5(ish) Shocking Ways CPAP Fixed My Life (and Maybe My Butt?)

We think of Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a condition that affects the heart and lungs. But I was diagnosed with OSA because my butt kept trying to kill me. And now there's some evidence that CPAP might be lowering the inflammation that destroyed my gastrointestinal tract. More testing needs to be done, but that's the current working hypothesis! More information on the link between sleep apnea and chronic inflammation at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases... In this episode, I also explore my entire OSA journey, including all the clues I ignored my entire life, as well as the ways CPAP is improving my relationships. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:21 Opening credits. 0:36 The signs of sleep apnea I overlooked my entire life. 2:56 OK, but seriously, what does my butt have to do with my breathing? 5:28 How I was diagnosed with OSA and details on my sleep study. 8:04 CPAP didn't work for me at first, but I made it work. 8:57 How things changed once I finally found the right mask and pressure settings. 9:50 Friends and family chime in on how I've changed. 13:49 But seriously, though, CPAP cured my awful acid reflux. 15:34 I wonder if my memory loss and panic attacks were caused by sleep apnea. 19:00 I met my new GI. He thinks I have Crohn's disease. But I don't. But I do. But I don't. 20:23 How we figured out that sleep apnea causes chronic inflammation. 21:34 We're still investigating, but it seems like CPAP might keep my butt from killing me. Images from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood © Fred Rogers Productions.