The New York resident was a registered nurse for years and her lack of sleep led to diminished energy at work. 

Rodriguez commuted into New York City from upstate for her job, and she would regularly have to pull over and nap to avoid falling asleep at the wheel and to get rid of brain fog that affected her job performance. 

A sleep study confirmed Rodriguez had severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). She was also dealing with claustrophobia, insomnia and was a restless sleeper. 

Rodriguez was prescribed a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, but after two unsuccessful attempts, Rodriguez learned about Inspire® therapy from her doctor. 

She later qualified and received the Inspire implant in June 2022. It changed her life. 

“I was not going back to the mask,” Rodriguez said. “Inspire really works for me. I was waking up sluggish or lethargic, but now that doesn’t happen.” 

The OSA journey was difficult. She first had to try different masks, and none of them helped. Rodriguez was only getting a few hours of sleep each night.  

Her doctor told her about Inspire therapy, and she did everything she needed to qualify, including losing nearly 50 pounds and having surgery for a deviated septum. 

Rodriguez was activated about a month after she received Inspire.  

She is now retired but can drive without needing naps and wakes up each morning with newfound energy.  

Her husband has also noticed a difference, noting that she doesn’t snore anymore. 

Rodriguez’s doctor also adjusted the comfort settings of her Inspire device and gave her ways to help with her insomnia. 

The changes included an increase in delay time – which is customizable by an Inspire-trained doctor to allow you to fall asleep before Inspire therapy turns on – and new sleep habits to follow, such as waiting to turn her device on until she could barely keep her eyes open. 

“It’s been the best solution for my sleep apnea,” Rodriguez said.