February 2007

 

The staff and physicians at Sleep HealthCenters have helped me immensely.

I would wake up feeling very tired, I experienced loss of memory, and would drag my feet throughout the day. It was very difficult to stay awake during the day and sometimes I would doze off at work. However, everything changed when I went to Sleep HealthCenters. After a thorough assessment, the clinical staff informed me that I should try BIPAP treatment. As soon as I began treatment, I felt more energized, had more stamina and even decided go to the gym and lose those extra pounds I was carrying. Since then my life has changed for the better. Thank you Sleep HealthCenters for giving me back my health, energy and strength.

 

Xandra M. Negrón

October 2006

When I was first diagnosed with the symptoms of Sleep Apnea, I didn't know what to expect. The result of a sleep study conducted by Sleep HealthCenters turned out to be very revealing. If I did not respond to the findings of this (sleep study) report, my future health prospects were dim at best.
Since participating in the Sleep HealthCenter program, several pleasant results have occured:
1) I began sleeping longer and am now feeling more rested.
2) There is a noticeable improvement of less nightly trips to the bathroom.
3) As far as my wife is concerned, no more snoring.

Donald R. Johnson


September 2006

When I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, I became very apprehensive. It was like a visit to the dentist office for me, not knowing about this sleep condition or that I even had one. All my fears disappeared immediately after speaking with the staff at Sleep HealthCenters. First, the doctor educated me about what being diagnosed with Sleep Apnea is all about. It was a relief to me that my condition had a name and that it could be treated. Secondly, the staff was wonderful and accommodating.

It has only been a few weeks since I have had the machine at night to help me get a better sleep, but I can honestly say that it has helped me so far. I am looking forward to feeling mentally and physically better in the future, which I could not say or even feel before.

Alfred Zuffante


May 2006

I would like to comment on my sleep study done at the Sleep HealthCenter in Malden. I have had previous sleep study tests—three in all. Out of all three tests, the Malden Sleep HealthCenter was by far the most superb and accurate testing I’ve ever experienced. I found their expertise and knowledge far exceeded my expectations in comparison with two other sleep centers. When I left at 6:30 a.m., I was fully confident of the expertise of the Sleep HealthCenters staff. For me there is no better sleep study center now or in the future. Should the staff feel it is necessary, I look forward to being retested in the future, since I am losing weight which has a direct affect on my particular sleep apnea disorder.

It's wonderful to be able to finally enjoy a peaceful and restful night sleep. It's something I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing in many, many years. My family and friends have noticed a wonderful change in me since being tested.  

P.M.G.


April 2006

Three years ago I began my journey of treating my sleep apnea.  Before I found Sleep HealthCenters, my journey was a rocky road that included a referring physician who provided me with little information and a sleep clinic that sent me home at midnight twice because of computer malfunctions. In addition to these disasters, I received a CPAP machine that was huge and heavy.  I never got information on its use.  No follow up therapy was given.  The side effects of an improperly fitted mask and the fact that there was no heated humidifier given with the machine, all eventually led to my not using CPAP at all and feeling tired all the time.

 

A friend told me about Sleep HealthCenters in Newton Center.  Last summer I visited this wonderful center for a very informative, caring doctor visit, followed by a visit to a well-run sleep clinic.  The respiratory therapist visits were set up so that I was given a marvelous, simple CPAP machine and mask.  The progress I have made is amazing in just a short time.  I did have a few side effects from the mask I was using, but as a result of follow up appointments with the therapist, we were able to sort out and solve the problems quickly.  My therapist came up with the solution to my 2 year problem very soon and with a new, properly fitted mask, I drove home that day with a huge smile on my face. And I said out loud, “She literally saved my life!!!”  I told the respiratory therapist and my doctor that the key is the mask fit.  All my side effects: headaches from tight straps, sinus damage from a machine with no humidifier, dry throat and skin bruising were gone.

 

Sleep HealthCenters is so superior to my former experience.  What I especially love is that all the features of treatment are under one roof.  All the doctor visits, proper equipment fittings, studies of my progress in the sleep clinic, and especially the planned visits for follow up with the respiratory therapist are in one place.  The system works so well for any patient in need of a good night of sleep.  

