Sleep Apnea Stories

Emma is joined by Alida Abdullah and they discuss: *Growing up snoring and sleeping during school; *Difficulty with CPAP therapy as a mother juggling a newborn and a 3 year old; *Being a college athlete and not fitting the Homer Simpson stereotype of the older, overweight men who suffer with Sleep Apnea; *Treatment of African American women in the healthcare system, what needs to change; *The link...

Emma is joined on the podcast by Julie Flygare, President and CEO of Project Sleep.  Julie has suffered with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy and is an accomplished sleep disorders advocate.  Emma and Julie discuss: *Symptoms and early warning signs of Narcolepsy; *Julie's journey through diagnosis and treatment; *How sleep studies for Narcolepsy differ from those for Sleep Apnea; *The need for more awar...

Emma is joined by Randy Thornton, a former NFL player and professional wrestler. Randy discusses: *How he struggled with intense headaches and mood swings before he was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea; *Reluctance of many men to go to the doctor; *Just how widespread Sleep Apnea is among athletes who focus on building muscles of the neck and shoulders; *Spreading awareness in the African American commu...

Emma is joined by Dr Madan Kandula, a Board Certified Otolaryngologist, specializing in sleep and sinus surgery.  He leads Advent, an ENT group with 10 clinics across Wisconsin and Illinois.  In this episode we cover: *The current state of the healthcare system and how patients are not being served by it; *Dr Kandula's vision for a more patient-centered approach and offering multiple treatment opt...

Emma is joined by Dr Meghna Dassani, a Dentist in Houston, Texas.  In this episode we discussed: *Dr Dassani's new book "Airway is Life: Waking up to your family's sleep crisis" and her podcast Healthy Sleep Revolution * What are the red flags parents should look for in their kids to spot sleep disordered breathing? * Which specialists should be consulted and in what order?   *When is it appropria...

Emma is joined by Craig Baker, a Personal Trainer from Sydney, Australia. Together they discuss:  *Craig discusses his Sleep Apnea symptoms, including anxiety and exhaustion; *Deciding to cut back on decathlon training in his 20s; *Using a phone app to record snoring and breathing sounds during sleep; *Emma's experience with her Tonsilectomy and Craig's upcoming surgery; *CPAP and Craig's experien...

Emma is joined by Dr Earl Bogrow, a Dentist who specializes in Mandibular Advancement Devices, also called Oral Appliances, to treat Sleep Apnea.  During the episode Emma and Earl discuss: *Some of the benefits to Mandibular Advancement devices vs CPAP; *Dr Bogrow's own journey with Sleep Apnea; *How to find a great Dentist to make you an oral appliance. *TMJ issues and how they need to be taken i...

Emma is joined by Stacy Erickson Edwards, a Sleep Disorders Advocate and blogger at www.cpapbabes.com.  Stacy discusses: *her journey to getting diagnosed with Sleep Apnea; *dealing with continued sleepiness even after CPAP treatment and exploring other potential sleep disorders; *being diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia after an MSLT test; *working with Project Sleep to raise awareness about s...

Emma talks all about physical fitness and coping with Sleep Apnea.  Emma's guest, Ryan King, is a personal trainer who has been working with Gary Knight (friend of the show, guest on episode 4).  Emma and Ryan discuss: * How to gradually build up the amount of exercise you're doing even when you're tired; * Alternatives to working out at the gym; *The importance of mindset and breathing; *Unrealis...

Emma is joined by Sydney Avis and her Dad, Dr Victor Avis.  Sydney recently underwent an MMA surgery (Maxillary Mandibular Advancement) to expand her airway and improve her sleep and breathing.  In this episode we discuss: *various diagnoses Sydney received including Narcolepsy and Sleep Apnea and why Dr Avis didn't feel these told the whole story of Sydney's airway challenges *treatments Sydney t...

Emma is joined by Lauren Freedman, host of "Uninvisible Pod".  On her podcast, Lauren provides a platform for discussion of invisible illnesses following her own health struggles. Some of the things we discussed in this episode: Coping with multiple diagnoses - not only sleep apnea but depression, anxiety and Hashimoto's (an autoimmune disorder). Lauren’s experience of trying to hold down a job wh...

