Chludenski has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and first used a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to treat it. But she struggled to keep the mask on at night, and that made it difficult to get consistent, restful sleep. 

“I would begin the night, but I could never finish the night,” she said. “I hated it.” 

She was so exhausted; it was a challenge to remain active outdoors. It wasn’t until after Chludenski began Inspire® therapy that she was able to get back to doing activities she loves. 

She said it has been “life-changing,” and she now wakes up with energy and motivation for the day ahead. 

The journey began in 2021 when friends and family noticed she stopped breathing at night and was also snoring loudly. A sleep study later revealed that the Rhode Island resident had severe OSA. 

CPAP didn’t help, and it was another obstacle to Chludenski’s travel plans – with the need to pack supplies a challenge when on the road. She said it was “robbing” her chance to live life. 

She later began researching alternatives and came across Inspire therapy. 

Today, Inspire therapy is available in all 50 states, but Chludenski found a doctor in nearby Massachusetts since there were no Rhode Island Inspire-trained doctors at the time. 

She later qualified and received the Inspire implant in June 2022, and there was a difference soon after activation, about a month later. 

Chludenski’s apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), or the number of times on average she stopped breathing each hour, reduced from 39 to one, and she’s now able to get eight hours of quality sleep each night. 

Inspire also helped Chludenski get back to her active lifestyle – golfing, bike rides, traveling to national parks, slalom skiing and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys her time on the lake again.