Jane Mansfield 

March 2006

 

When I traveled on a cruise to Alaska, my friend who is a nurse noted that I was having periods of apnea while sleeping. I had a sleep study done in Weymouth and the results were positive. My experience there was excellent. The technician was informative and professional. Now that I have my C-PAP machine I am really sleeping well. I never knew that my life was being affected by lack of REM sleep. I attributed my tiredness late in the day to my age—I am 66 years old and I work full time.

            My energy level has now increased, I am actually losing weight easier, and I sleep until morning. Joyce, the respiratory therapist, was terrific on my follow-up visit and also the day I received my machine. She was thorough and professional in her explanation of its use. I have encouraged everyone who has sleep disturbances or who snores to talk to their doctor about getting a sleep study. 
Thank you again for a great experience with excellent results.

Maureen Mulhern


February 2006

Even as a boy I never slept well.  As I grew older falling asleep and staying asleep became a family problem.  Bursting wide awake at 2:00 AM as a young teenager exposed me to late night 60s radio, a limited benefit to sleeplessness. Daytime was spent in that oppressive fog of exhaustion that was my constant companion throughout my teen years.  In college I learned to self medicate but found that the daytime exhaustion was supplanted by morning hangovers.  Always searching for rest and recovery from restless nights I learned to nap during the day.  Cat napping five or six times a day has been a survival mechanism for 30 years.  I napped in class.  I napped in movies. I grew up and napped at work, on the commuter train, at rest areas along the highway. Given the chance I could fall asleep during the day in less than a minute and sleep for 15. Where once I had to hide my napping from employers, there was a sea change when it became known as Power Napping. I could nap at my computer confident that it was considered more efficient than a trip to the coffee machine.  But even with napping the ever present exhaustion took its toll on my health and family life.

 

Oddly, I never mentioned this sleep problem with my physician.  But during an annual checkup he asked if I had problems sleeping.  'Doesn't everyone?' I replied. Well, apparently not everyone and after a brief 10-minute conversation, I had a prescription for a sleep study.  So there I was, in my late 40s, finally addressing a chronic medical issue that had plagued me, affected my life and the lives of my family for decades.  I came to Sleep HealthCenters at the advice of my primary care physician and received the first suggestion that there might be an end to my nighttime sleep problems.  After the initial evaluation I learned that I suffered from restless legs—that annoying twitching and shaking of my lower limbs at the start up of sleep.  But more profoundly, I was diagnosed with a moderate case of sleep apnea.  Now outfitted with a night-time CPAP machine to control my sleep apnea and on medication to calm my twitching bed-time legs, I sleep through the night.  The physicians and technicians at Sleep HealthCenters have transformed by adult life at night and during the day.  A chronic problem from boyhood has been conquered and I am grateful beyond words. 

 

Horace Aikman

 
February 2006

I got married in September of 2004, and my wife even the 3 years prior to being married, had commented on my increased snoring habit. She got to a point where she would have to leave the room, or sometimes would just wait out of the room until my snoring calmed down. She begged me to speak to my doctor about this problem over and over again, as there was a time where she told me I stopped breathing in my sleep.

Finally, one day I spoke to Ellen who works at the Sleep Health Center in Weymouth, MA. Ellen is a sleep disorder technician at this location, and was able to answer all of my questions I had, and even more! She informed me of the symptoms, the causes of this, and explained the process of seeking a sleep study.

 

I went to my doctor finally and addressed my snoring, amongst things associated like weight gain, and high blood pressure. I discussed this specific sleep study location with my doctor, since I felt comfortable going there.

 

My doctor gave me a referral to go in for a sleep study, and as expected, Ellen was there to administer the study and ease my mind. Doctor Smith at Sleep HealthCenters had spoken to my doctor and discussed my case, which was then relayed to me as having severe sleep apnea.

 

Ellen was able to walk me through the remaining steps of the process, where I met some very nice and comforting people like Debi who handles appointments and Joyce, the respiratory therapist, who explains how the CPAP machine I need works, etc.

 

Since I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in January of 2006, one month later my weight has dropped as I now have my energy level increased to work out; my blood pressure dropped, and if that keeps up pace, I may be off blood pressure pills; and most importantly my snoring has stopped which will be great for my marriage!

 

I really would recommend Sleep HealthCenters to anyone who is being referred, since all of their staff was extremely helpful and really made me feel as though we were family!