I really wanted to have Sam on the podcast because he’s young and so often younger sleep apnea sufferers don’t get a lot of attention.  Some of the things we discussed were: * How Sam’s friends first noticed his snoring and pauses in breathing * Getting diagnosed with Sleep Apnea with an at home sleep study * The Canadian Healthcare system * What it feels like to be a young person with a chronic s...

'Sleep Disordered Breathing' has "breathing" right there in the name!  Yet breathing is overlooked as a vital component in treating Sleep Apnea.  Patrick McKeown is a breathing expert and founder of the Buteyko Clinic.  He explains the different types of sleep apnea and how breathing correctly can help address them. Some things we discussed: Buteyko breathing - slow, light and deep using diaphragm...

Emma shares an update on her own journey with Sleep Apnea.  Since starting the podcast earlier this year, Emma has learned so much from her guests and her own reading and research.  On this episode, Emma discusses:  the books "Breath" by James Nestor and "Oxygen Advantage" by Patrick McKeown.  Both these books discuss the benefits of nasal breathing;  beginning Myofunctional therapy to improve ton...

Emma is joined by Edgar Castro Tello who shares his personal journey with sleep apnea.  Emma and Edgar discuss: Having sleep apnea as the child of undocumented immigrants without access to healthcare; Experiencing extreme symptoms at high altitude in Colorado; Sleep Apnea in the gay community, especially among "bears"; Diagnosis and treatment of Sleep Apnea allowing mental health problems to be ac...

Emma is joined by Dr Jose Gonzalez.  In the episode they discuss Jose's recent diagnosis with sleep apnea and how he is adjusting to life with his CPAP.  Emma and Jose talk about:  Loud snoring and how often it is ignored as normal when it can indicate Sleep Apnea;  Being single and in a relationship with Sleep Apnea;  Anxiety as a warning sign for Sleep Apnea;  Self...

Emma is joined by Dr David Madow.  David shares his personal journey with sleep apnea.  For anyone who is new to using a CPAP, this episode is a must!  David talks through all the adjustments he made to make using a CPAP more comfortable. In this episode we discussed: how it feels to suffer with anxiety caused by sleep apnea; David's own experience of using an oral appliance to trea...

Emma is joined by Dr Natasha Hassam-Sarwar, a dentist specializing in optimizing sleep.  Natasha is also a Sleep Coach so Emma took the opportunity to pick her brain on all things sleep apnea!  Dr Hassam-Sarwar explains: the difference between Sleep Apnea and UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome); why so many sleep apnea sufferers grind and clench their teeth; mouth breathing versus no...

Emma is joined by Eric Burton who suffers from Sleep Apnea himself and also works as a Sleep Supplies Specialist with Aeroflow in North Carolina.  Eric shares about his own journey with sleep apnea.  Eric describes his sleep study and how he adjusted to his CPAP.  Eric has a lot to share about his work advising patients on the best mask or equipment for them.  We also talked ab...

Emma is joined by Gary Knight.  Gary experienced a lot of the common symptoms of sleep apnea before his diagnosis in 2016, in particular he noticed overwhelming daytime sleepiness.  Gary discusses the treatment he received, where he lives in the UK, and his first experiences with his CPAP.  Gary lost over 70lbs after he was diagnosed and we discuss his attitude and approach to exerc...

Emma is joined by Dr Joi Freemont, a dentist who treats patients with sleep apnea in her practice but also suffers with sleep apnea herself.  Joi describes the shock of her father's death from sleep apnea and how that experience opened her eyes to the condition.  Whilst attending a professional training on oral appliances and taking a sleep study, Dr Freemont discovered that she also suffered with...

Meet your host, Emma Cooksey, and join her as she shares her personal journey with Sleep Apnea.  Emma shares her lowest moment when she realized she needed to get help along with the tips and tricks she wishes someone told her about her Cpap when she was first diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 2008.  Emma talks about living her best life with sleep apnea 12 years after diagnosis,...

Sleep Apnea Stories is a new podcast with Emma Cooksey. Emma has lots to share about her own journey with sleep apnea but really wants to hear from YOU. If you suffer from sleep apnea but haven’t let it hold you back from living every day to the fullest, get in touch! Contact Emma on Instagram @sleepapneastories or email sleepapneastories@gmail.com.