After your sleep study, were you diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?

[wombat_5606]

Have you tried Breathe Right Strips?

I did and I had a reaction to the adhesive. My deal is that I don't snore that often. I'm not willing to wear one on the off chance I snore.

 

[wombat_5606]

It has definitely changed DH's life - mostly for the better, obviously, as it keeps him breathing , but there are negatives. Besides the obvious discomfort of having something on your face, it's kind of a pain to travel with (which he has to do for work). Also, you can't just get up to go the bathroom - you have to unhook and rehook everything - and that creates the danger of waking up "too much" and not being able to get back to sleep. It leaves marks on his face, we have to buy distilled water for it, there's a danger of infection if you don't clean it properly...

All of this is worth it in his case, but it's certainly not a gadget I'd use if I didn't need it!

I so agree with this!!!!

You have definitely articulated my attitude towards this. Unless I'm not breathing at all during the night, I'm just not going to use a CPAP consistently.

 

[tex1989]

So interestingly enough I have been using a CPAP machine since last Thursday. Not even a full week yet. So my story is that I first went to my Primary care doctor because my blood pressure was not being controlled with my medication. I felt tired all the time and my wife knew that I snored and as she said actually stopped breathing at times. So the Primary Care Dr has me answer this standard survey that asks are you tired? Do you fall asleep easily watching tv, reading, driving etc. From there she requested a sleep test (overnight) from my insurance company. They denied it and the appeal in favor of the take home version of the test. She also referred me to the Pulimonary Specialist. He explains that insurance virtually never approves the overnight till they do the take home test. Once I did it as suspected it said I had apnea. Then he requested the overnight test and they approved it based on the first test. The Dr then explained that this is pretty much the way it always happens. The overnight test I actually slept with a CPAP machine while they monitored everything under the sun. I was wired up pretty well. What the Dr said was this was to eliminate all the other possibilities like restless leg syndrome, and other potential issues not strictly related to apnea. He said in about 10% of the cases it actually winds up being something else. The monitoring of my nights sleep pretty much confirmed the diagnoses of apnea. I actually woke up early that morning after the test feeling better than I had in several years. The torture was the follow up appointment was not for three weeks and then I had to wait a week after that to get the machine. I personally love it and wearing it is no issue at this point. I no longer snore I feel better and the blood pressure is improved. As far as re testing in the future, if I lose weight or other conditions change it could happen, but there is actually an SD card in the machine that records machine pressures and a couple other things that I will take to the Dr on my next visit so maybe from that I won't need the later testing.

As my Dr explained is is the same old same when it comes to testing where insurance does not want to pay or pay the least amount possible so I would imagine that a Dr is fairly certain of some sleep disorder before they want to test and so I would imagine there are a lot more cases that do wind up with the apnea diagnoses.

 

[sam_gordon]

we have to buy distilled water for it

Not saying for you specifically, but I stopped using distilled water (or any water at all). I did not notice a difference whether the reservoir was filled or not, so I stopped filling it.

NOTE: I'm not saying no one should use water, just that it did nothing for me.

 

[Maryess]

I was one of the many people that no matter how much I snored, I just wouldn’t bother with the sleep study testing or even consider a cpap machine.

Last year I went to the doctor for a routine physical and a couple labs showed issues with my red blood cells. My oxygen level was super low also, almost to the point I would need to be on oxygen consistently. I was tested for possible cancer and then had pulmonary testing and imaging done. During this whole process, I finally asked the Doc if I could get tested for sleep apnea. Had the overnight at home and then at the facility. It showed something like 250 apnea events per hour average. I had really odd symptoms going into this in addition to the blood oxygen level issue such as physically acting out my dreams with arm and hand motions while sleeping. I didn’t feel tired during the day as if I didn’t sleep, but as soon as I sat down I would fall asleep. It became a running joke that if the car ride was longer than 10 min, I was out like a light. I would have involuntary muscle spasms and jerking in my hands and occasionally in a leg that caused me to fall. My memory was getting worst every day.

It honestly didn’t take long to get used to wearing the mask and now I cannot sleep without it. Yes I have marks on my face in the morning, but I also have a clear mind, great memory, and much more energy. I never doze off anymore. My blood count is back to normal and my oxygen saturation is normal. I used to scoff when I would read sleep apnea could kill you, but I fully understand how it can happen. It’s best to be sure if you or your doctor suspect sleep apnea!

