08/09/2026
PLEASE DON’T IGNORE YOUR SLEEP.
I want to share something personal because maybe someone else needs to hear it.
For quite some time, days...weeks...even months...I haven’t felt like myself.
I’ve struggled with overwhelming exhaustion, brain fog, low energy, difficulty concentrating, body aches and that awful feeling of waking up without actually feeling rested.
There have been days when I’ve wondered, What in the world is happening to my body?
I’ve looked at hormones. Thyroid.
Menopause.
Stress.
Nutrition.
And yes, those things can certainly matter.
But recently I had a sleep study.
And the results helped me realize that while I thought I was “sleeping,” my body wasn’t necessarily getting the restorative sleep it desperately needed.
That was eye-opening.
I recently had an at home sleep study, which wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. I received the report today. The numbers shocked and even scared me a bit!
Sleep apnea isn’t simply about snoring.
When breathing repeatedly stops or becomes restricted during sleep, the body has to keep responding. Sleep becomes fragmented, oxygen levels may drop, and the restorative sleep our brain and body need can be disrupted.
Over time, untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with problems such as daytime exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, headaches, high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk.
Suddenly, I began looking at some of what I’ve been experiencing through a different lens.
I’m still learning. I'm still researching. I’m still working with my healthcare providers. And I’m certainly not saying that every symptom I have is caused by sleep apnea.
But I am saying this:
If you are constantly exhausted…
If you wake up feeling like you never slept…
If someone tells you that you snore loudly, gasp or stop breathing in your sleep…
If you’re fighting brain fog and daytime sleepiness…
Or if something inside you keeps saying, This level of exhaustion isn’t normal…
Please talk with your healthcare provider about whether a sleep study might be appropriate.
Don’t assume it’s just age.
Don’t assume it’s just your weight.
Don’t assume you simply need to push harder.
Sometimes we need information before we can begin making the right changes.
For me, getting this sleep study has given me something I desperately needed:
another piece of the puzzle—and hope that there may be something I can actually do about how exhausted I’ve been feeling.
I’m sharing my journey because perhaps someone reading this has been struggling too.
Pay attention to your body.
Ask questions.
Advocate for yourself.
(Feel free to reach out if you need someone to help you walk the journey of self advocacy!)
And when something doesn’t feel right, keep searching for answers.
Our bodies were wonderfully designed, and caring for them matters.
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
— Psalm 139:14 ESV