Before
When Lalita moved to the Everett area, she needed a dentist. She heard some radio ads for Dr. Amy Norman and decided give her a try. Little did she know that this choice also would lead her to successful treatment for her issues with sleep apnea.
Lalita knew the negative effects of sleep apnea, feeling so run down and not knowing the cause of always feeling tired. “I felt like I was in a daze and not completely alert,” she said.
“Previously I was overweight and I had tried the CPAP machine,” Lalita explained. I can’t sleep with it. With CPAP, I felt like Darth Vader or Hannibal Lecter! I just had mild sleep apnea at the time so I decided to live with it.”
Over time, Lalita lost eighty pounds and saw Dr. Norman for cleanings. That’s when Lalita learned that her trusted dentist might be able to help with her sleep issues. “They started doing questionnaires in their practice to see if their patients are having issues,” she explained. “Dr. Norman talked to me more in-depth and asked if I would be willing to do a sleep test at home. I agreed and it turned out I was stopping breathing so they recommended a sleep doctor. ”
During
Lalita knew she had sleep apnea due to her snoring. What she learned during the treatment process with Dr. Norman was that her sleep apnea was not related to weight. “I had the worst case of sleep apnea where weight is not a factor,” she said. “The issue was the physical design of my throat. It’s small and my tongue covered the throat when I was on my back.” With the proper diagnosis, Lalita now understood her options for treatment.
“I still didn’t want to use a CPAP machine so I pursued a mouth guard option,” Lalita said. “The mouth guard pulls my lower jaw in front of the upper jaw. Pulling that jaw forward creates a clear opening in back of throat.”
“Medical insurance covered the cost 100%.” Lalita explained. “It took a little bit to get it filed in the right place. I finally found someone who gave me the right wording. Since there was no medical person to offer this appliance within a certain distance I was able to get covered.”
After
Lalita has been so pleased with her results. She is sleeping more restfully, free of sleep apnea. “According to my husband I’m not snoring anymore. I do feel better when I wear the mouth guard as opposed to when I don’t. I don’t feel as tired as I did before. I’m able to function a lot better now.”
And, her experience with Dr. Norman’s team has been exceptional, too. She explained, “Ever since the first day I met them, the entire staff has always been genuine. They ask, “How was your day? And, what can I do to help you?” They are all genuinely happy to help. I wasn’t just another patient. I was always happy to go to my dentist appointments. ”
Lalita recommends visiting Dr. Norman for both dental and sleep treatment. “I feel good when I’m there and I feel good when I leave. It’s not only the best dental office but medical facility that I’ve ever encountered. I’m moving to a new state and I was considering flying back for dental visits. But Dr. Norman said she has a network of people and is happy to help me find a dentist. I’m going to be sad about leaving her. Never did I think I would say that about a dentist!”
