Dr. Coker:
'What I tell you is one thing,
listen to what other people say':
- Clarisse: I feel like a new person
I was walking around completely obsessed. I had a paranoid feeling I couldn't shake. I was sure my co-workers, were all of a sudden, making plans that excluded me. I was no longer getting invited to lunch. No longer was I being offered invitations for after-work drinks. Previously, I had always been included. It seemed that everyone suddenly excused themselves whenever I would wander into a group discussion. I had done nothing I was conscious of – so why suddenly were they dodging me?
This paranoia extended to my friends and certain family members. I had a feeling they were doing the exact same thing. Dinner invites stopped coming. Event invitations no longer existed. It felt like they were making up excuses not to see me. Finally, I confronted my best friend and she told me the truth. Everyone was annoyed with me. They were irritated by my negativity, my crankiness, my temper. The old Clarisse, the easy-going Clarisse, had been replaced with a dreadfully selfish and despondent replica. I knew my sleep (or lack thereof) was affecting my commitment and focus at work but I didn't realize the impact it was having on my personal life.
After my visit with Dr. Coker, I feel like I am a new person. I have a brand new lease on life. I, not only am able to sleep through the night, but I feel like I have morphed into someone new. I rule my emotions once again. I am happy and overwhelmingly positive. I have acceptance and patience with people instead of being consumed with fatigue and weariness. And the best part? Everyone wants to hang out again. No one is trying to escape me and my life is back to where it's supposed to be.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
- Derek: Who would have thought my dentist was the answer to my problems?
I hated when people would say "man, I slept like a baby last night"". Heck! I wanted to know what they mean. What did that feel like? I wished I knew how it felt to sleep through the entire night. I wanted to know what it felt like to wake-up totally revitalized and invigorated.
As long as I could remember I had not slept through the night. I would toss and turn and when I did fall asleep, I never stayed asleep. I couldn't remember the last time I woke fully rejuvenated; ready to greet the day. It didn't matter if I slept for 5 or for 9 hours – my initial thought in the morning was always "when can I go back to bed?" Each and every morning I was undeniably, unconditionally exhausted. The fatigue was with me all day until soon it just became part of my normal state of being.
At a routine dental check-up, Dr. Coker was inquiring about my overall health. I explained how I couldn't sleep throughout the night and how worn out I was. He was paid particularly close attention and was listening attentively. When I finished telling him about what I was going through, he instantly gave some advice, some treatment options and a prospective solution. I never would have thought my dentist would be the answer to my problems? Now that I've had gone through my treatment, I can't believe how long I existed in my sleep deprived state. It was infuriating and it was avoidable. Thank you Dr. Coker for everything you did.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
- Stacey: I had actually considered ending my marriage.
We first met and fell in love and Dean was the ideal man. Our relationship rapidly grew and soon we found ourselves chasing our dreams. We built a fantastic life together that consisted of travel and adventure, raising children and cultivating friendships. It was a page out of a book.
It was obvious in the beginning of our marriage that Dean would occasionally snore. Nothing alarming or unusual, just harmless snoring. Nevertheless, over the years, Dean's snoring gradually became worse. We would list all the options we could think of. We investigated sleep centers and purchased over-the-counter solutions. We attempted homemade remedies and we changed our sleep environment. We depleted ourselves coming up with solutions. At one point in time, Dean's snoring became such a tension between us - I had seriously considered ending my marriage.
My bitterness was increasingly more obvious and it didn't take long before I began resenting our relationship. I was mad and I was frustrated and because of the sleep deprivation, we were both touchy and irritable. It wasn't long before we began taking out our frustrations on one another. I was left feeling disheartened and feeling like I had no options. I didn't know what else to do.
It was at my regular teeth cleaning that I mentioned the snoring to Dr. Coker. We chatted for bit, discussing possible contributing factors. He suggested an appointment with Dean the next week. Hurray! One visit was all it took and clear as day, we understood the cause of Dean's snoring. Dr. Coker suggested some suitable treatment options and they gave us awesome results. Dean and I now spend a lot less time arguing and a lot more time devoted to one another.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
- Julia: Sleepless in . . . Texas
Television viewing late at night. Every workout video and infomercial ever made. Every old black-and-white movie every made. Anything televised after midnight – I could tell you all about it. What Ingrid Bergman said to Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. Which vacuum cleaner cleans with more efficiency and does more than clean your floors. Which food chopper carves and slices the fastest. Every single night, almost all night, I was sitting on my couch. Television was my form of entertainment.
Not only was television my only company but quickly, it was becoming my only friend. Friends and family members no longer wanted to be around me. Because of my sleep deprivation, I wasn't the same ole happy Julia I used to be. My personality was being altered. I was unhappy, judgement and miserable. I jsimply wasn't any fun to be around. Plain and simple, my sleep disorder was ruining more than my night's. It was disturbing my relationships, ruining my personality and altering my life.
Getting to sleep was so hard for me. I would take sleeping pills, concoct home remedies and spend hours counting sheep. The exhausting and frustrating cycle of insomnia just carried on and became increasingly maddening.
Dr. Coker asked about my overall health at a recent dental visit and I indicated I had insomnia. Not only did he understand my frustration but he handled the whole matter with compassion and kindness. After seeing Dr. Coker, the change in my life is exceptional. He answered all my questions and took the time to talk with me. Mostly, he gave me a solution – one that worked! No more infomercials about vacuum cleaners and food processors. No more sleepless nights. Now, there is only sleeping in Texas.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
- Colin: My dentist saved my life!
As far back as I could recall, I had a snoring problem. Even back in high school and university, I was always ridiculed and teased. I even was given the nickname of "Buzz"; it's stuck with me to this day.
Soon after college, I met, fell in love with and married Juanita. From early on, she knew I was a snorer. We would discuss the subject for hours on end. Over coffee, at the breakfast table - after a particularly ‘loud' night - we would options and cures. Anything to stop my snoring. We would talk about how disrupting the snoring was and how it was taking over our lives. We uncovered lists of experts and spent hours on the computer, researching options. The conversations were endless and unfortunately, they never led to answer.
Then, one night, Juanita jolted me awake. She said my snoring was keeping her awake and then suddenly, I had stopped breathing. She was so terrified that she was shaking. We decided, right then and there, more was going on than we had anticipated. After that particular night, she began keeping an eye on my breathing at night and she was astounded to see just how frequently I stopped breathing each and every night.
When Dr. Coker noticed how worn out I looked and made a comment about it at a routine check-up. I told him what was going on. He immediately identified the problem. Instinctively, he knew the I suffered from sleep apnea and he said if I left it untreated, it could potentially lead to a fatal disorder. He said unrelenting snoring can be a pre-cursor to sleep apnea but he also out me at ease. He told me about the treatment options that were available and he recommended one that worked for me! Now, my snoring has significantly declined and finally I have my sleep apnea under control. I still thank the heavens that I went to see Dr. Coker for a teeth cleaning and potentially, he saved my life.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
To optimize your health and get answers to your snoring-, sleep apnea-, insomnia-, and all sleep disorder questions, your search is over.
Contact Dr. Coker today at (903) 581.1777
