan, and snort, I lie there awake, mad that I'm not getting my much needed beauty rest.

In efforts to save our sleepy-time together, I gave constant reminders to Jason to have a consultation with a pulmonologist so that he could have a sleep study done. Once the sleep study was scheduled and completed, we got the news.

Jason has obstructive sleep apnea.

Not a super severe case, but a case with strong recommendations for a CPAP machine.
-What is CPAP? CPAP means continuous positive airway pressure. It's a ventilation machine that forces oxygen into the lungs. Since the flow of oxygen is being obstructed, the machine will force the oxygen back into his lungs so that his brain isn't being deprived while he sleeps. The device has three main components- the main box, tubing, and a mask. Depending on what type of corrective therapy is needed, a mask can cover the mouth and/or the nose.-

My first reaction to the CPAP machine... "that is not going to be sexy!" We're newlyweds for crying out loud! How awkward is this going to be? I'm already sleep deprived, how is this machine going to affect me? I know these questions seem a little selfish... but hey, it's what I was thinking. Of course, if it's determined that CPAP is Jason's best and only option, we'll have to try and find a way to make it work so that both parties of this relationship awake well rested. There may be a silver lining in all of this- CPAP has a high rate of noncompliance by its users. The machines are expensive and the therapy is often life-long. Given this knowledge, Jason and I are attempting to research alternative therapies such as positioning, weight/health modifications, and even corrective surgery.

So to date, we haven't made any lasting decisions. We've been practicing positional therapy when Jason sleeps... him sleeping on his side... and yes, I just made up the name of that type of therapy.  Although I wake up many times during the night to remind Jason to turn over, I must admit that his breathing is much better when he lies on his side. So we'll keep you posted. Until then...

Signing off