Special offer

If You Snore When You Sleep, You Might Also Stop Breathing and Not Know It

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

sleep apnea I woke up in a strange bed this morning. Alone. With a bunch of wires taped to my head, face and neck, and sensors strapped to my nostrils. I thought about taking a photo, but I couldn't get out of bed since I had straps binding my chest and feet. The overhead light was intense. I turned my head and spotted my Lyon Real Estate bag resting on the chair where I had left it the night before. Lovely. My cellphone was out of reach.

Where was my steaming cup of coffee? You'd think the least that the Sacramento U. C. Davis Hospital staff could do is bring you coffee when they wake you up. Especially to compensate for continually waking me up all night along. I felt my nose. There was no plastic thing on my nose. I figured that I must have failed the test, which was probably good news.

The night before I drove to the hospital in the rain. Parked my car in Structure #1 and wandered the halls of the main hospital for a while before I finally found the sleep clinic room on the 5th floor. I was right on time. Changed into my pajamas, turned off the blaring TV and crawled into bed to stare at the ceiling. OK, I did sneak my cellphone out of its holster, turned it on, made a couple of phone calls to agents, listened to my voice mail messages. I can't stop working. I knew my cellphone should be used only in designated areas. But what constitutes a designated area? I didn't see any signs, so I decided a designated area was where I happened to be.

My technician raised his voice, "Get out of that bed," he barked. He was all a-twitter, worried that I might fall asleep and spoil the diagnostic test. I suppose he concluded that I might be a difficult patient, because he stopped what he was doing and came in to hook me up to all these electrodes. Getting hooked up took about an hour. Just give me my darned pillow and let me go to sleep. It was already an hour past my bedtime. In hindsight, I should have brought my own pillow.

See, my doctor says I probably have sleep apnea. It's caused by relaxed passageways that can cause a person to snore and, in many cases, to momentarily stop breathing during the night. When a person stops breathing, the body wakes one up. Disturbed sleep can make a person drowsy during the day. I would not even know that I stop breathing during the night if it wasn't for my husband telling me that I do. There are benefits to being married, you know.

My dentist has sleep apnea, but he can't wear a CPAP, this device that goes over your nose and delivers a constant stream of air to keep the passageways open. He went online and ordered Pure Sleep, which is a mouth-guard of sorts that keeps the lower jaw in such a position that one breathes normally. I went to Pure Sleep and answered its online questionnaire. Based on my answers, they refused to sell a device to me. Crap.

When the technician came in to unhook me, I asked him why I wasn't wearing a CPAP when I woke up. You know these guys, they never want to tell you anything because they are not really a doctor and don't want to be sued, even though they know the answer. I understand. It's like how I can't give my real estate clients legal advice, even if I know the answer, because I am not a lawyer. Although I did explain to my technician what he could do about his underwater mortgage and how a short sale works.

Still that little bonding session wasn't enough for him to spill the beans. He said I might have to come back and endure another horrible night with the CPAP attached to my head. I don't think so. I suspect I will explore other options such as clicking on that Pure Sleep website again and changing my answers. But I'll wait to see what my doctor has to say. After all, I'm not stupid. I may be stubborn and a bit rebellious, but those qualities don't equate to stupidity.

 

Posted by

elizabeth weintraub

 

 

Weintraub and Wallace Realtors

 

 

Elizabeth Weintraub reviews

 

 

 

Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments (19)

Angel Lynn
Angel Lynn Realty - Sacramento, CA

Interesting story

Apr 01, 2010 03:17 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Elizabeth - you will be surprised when you are taliking with your doctor just how many times you stopped braething ..... what will surprise you even more is the number of times your heart stops beating and for how long.

Apr 01, 2010 03:24 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Elizabeth, Wow, it's sounds like a horrible place to sleep; and no morning coffee??!!   I hope your doctor will get you a good night's rest soon :-)

Apr 01, 2010 03:42 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

My hubby wears a CPAP and it took him some getting used to.  Making the change from listening to the window rattling snoring to the Darth Vadar sound wasn't nearly as hard for me.

