WHY GROUP HEALTH? MEMBERS SAY IT BEST
Sleeping Better Thanks to Personal Doc and Specialist Collaboration

Calvin Pearson
Member

I knew I wasn't sleeping well at night, and my wife had been telling me I had been snoring too much. Then I snored my buddies out of a hotel room on a golf trip. No wonder my wife was elbowing me out of the bed at night. I decided it was time to see my doctor.

After asking some thoughtful questions, Dr. Leslie Becker referred me to ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Dennis Elonka, who quickly went to work on my issue.

I don't fit the profile for sleep apnea: I'm not overweight, I don't have heart trouble, and I'm young. But I discovered through the sleep study Dr. Elonka gave me to do at home that I stopped breathing up to 42 times per hour during the night. I learned that sleep apnea can happen to anyone.

Dr. Elonka recommended a treatment plan that included operating on my deviated septum so I could breathe better. He explained everything that would happen — from A to Z — in terms I could understand. Sure, I could have e-mailed him with more questions, but I didn't need to.

I now use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at night, which works even better because of the surgery. I feel more energetic and aware now that I am getting deeper sleep. It's a relief to know I have a better chance at avoiding the health problems that can happen when sleep apnea goes untreated.

POSTED: June 2009

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