A Testimonial: How Sleep Apnea Almost Ruined My Marriage
-submitted by Mark F. Salt Lake City
I never imagined that something as seemingly stupid as snoring could nearly destroy the foundation of my marriage. But that's exactly what happened when I began my experience with sleep apnea. My name is Mark, and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8 years ago.
It all started as subtle as it could be. My wife would nudge me as we slept, noticing that I was snoring loud as hell. At first, she laughed it off, joking about the "freight train" sound that hits her every night. But as time went on, her laughter turned to frustration, and frustration turned to resentment.
My wife suggested I see a doctor about my snoring. I brushed it off, convinced it was nothing more than a harmless nuisance and it would go away naturally. But as the months passed, and our once peaceful nights turned into fights and resentment and sleeplessness, I realized just how wrong I was.
She stopped sleeping in our bed, opting instead for the couch or spare room, desperate for even a few precious hours of uninterrupted rest. I watched as the distance between us grew, the resentment build, and the fights came nonstop.
I knew I had to do something, but denial is a powerful thing. I convinced myself that she was overreacting, that my snoring wasn't that bad, that she'd eventually come back to our bed on her own. But deep down, I knew the truth:there was something wrong, and I'm just being an ass.
The turning point came one sleepless night when I woke up gasping for air, my chest tight and my heart racing. It was a terrifying experience, one that shook me to my core and forced me to confront the reality of my situation. I had sleep apnea, and if I didn't seek treatment, it could very well cost me my life – and my marriage.
I made an appointment with a sleep specialist, looking for answers and a way to fix this. The diagnosis confirmed what I already knew, but hearing it out loud made it all too real. I had sleep apnea, and it was worse than I ever could have imagined.
The treatment options were daunting – CPAP machines, oral appliances, surgery – each with its own risks and uncertainties. But I was willing to try anything if it meant saving my marriage.
My recovery was long, filled with setbacks and struggles every night. I hate wearing the CPAP machine. It was heavy, loud, and the mask never fit properly. It made my mouth and throat dry. It was just uncomfortable.
After weeks, things started to improve. With the help of my treatment plan, my snoring lessened, and the apnea episodes became less frequent.
I started sleeping better, feeling more rested and alert during the day. And most importantly, my wife started coming back to our bed, I missed her like crazy.
As the months went by, our marriage began to heal, strengthened by the trials we had faced together. We learned to communicate more openly, to listen to each other's concerns, and to support one another through the darkest of times. Sleep apnea served to strengthen our bond.
Sleep apnea may have almost ruined my marriage, but in the end, it only made us stronger – a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.