Its been a crazy week…

Investigations for a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis has now led me to sleep apnea testing- Seriously?

I don’t feel that I have sleep apnea. I guess we are ruling out all possible causes for fatigue. After results that sinus bradycardia earlier this week I am quite happy to have this test done. Clearly, you really don’t know what’s wrong with you until you go looking. On the flip side, you do get assurances of what is working well.

Two nights ago I had to wear this crazy mess of equipment. It measured my heart rate and my breathing quality during my slumber.

I didn’t get hooked up until 11:30 that night. I knew they needed me to have 4 solid hours of sleep, but I couldn’t turn off my mind. After the abnormal electrocardiogram, every pain that I have on my left side now scares me. It seems like a lot of my pain mimics cardiac symptoms. I’m pretty confident it’s not cardiac because I’d probably be dead by now.

I woke up a couple of times during the first hour. I mentally made note of the times because I wanted to see how accurate the report would be. I should have written it down because I couldn’t remember the times the next morning- brain fog at its finest! The sleep company however was able to tell me the exact times. I guess, I shouldn’t be such a cynic.

Somehow, I managed to get in 6 hours of sleep. I think it was a solid sleep as I woke up with an imprint of the nasal prong tubing deep into my right cheek.

I dropped off the equipment as soon as they opened. I really want to get answers as quickly as possible. I was contacted within the hour with an update. It helped that I have a connection at that office. The final report would go to my doctor in about a week.

To my surprise they told me that I did not have sleep apnea. I only had a couple sleep events, all minor and typical- there was no need for any sleep equipment. Fantastic- I can cross sleep apnea off the list as we narrow the search.

They did let me know that I had sinus bradycardia. Unfortunately, that meant it wasn’t a one-off or an equipment error as I had hoped. In fact, my heart was beating ten less beats per minute at rest (awake or asleep) compared to my electrocardiogram results. I guess it was good to have a 6 hour look at my hearts conduction system compared to the one minute ecg tracing.

I was hoping that they would have had better news about my heart rate. I guess it’s not all bad, I don’t have sleep apnea. No need for expensive equipment. I’m trying so hard to see the glass half full.

My doctor is waiting for the cardiology final and then I’ll be back in to see her in another week. I still have no zinc results…I wonder why they take longer than the DNA tests? (not that the Zinc levels will likely change anything)

Much love for listening,