How I Learned I Have Severe Sleep Apnea

Like many people, I avoided regular check-ups, but that all changed after how I learned I have severe sleep apnea.

One November morning in 2019, I woke unable to see out of my left eye.

I immediately scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist through my HMO. 

What I learned was I had a central retina vein occlusion—essentially a blood clot in my eye.

While treatable with eye injections, the underlying cause remained a mystery.

Could it be high blood pressure? Diabetes? Heart disease?  The ophthalmologist encouraged me to schedule an appointment with my primary care physician ASAP.

The Doctor Visit

My first doctor’s visit in years revealed blood pressure so dangerously high (212/156) that I was immediately sent to the emergency room as “a walking stroke.”

Medication helped normalize my pressure, but one peculiar symptom persisted—blurry vision after naps.

Despite improving eye health, this vision issue continued for months until a chance conversation with an ophthalmologist in my meditation group changed everything.

His immediate question surprised me: “Have you ever been tested for sleep apnea?”

A simple overnight home test confirmed his suspicion—I had severe sleep apnea with 33 breathing interruptions per hour.

The Statistics

The statistics are sobering. Untreated sleep apnea makes you three times more likely to die prematurely, with 42% of related deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Yet between one-third and one-half of people prescribed CPAP machines abandon them within a year, despite evidence showing they reduce premature death risk by 61%.

Adapting to CPAP therapy wasn’t easy—it took me about four months to get comfortable. But I haven’t missed a night since, and the health benefits have been remarkable.

If you experience unusual symptoms or suspect sleep issues, please don’t wait decades like I did.

A simple home test could identify a serious condition you never knew you had. Your health is worth the effort.

Click here to watch the full video about my diagnosis journey and learn the warning signs of sleep apnea you might be missing:

How I Learned I Have Severe Sleep Apnea