Hi, scrunchkin! I know that I'm just adding to the choir here, but just talking to your doctor about sleep apnea isn't enough. It can be aggravated by obesity (and a large chest), but if you have it, you have it for life. I always thought that the only real danger you might face is falling asleep while driving or something, then my friend's husband died from sleep apnea. He simply didn't wake up after he stopped breathing one night. I don't mean to scare you, but the truth is, if you have it, you need to get it treated. Losing weight will help, but it won't cure you. To see if you have it, you'll need to participate in a sleep study. You can do this at a sleep center, where you'll have much more info on your sleep patterns, but you may be less likely to sleep there in the same way you do at home as it's a strange environment. You can also use a home test kit provided by your doctor. It doesn't provide as much information, but it allows you to sleep in your own bed.
If you have sleep apnea, there are a variety of options available for treatment. The most common treatment is using a CPAP machine. It provides a steady stream of air that keeps the tissues in your throat from collapsing and choking you. Some people find that they benefit from a CPAP that is meant to help them breathe out as the stream of air in is too much for them to fight against during their exhale. There are lots of different models. I have a friend who fought like crazy not to have to use one, as CPAPs are bulky and hard to travel with (you need a separate suitcase just for the machine), but once he tried it, he felt so good that he couldn't imagine ever going without it again.
I had sleep apnea and my mom still does. She uses a CPAP. We kid her about looking like Hannibal Lector when she wears it
, but it works so well. She's never felt so rested in her life! Unfortunately, it requires its own suitcase, makes spontaneous romance impossible
and is uncomfortable to wear. My mom had skin cancer under the mask that was agravated by the mask. She thought it was a pimple for the longest time and it took a while to get it diagnosed because of that. The machine isn't for everyone, but it is effective for most people, fairly inexpensive (with insurance) and easy to use.
I had a moderate case but my enlarged tonsils and soft palate were obviously to blame. I had a UP3 and tonsilectomy and was advised to lose 15 pounds. This took care of the problem. I don't have a uvula now, nor a soft palate, and that can cause some minor problems (food ends up in my nose sometimes!
) and makes it impossible for me to make some sounds in French, German, and Yiddish, but that's okay.
It was worth it to get a decent night's sleep!
In regards to South Beach, that's the plan I've used to lose all my weight. It's a very easy plan to live on for life if you enjoy it. You can eat virtually anything if you are willing to do some of your own cooking. For instance, you can easily make your 'mean lasagne' out of Whole Wheat pasta noodles. Even if you don't like WW pasta, in a lasagne, I doubt you'd taste the difference. In Phase 1, you could use eggplant or strips of zucchini in place of the noodles. Yum!
Check out the recipes in our Fat Chicks on the Beach forum for more ideas for incorporating your favorite foods into the plan.
I wouldn't recommend staying on Phase 1 for longer than 2 weeks. For one thing, once the two weeks are up, it often causes weight gain. You also don't get a full compliment of nutrients. You can always go back to P1 if you need to, but don't stick with it longer than 2 weeks or you chance harming your health and your diet, okay?
I hope you are able to find a plan you can live with for life. Each person's plan is different--find the one that works for you and then stick with it. You'll be doing it for the rest of your life if you want to remain healthy, so you want it to be something you really enjoy.
). I also have congestion related asthma and woke up with a chest cold this morning.