Apr 01, 2010 03:46 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Elizabeth - I have 5 friends who use CPAP machines.  It seems to be something everyone needs all of a sudden.  Seems a little suspicious to me, but the thought of not breathing at night isn't a good one.

Apr 01, 2010 04:06 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Elizabeth - "After all, I'm not stupid. I may be stubborn and a bit rebellious, but those qualities don't equate to stupidity."  LMAO! 

What a great line, I just may have to borrow that from you the next time I feel like I'm being talked into something I don't want to do.  LOVE YOUR STORIES Elizabeth.  You are such a wonderful storyteller. 

Apr 01, 2010 05:12 AM
Ron Tarvin
Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction! - Katy, TX
Broker, Katy, Houston, Cypress 77450,77494,77095

I have a friend who sleeps in a CPAP...I know I snore but I don't think I could ever sleep in Darth Vader mode...

Apr 01, 2010 06:02 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

If you and your Doc decide you really have to have this.  Check out this..   My friend changed to it from the mask and does much better with it.

Apr 01, 2010 06:44 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

If you and your Doc decide you really have to have this.  Check out this..   My friend changed to it from the mask and does much better with it.

Apr 01, 2010 06:49 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I think I've heard of one other person in my life who has sleep apnea. But now that I've been talking about it, all these people have come out of the woodwork. I'm guessing it's a lot more common than one would think.

sacramento short sale agent

Apr 01, 2010 07:35 AM
Joan Zappa
Eagles Wings Realty - Montrose, CO
Professional treatment of our clients, brings awes

Elizabeth, a lot of people have it and it can as you know be serious. Once you begin to deal with it you will be rested, energized and happier.

Apr 01, 2010 10:53 AM
Cari Anderson
Danville, CA

What a horrible thing to have to go through! No coffee!!! Okay but all kidding aside, I hope you get this all taken care of because the whole sleep apnea thing is really scary - I would be terrified to go to sleep if I knew I stopped breathing many times during the night. Please take care and please update us on how you're doing with it all. Best!

Apr 01, 2010 10:55 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Elizabeth... one of my closest friends was diagnosed with sleep apnea and now uses a CPAP machine when he sleeps.  He says it has changed his life for the better!

Apr 01, 2010 04:39 PM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

Oh boy Elizabeth I'm sorry you have to take time out to go back and forth to figure this out.

My father in law also wears the CPAP, and has for yrs now.

I hope they figure it out quick for you, because the pace you go during the day, you must get those precious zzzz's when you can !

 

... btw, I'm glad you got to explain the short sale process to him, and I hope he took your business card ;o)

Hang in there my friend !!!!

Apr 01, 2010 05:02 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Elizabeth, my dad had it, they checked my husband for it. One night in a sleep clinic in Ann Arbor. My best to you as you find a way to resolve this.

Apr 02, 2010 12:42 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Elizabeth - I heard somewhere that people who suffer from Sleep Apnea are Type A personalities.  Do you think your sneaking your cell phone out and calling clients may be an indication of that:-)  

Sleep Apnea is a serious condition - one not to be messed around with!  I'm glad you went to sleep clinic, inspite of the loss of one good night's sleep.  I hope your doctor has good news for you!

Apr 02, 2010 02:14 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I know someone who had the sleep apnea and somehow he got it worked out.  I hope you do too.

Apr 02, 2010 02:21 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Thanks for your support, everybody.

I had an appointment at noon with my sleep doctor the day after but he canceled because he wouldn't have the results yet. So, I called yesterday to reschedule. The office said I could come in at 7:15 AM next Friday. No, 7:15 in the morning isn't a good time. I asked if all the appointment times were at 7:15. Yup. Every one of them. OK, so how did I get a previous appointment for noon then? She didn't know. But she knew that I could come in at 7:15.

Well, I didn't want to go to the doctor at 7:15. I told her to find another alternative. OK, she did find a noon appointment after all. Things just shouldn't be this difficult at UC Davis.

sacramento short sale agent

Apr 03, 2010 02:29 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Wish we had read this post BEFORE we did 4 CPAP sleep studies and a $2000 dental appliance all used with oxygen. Still no relief..going for another opinion!!

Margaret

Apr 05, 2010 03:54 AM