After I had an atrial fibrillation attack last summer, the cardiologist suggested that I take a sleep apnea test, because sleep apnea is often connected with A-fib, and untreated is likely to aggravate it.

I was asked by the cardiologist, and also by the sleep center, whether I snored. "I'm told sometimes, but not always, and it never wakes me." It's also a fact, I told them, that subjectively I slept well, seldom waking except for bathroom break. And that my wife often enviously commented on how well I slept.

Arriving at the sleep center, I was wired up for EKG and blood pressure, and multiple wires were stickum'd to my skull and face, and to my legs to record leg movements. There was an infrared camera that watched me all night, and a microphone listened for snoring or calls for assistance. I was placed a CPAP mask, and nighty-night!

About four days after that night's test, I was advised that the neurologist who read the record made by the CPAP recording device and watched the movie diagnosed severe sleep apnea. I had had about 65 incidents of obstruction per hour!

I was prescribed a CPAP, which is paid for entirely by Medicare, I'm glad to say. Actually Medicare rents the unit from the provider for $150 per month for the first year; at the end of the year it's paid for, and then it's mine. I'm also provided replacement or backup masks, hoses, filters periodically. The rental arrangement, I understand, is to provide for patients who abandon use of the equipment for whatever reason, so that the equipment can be repossessed, refurbished, and reissued.

The (nose-area-only) mask felt strange and somewhat uncomfortable at first, but by the second or third night was okay. Indeed, I frequently, if I do wake in the night for the twice-nightly trip, am not aware of wearing the mask, and have to concentrate, "looking" for a little pressure on my upper lip below my nose.

I did try a mask for a week or so which fed air pressure directly to each of the nostrils. I found it intensely irritating, and that it made breathing feel labored and awkward. I know that some patients like that form of mask, but not I!

That's enough for this post. I'll submit another soon, covering more about my experience post CPAP installation, and try to answer any questions.

Dave Oesterreich