First Questions

Hi there. I'm new. I've had sleep apnea for years, but worse than that, it disrupts my day. Every day.

I've been working for myself for decades, and I'm currently switching to searching for a job. Now I'm thinking I have no control over afternoon naps, that I am not hireable. This could end my career. My Father had the same, but he worked for himself and he worked it into his schedule. I don't have that option.

Is this a reality for some people? Anybody have any insight into this?

How does one live their life with something as odd as this? I've read too much on sleep hygiene, cpap, weight control, etc. CBT-I won't change over 3 decades of predictable irregular sleep patterns. I went for a walk today, out in the sun, sitting with a friend, and I almost fell asleep in front of him. The worst of all of this is that it's predictable.

Any insight appreciated. Cheers

I am of the view that one has to build up sleep demand during the day by avoiding napping, and any caffeine after 12:00 noon. The idea is to get one long uninterrupted sleep at night, ideally of about 7-7.5 hours.

That's the problem. It's not a wishful thing. I was on a bike trip back in 2009, first day. I biked all morning, and around 2 pm I felt the need to pull off into the grass to sleep. Some guy walking his dog thought I had died. It's that strong. Today I was wobbling when I stood up in front of my buddy at his place. It's insanity. Then it went away about 20 minutes later. Then when I got home, had some food and it came back. Nap time. I do this quite often. All this after going for a 20 minute walk this morning.

I'm now thinking this sleep issue is a lifelong disability that will keep me from really doing anything. Other than selling my house, getting into an apartment and having absolutely nothing to do with my future. Ya the stress is settling in. I can't believe this is happening.

I had to fight off falling asleep at mid-day for most of my working life. It was not until after I retired that I was diagnosed with severe apnea. After sleep test number three I took a nap test. A nap test may produce a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Treatment for narcolepsy can be a prescription for a stimulant. I do not think narcolepsy is well understood and it has a spectrum of severity. Someone with narcolepsy may get 8 hours of good sleep, wake up, and then feel the urge to fall back to sleep soon after waking. Maybe something to consider...a nap test at a facility that does sleep tests.

I'm thinking I might have Narcolepsy Type 2. I guess another test is in order.

It might help to look for companies that offer flexible hours or work from home, so you can adjust your hours to suit your needs. Before the interview, you can honestly mention that you have an ongoing treatment and that you're managing the situation with CPAP or other therapies - many employers appreciate honesty and adaptability.