Summer, 2003, after years of debilitating snoring and, most frightening to my wife, soporific periods of dormant breathing of from 30 to 50 seconds, my ENT sent me to a sleep lab here in Marietta, where I was diagnosed with acute sleep apnea. A major candidate for massive heart attack or stroke, a CPAP [machine] was prescribed.

And my life was saved.

Of course, I was told it would take some time to get used to, and they were right. It took a total of only two nights. From then on, I could not imagine going to bed without it.

As a journalist and frequent traveler, my SleepStyle CPAP 600 ThermoSmart has been in more hotel rooms than the Gideon Bible. Security agents at airports tell me they see so many such units, cases are rarely opened and examined anymore. Portability and ease of setup and operation make the CPAP 600 a delightful traveling companion.

The machinery’s effectiveness, however, is its ultimate value. I now enjoy full, consistent and uninterrupted nights of sleep. I awake with greater stamina and no longer require afternoon naps. My hours at my computer, even at 76, are more productive and lucid; they say my output is sharper, more comprehensive, and increasingly prolific. Snoring and sporadic breathing are things of the past, much to the relief and delight of my wife.

Would I like to live my life without CPAP reliance? I’m not sure. It has become a facet of living as important as - well, breathing. Is it an inconvenience? No more than brushing my teeth, showering, shaving, or a hearty bowel movement!

Do I recommend it? No, I cannot do that; I am not a physician. But I do recommend that Fisher & Paykel Healthcare products be prescribed, when necessary, by ENT practitioners.

Bob Mills
Georgia
USA