No More Sleepless Nights for Frankfort Man Thanks to Silver Cross

For two years, Frankfort resident Jerry Vandenberg struggled to get a good night’s rest. Falling asleep wasn’t the problem though; staying asleep was. In fact, he routinely awoke at 2 a.m. and couldn’t fall back to sleep! He also snored.

As his sleepless nights grew in number, Vandenberg worried about the impact it was having on his overall health. So at the suggestion of board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialistDr. M. Salah Lababidy, he had a sleep study at the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center in New Lenox. The center, which specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of sleep-related conditions, is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

“I knew I wasn’t sleeping through the night because I was so tired during the day, but I was stunned with how little good sleep I was actually getting each night,” he said. “The results of my sleep study showed that out of eight hours, I only slept 1.9 hours! It was startling to learn just how severe my sleep apnea condition was after completing my sleep study.”

Sleep Test and Diagnosis
Dr. Lababidy, who treated Vandenberg, said a severe case of sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing more than 30 times per hour. During his sleep test at the center, Vandenberg stopped breathing 74 times in one hour! “So Jerry’s case was extremely severe,” explained Dr. Lababidy, medical director of the Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center.

To treat his condition, Vandenberg was fitted with a full-mask BiPAP (Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure) machine. “After using the machine the first night, I felt so much better right away. I was breathing easier, sleeping through the night, and wasn’t so tired during the day,” said Vandenberg. “I’m so grateful to Dr. Lababidy, and the technicians Rod and Shelby for their patience and knowledge. Because of their thoughtful expertise, my quality of life has greatly improved!”

Health Benefits from Sleep Disorder Treatment
More than 18 million adults have sleep apnea. Not only does it affect daytime function, sleep apnea can also put extra stress on a person’s heart and brain while they’re sleeping, Dr. Lababidy said. With treatment, patients can reduce their risk for heart disease or congestive heart failure; treatment can also help those with lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

“There have been so many advancements. The therapy now has improved significantly along with the mask to deliver the positive pressure. The machine is very quiet and user-friendly. It’s easy to apply and use. Even if they have to go the bathroom in the middle of the night, it’s easy to disconnect and reconnect,” said Dr. Lababidy.

The Silver Cross Sleep Disorders Center can diagnose and treat a number of sleep disorders including sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep-related breathing disorders, periodic limb movement disorders in sleep, and more. For more information, visitwww.silvercross.org/sleepdisorderscenter, or to schedule a sleep study, call (815) 300-REST.