 

 John J. Peabody


July 2005

I know what it feels like to never sleep and it wasn’t due to insomnia. I had been feeling tired during the day and lacking energy for a long time so I just acclimated myself to it and rationalized that it was due to stress from work. Then late last year, my girlfriend Suzanne complained so much about my snoring and was so scared for my health upon observing that I stopped breathing frequently during sleep that she demanded I seek help. It was easy for her to tell because my loud snoring was erratic and intermittent. I contacted the NewtonSleepHealthCenter and everything changed for the better. They gave me a polysomnogram test where I slept in their lab overnight. I had a very nice private room with a shower and TV. Coffee and snacks were available right outside the room. It was better than some hotel rooms. They got the PSG results and sat down with me to tell me the news. I didn’t just have sleep apnea, but it was so severe that they signed me up for the “advanced” study. The report showed I stopped breathing more than 70 times an hour, sometimes for periods as short as a few seconds, but sometimes for as long as two minutes. What a shocker! It was kind of like drowning without water. I also learned that there are four stages of sleep and I bounced between S1 and S2 all night meaning I was experiencing an agitated, interrupted light nap all night at best. They set me up with a CPAP machine, showed me how to use it, and fitted me for a mask that was to my liking. First, I started sleeping much better, through whole night without waking up. I hadn’t done that for years. My snoring was eliminated and I started to dream again. Like a drought-stricken desert getting a soaking rain, I slept for 10 to 11 hours a night for the first month or so. Then my energy and motivation both increased which lead to many side benefits. I had more time on weekends because I was motivated to take care of errands during nights after work instead of rushing home to crash on the sofa in front of the TV. After about four months, I am down to about 7 hrs of sleep a night. With more awake time, I started running and working out again after years of neglect. I started to trim down and my cholesterol, glucose level and blood pressure all came down. Perhaps the best side benefit was getting to know the wonderful professional staff at Sleep HealthCenters who treated me like a VIP at all times. I hesitate to mention names for fear of missing someone, but like at the Academy Awards, here it goes. I’d like to thank Denise, Paige, Kevin, Louise, Karen, Florence, Joyce, Dr Epstein, Dr. White and Dr. Wellman.

Daniel Lee


May 2005

My name is Marc Chapdelaine.  I am a 45 year old male that has had a "snoring" problem for as long as I can remember.  I recently got married, and my wife told me that I actually stopped breathing while I slept. That was a scary thought!  We decided that I should have a sleep study done, (my doctor, wife and myself).  I went in on December, 17th, 2004 and I was diagnosed a few weeks later.  I received my CPAP machine on January 12, 2005, and I cannot tell you how much better life is.  I have more energy, I am not tired during the day anymore and most of all, my wife isn't grumpy because she is sleeping better too!  I was taken off one of my high blood pressure meds in April of 2005 as well, and I have to say, my sleeping better is a result of this.  Thanks to all the helpful staff from the schedulers to the doctors.  The overnight technicians made me feel comfortable and my respiratory therapist, Patricia Hughes is the greatest.  Thank you so much, all of you.  Life is better when you get better sleep.

Marc Chapdelaine


April 2005

I was diagnosed in January 2004 by my primary care physician as having a classic case of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – chronic twitching and restless moving of the legs. This was a particularly bothersome ailment in the evening as it would greatly hinder getting to sleep and even worsen when I would awake in the middle of the night with an RLS attack and spend the rest of the night pacing the house. The drugs that my doctor prescribed needed more strength and my dose got stronger and stronger.

Finally, in February 2005, after suffering for nearly a year with RLS, I visited the Sleep HealthCenter in Weymouth, MA and was seen by Dr. Roger Smith, who prescribed a new drug called Mirapex. Taken two hours before bedtime, this drug worked perfectly from day one. While I still experience RLS in the early evening, Mirapex kicks in by bedtime and I now sleep restfully through the night…I understand that RLS has no cure and that I will always live with this insidious disease, but Dr. Smith, Sleep HealthCenters^® and Mirapex have made it much more manageable. For this I am so grateful.

John Carver

January 2005

I am writing to thank you for a recent experience I had at Faulkner Hospital. My doctor had advised that I consent to a sleep study because there was a question of severe sleep apnea. On arrival to the sleep unit I was greeted by Gail who was the technician who performed the study. Although extremely busy, she took the time to ensure my comfort and put me at ease until she could begin the procedure. She then explained exactly what was going to be happening, and I will admit being a little startled when awakened at 2:00am only to be placed on a CPAP machine, but again she had explained fully the purpose of the machine and put my mind at ease. I didn’t remember much of anything else except when she gently woke me up about 6:00am. All in all it was a very pleasant experience due to the efficiency of the staff.

