Featured Patient #105
Patient #105 demonstrates the enhanced level of health that results when a patient has their sleep breathing more normalized. Our initial home sleep monitoring showed him with an oxygen desaturation index of 23, a significant amount of sleep apnea. Initially, his daytime sleepiness was very significant with an Epworth Sleepiness Scale number at 15. This level of daytime sleepiness is significant enough to put him and others at severe risk if he were to drive a motor vehicle a significant distance. In addition, his fatigue level as measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale was 40, indicating a high level of fatigue.
Six months later, his sleep breathing was almost normalized with his oxygen desaturation index at 7, his Epworth score was a normal 4 and his daytime fatigue score a greatly improved 25. During this time he had lost 21 pounds with his neck size has decreasing from 17″ to 16.25″.
Patient #105 is an example of someone who was too fatigued to exercise and, yet, was unable to tolerate CPAP therapy. However, he was easily able to use an oral appliance to help manage his problem. Once he started using his oral appliance, he immediately started feeling better. This renewed feeling of alertness and energy inspired him to start light exercise. With the light exercise came the weight loss. With the weight loss, came the reduction in neck size. With less fatty tissue in the neck, more room was available for the upper airway.
It is impossible to diminish the importance of a good night’s sleep!
