Unicorder…Unicorn

When I put on the unicorder I immediately felt like some sort of awkward space unicorn. Since the unicorn is a mythical creature I figured I could create my own.

Why can you always trust what a unicorn says?
They’re no bull.

Let’s talk about MS and sleep.

MS itself can make you tired or fatigued. You also may have another disorder that makes it hard for you to sleep.

Things like insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and other sleep problems occur more often in people with MS. A large portion of people with MS have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can make you feel tired during the day …oh wait so can MS. Sleep apnea raises your risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The right treatment can help you breathe easier, sleep better, and feel more alert during the day. You need all the help you can get when you have MS.

At a recent visit to my GP, I was explaining to her about the severe fatigue that I had been dealing for the last few months. So she was asking how I sleep. She brought to my attention that I was prone to sleep apnea since I had MS.

So to the Snore Shop (thesnoreshop.ca) I went. After filing out an extensive health and sleep form I was set to be set up for the unicorder. As you see in the picture above, it goes around your head and into your nose.

That night when I was ready for bed I put on the unicorder. Once you put it on you have to lay flat on your back with no pillow for 10 seconds while it sets up. Then to sleep I went. It was a bit uncomfortable as I am a side sleeper. It only had to be readjusted on my head once during the night. I do feel I had a unsettled sleep as I was moving a lot as not being used to an apparatus on my head. The next morning I returned the unicorder to the Snore shop and I currently await the results.

I was very skeptical about this as I don’t snore and always seem to sleep too well. It was then brought to my attention that you don’t need to snore to have sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

It is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is common in MS because MS attacks the myelin, the protective coating of the nerves. It leaves scars behind called lesions on the brain and spinal cord.

Damage from MS that makes it harder for your brain to control your breathing while sleeping.

Signs of sleep apnea:

1. Snoring
2. Dry mouth when you wake up
3. Feeling tired in the daytime
4. Headaches in the morning
5. Mood swings and irritability
6. Trouble remembering, learning and concentrating

I’ll let you know in a future post the outcome of my sleep test. Happy sleeping.

Still smiling,

C