I've been diagnosed with sleep apnea for well over 4 years now. My machine is set at 18, yeah I know, that's freakin' crazy high but I was the worst case my doctor's ever seen. I've had problems for years, with energy, headaches, heart palpitations, and even nausea. Yes, I am morbidly obese. However, I have a thyroid condition that has caused this. I used to be the epitome of health. I did concrete for a living, used to work out 6 days a week, used to diet, and worked on a farm as extra money, all at the same time. I was 6% body fat, 6'2", 220 lbs. I was sought after by many a woman, especially with my tan from doing concrete for 5 years.
Then came the thyroid issue. I began feeling very fatigued, due to both the thyroid issue and the sleep apnea. I had changed careers from construction to factory work. I started feeling so weak, like I had no energy to the point where I thought I was going to pass out. My body literally felt like it could stop living at any moment. I was a big Christian at that time and continually questioned my faith during this whole ordeal. My doctor kept barking at me to lose weight or I was doomed. I told her I was trying but I had no energy and couldn't work out even if I tried. (I had since stopped working out for lack of energy and desire.) She, then, signed me up for a thyroid test and sleep study.
Come to find out, my thyroid was almost non-existent, and I had a horrible case of sleep apnea. Both of those factors were keeping me from attaining my full potential. Here i was, beating the **** out of myself mentally simply because of the fact that I was chemically imbalanced and pretty much suffocating at night.
They started me on some thyroid medication and a CPAP machine. I started losing the severe headaches and had more energy but it wasn't enough. I also had to do a ramp up of my thyroid medication (the highest dosage my doctor has ever prescribed) and had my CPAP machine boosted to 18. I also have 12 different styles of masks just to find the right fit for my face, (I'm a weird looking dude.)
I say all that to say this: Everyone likes to blame sleep apnea on being fat. Yes, weight is a factor. However, there are other factors to being overweight than hamburgers, hotdogs, and cheeseburgers. I was a dieter, a weightlifter, and a heavy construction worker but still gained 100 lbs. in a year because of a thyroid issue. Please, don't blame obesity on gluttony. There are gluttons but a lot of obese people have been trying to lose weight for years. There are other factors, not related to discipline, that cause these issues.
Then came the thyroid issue. I began feeling very fatigued, due to both the thyroid issue and the sleep apnea. I had changed careers from construction to factory work. I started feeling so weak, like I had no energy to the point where I thought I was going to pass out. My body literally felt like it could stop living at any moment. I was a big Christian at that time and continually questioned my faith during this whole ordeal. My doctor kept barking at me to lose weight or I was doomed. I told her I was trying but I had no energy and couldn't work out even if I tried. (I had since stopped working out for lack of energy and desire.) She, then, signed me up for a thyroid test and sleep study.
Come to find out, my thyroid was almost non-existent, and I had a horrible case of sleep apnea. Both of those factors were keeping me from attaining my full potential. Here i was, beating the **** out of myself mentally simply because of the fact that I was chemically imbalanced and pretty much suffocating at night.
They started me on some thyroid medication and a CPAP machine. I started losing the severe headaches and had more energy but it wasn't enough. I also had to do a ramp up of my thyroid medication (the highest dosage my doctor has ever prescribed) and had my CPAP machine boosted to 18. I also have 12 different styles of masks just to find the right fit for my face, (I'm a weird looking dude.)
I say all that to say this: Everyone likes to blame sleep apnea on being fat. Yes, weight is a factor. However, there are other factors to being overweight than hamburgers, hotdogs, and cheeseburgers. I was a dieter, a weightlifter, and a heavy construction worker but still gained 100 lbs. in a year because of a thyroid issue. Please, don't blame obesity on gluttony. There are gluttons but a lot of obese people have been trying to lose weight for years. There are other factors, not related to discipline, that cause these issues.
But yeah, I can be kind of a glutton too. Used to eat for comfort, being lonely. Not lonely no more, but it's a tough road back after the body's been breaking down...
