Sleepless in Seekonk...or Barrington...or Bristol

From Woonsocket to Westerly, Rhode Islanders are counting sheep in search of elusive sleep....

Edwards enjoys life again after a full night's sleep.

Two years ago, Vernon Edwards was making his usual trip home from work. It was about 3:30 p.m. and traffic was light that day on Route 195 East. As he approached the Braga Bridge, Edwards was startled by the blare of a car horn. To his horror, he found that he had drifted across two lanes of traffic and was heading for the center barrier. Edwards had fallen asleep at the wheel.

"That incident made me realize I had to do something about my problem," he says. "That and the nagging of my wife!"

Vernon & Lee Edwards

His wife, Lee, knows the whole story of Vernon's sleep problem because it was literally keeping her awake at night: "Vernon had always been a snorer, but I thought it was more serious than that. There were times when it appeared he wasn't breathing at all, then he'd gasp for breath. That frightened me."

Getting Help

Lee was right to be concerned. Vernon's restless nights, coupled with his daytime fatigue, were symptoms of a serious sleep disorder. After his primary care physician recommended a sleep study, Vernon made an appointment at Rhode Island Hospital's sleep lab to uncover the cause of his nocturnal distress.

When he arrived on the appointed evening, Vernon was wired from head to toe with monitoring devices that would measure his body's waves and rhythms. While not a suite at the Marriott, his room did have a floral comforter and pictures on the wall. He drifted to sleep, and during the next few hours the monitors revealed that he stopped breathing an average of 60 times an hour, for up to a minute and a half each time. His sleep study was evaluated by Richard Millman, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Lifespan Hospitals, who diagnosed him with sleep apnea.

"This is a serious condition that can lead to a life-threatening heart attack or stroke," says Millman. "Each time breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the bloodstream falls, making the heart work harder. Blood pressure rises. The heart may beat irregularly and even pause for several seconds." Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with incidents where people nod off at work or behind the wheel.

Three Treatment Options

Millman presented Vernon with three options: surgery, a breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or a mouth retainer. The goal of each is to open the airway to allow normal breathing. None of the treatments is guaranteed, but most people find relief from one of them.

Vernon chose CPAP. Before going to bed, he straps on a mask that covers his nose. A small compressor gently forces air into his nose and throat. While not the most romantic bedtime apparel, the device gives those that can accept it the night's rest they've been dreaming of. "The machine is noisy and I do miss hearing the crickets in the summertime," says Lee, "but it sure beats the snoring."

The CPAP was only part of the prescription. "Excessive weight is also a factor in sleep apnea," Millman told Vernon, so he started a diet and has lost 30 of the 45 pounds he needs to shed. "The dieting is tough," he says, "but now that I sleep well, I have the energy to take up long-distance biking for the Leukemia Society's Century Ride tour and that's really helped."

"I have so much energy now I don't fall asleep sitting in my chair," says Vernon. "I love to read, but I could only read one page before nodding off. Now I'm reading two to three books a week."

Business is Booming

Millman and his colleagues have the busiest sleep center on the eastern seaboard and the fifth largest in the country by volume. "Sleep disorders are very common," says Millman. "We conduct about 45 clinical studies a week." The center has locations at Rhode Island, The Miriam and Newport hospitals, with offices in Providence, Portsmouth and East Greenwich, and treats adults and children.

For the Edwards, Vernon's successful treatment has changed their lives. "We're both well-rested and Vernon's disposition is improving, right along with his blood pressure level," beams Lee.

And the CPAP may not have to be a constant bedside companion. "Once the final 15 pounds is gone," says Millman, "I'll reevaluate his condition and we'll consider delegating the CPAP to the closet."

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