I also felt completely at ease due to the fact that I had a lovely private room, complete with shower and T.V. My privacy and dignity were maintained at all times. I would recommend Sleep HealthCenters to anyone who has to have a sleep study especially if they have a tech such as Gail to tend to them. When I went to Sleep HealthCenters^® to receive my CPAP machine I received the same individual attention with full explanations and directions as to how to use and take care of it.

Patricia Morrison


May 2004

To me good sleep equals good health. That's why I told my doctor that when I sit down I fall asleep and it happens because I breathe so little. At other times I have a pain in my chest that is only relieved when I breathe deeply for several minutes. My doctor sent me to Sleep HealthCenters^® for an evaluation. I had never heard of Sleep HealthCenters^® or even knew that such a facility existed.

On my sleepover at the clinic the technicians were excellent. The electronic monitoring of my head and body was thorough and painless. The technicians monitored me all night and the results were evaluated by Sleep HealthCenters^® staff. As a result I was provided with a CPAP machine.

The result has been better sleep and less falling asleep during the day. I believe that the CPAP is helping me to breathe better and one interesting side benefit for me is that when I feel tired during the day I put on the CPAP and the better breathing that results from it revives me.

Edward P. Flynn


April 2004

Out of nowhere—three days of non-stop no sleeping…I was at my wits’ end and finally phoned my doctor for a prescription.  Ambien was prescribed…but it did not work…then trazodone…then six months of interrupted sleep and different medications…then a series of tests…and finally, a sleep test. As the months progressed, I continued to take meds that did not work. Then one day, a colleague suggested I contact the Sleep HealthCenter^® in Newton.  I phoned and explained the situation and a wonderful receptionist put me on hold and then came back and suggested I come in the very next day to meet with one of their sleep specialists. Imagine, a sympathetic voice on the telephone asking that I come in immediately!!

The very next day, with test results and a sleep log in hand, there I was in Newton meeting with Dr. Lawrence Epstein. With his calming and soothing manner, he understood what I had been going through and immediately after reading the tests knew what the problem was. I went home with two prescriptions and was asked to continue keeping a sleep log until the next visit. That night was the first night in many years that I truly slept soundly.  I had a question a few days later and Dr. Epstein was very responsive, calling me back to see what he could do for me. I hold Dr. Epstein in such high regard that I have scheduled myself every six months to see him, as I don’t want to lose touch and have to go through what I had gone through before.

I would highly recommend Sleep HealthCenters^® to anyone with a sleep problem.

Jerry Rosen

April 2004

My name is Dan Reiser and I was diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea in the Summer of 2002.  For a number of years prior to my diagnosis I had been having severe sleep problems.  However, due to the nature of my work [an attorney at a mid-sized Boston law firm], I just assumed my sleep problems were a result of job stress and an erratic sleep schedule.  I was constantly tired, irritable and having trouble enjoying even the best parts of life.  By the Spring of 2002, my qualify of life had diminished to the point where I felt I had no choice but to seek help.  Upon approaching my doctor, who also happens to be a sleep apnea sufferer, I was told to schedule an evaluation with Sleep HealthCenters^®.  Two overnight evaluations and a few months later I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.  Shortly thereafter, I had my first appointment with Don Ordway, the CPAP technician assigned to my case, for a CPAP fitting. 

I would like to say that my transition to life with a CPAP was smooth – but that would be far from the truth.  It took me the better part of a year before I could sleep comfortably with a mask on my face.  It just is not a natural thing to have a hurricane of air blow down your nose when you are trying to sleep.  There were times when I wanted to give up on the whole thing.  But, with the support of my wife and Don Ordway’s patient guidance, I persevered.  I am so thankful that I did.  The CPAP has made an unbelievable change in my life.  I am not sure how to put into words the benefit of being able to once again enjoy the sleep afforded to the average person.  I do not think non-apnea sufferers can appreciate the feeling of being horribly sleep deprived yet fearful of going to bed to spend yet another night tossing and turning.  The CPAP has given me back the once elusive treasure of sleep.  Work is still busy, and now I have a toddler at home to make sure I get up in the middle of the night on a regular basis, but when I have a chance to sleep, I do so wonderfully.  I cannot thank Don Ordway and the people at Sleep HealthCenters^® enough for all they have done for me.

Dan Reiser