 

[ChrisFL]

I don't think people are doubting the dangers of sleep apnea, only maybe that CPAP may not always be the go-to option, but it seems, as usual, certain companies push for that treatment because of how our $$$ healthcare system is.

 

[Hrhpd]

How is it life altering? You are, literally, just wearing a mask when you sleep.

DH had snoring as his only symptom. Went for sleep study and his apnea was incredible...I can't recall how often he actually stopped breathing, but it was a high number. I have slept next to him for near 20 years and never noticed the stopping breathing...cuz I was sleeping.

The CPAP has saved his life, and our marriage. I can manage to be next to him in bed now.

Same here. I snored but not freight train snoring. My sleep study was eye opening. Not only was I micro stopping to breath almost every minute but my oxygen levels dropped below 80 (standard is 90 and above.)

I never suspected I was stopping breathing so much that my O2 levels were falling that much. I thought I "just snored."

 

[Hrhpd]

I did a quick google search to see how they work and I'm not convinced one would help. Sometimes I'm more comfortable on my right side, some time on my left. If I slept on my back all the time, sure.
I do agree with the OP is I'm basically now tied to this stupid machine for the rest of my life. But, as I said, I'm doing it for DW, not myself.

Have you tried one of the masks where the hose attaches to the top of the head instead of the nose piece? I find this type of mask is very comfortable.

 

[Hrhpd]

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My SIL and their doctor thought my nephew had sleep apnea. After his sleep study, it was determined that he didn't, but his tonsils needed to be removed. I guess this is unusual for an (almost) adult.

That's exactly what I feel like is happening. People are sent for sleep studies and then there are other solutions for their problems.

You do realize that the post you just answered is exactly what you are arguing against. The nephew HAD a sleep study to rule out apnea.

Why are you so scared of the sleep study? It is just a test. Find out the results and then go from there and decide if you should be using a cpap or whether other things will help.

IF you only snore once a week, you may not have sleep apnea. But you won't know until you see your results.

 

[jeepwreck]

my wife made me do this because I snore a lot but it came back negative so now she just has to deal with it lol

how ever my wife has sleep apnea and wears the sleep mask

 

[Hrhpd]

Thank you, but I'm getting the results I want.

My only symptom is snoring. A vast majority of people snore. Perhaps my Dr. should have requested a ENT visit prior to a sleep study. Much less costly route for me. Now, I'm insisting on one to look at issues that may explain my snoring before I tether myself to a CPAP.

I read an interesting article that said their has been a 50% increase of people that are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Well, it's because they're testing more.

Oh, the horrors. Technology has gotten better so the medical profession has ordered more sleep studies. And because there is more testing, more sleep apnea has been caught. More lives have been saved. It is called medicine.

If you are so against the sleep study, make an ENT appointment yourself. All this angst over a simple test (home studies have become very good) is silly. Ignore the results if you don't believe in sleep apnea and pick up the phone and make an appointment with a local ENT to discuss your concerns.

This is beginning to sound like an anti-vax thread where science doesn't matter and conspiracy theories abound.

 

[sommergirl25]

Thank you, but I'm getting the results I want.

My only symptom is snoring. A vast majority of people snore. Perhaps my Dr. should have requested a ENT visit prior to a sleep study. Much less costly route for me. Now, I'm insisting on one to look at issues that may explain my snoring before I tether myself to a CPAP.

I read an interesting article that said their has been a 50% increase of people that are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Well, it's because they're testing more.

Just be prepared that the ENT may very well want a sleep study done. We took my son to ENT and they required a sleep study before anything else. We knew he needed tonsils out but ENT wanted to determine if he had sleep apnea and what extent.

 

[monica9]

My sister had one and she didn't have sleep apnea. They said she needed to lose weight. She had gastric bypass and stopped snoring a few weeks later.

 

[Music City Mama]

I actually just recently did sleep study testing through Kaiser Permanente. For reference, I am a 27 year old female, on paper very healthy with no medical history. I finally, after too many months of protesting to my boyfriend that there was nothing wrong with me, went to visit my doctor to talk about my sleeping problems - night sweats, night terrors, sleep talking, snoring, and falling asleep in public places during the day and even while in conversation with people. My general practitioner referred me to the sleep clinic, and I was set up with a take-home test that tests for sleep apnea. (I didn't think I had sleep apnea, but apparently that is the first thing they want to potentially rule out.) The home test was negative. My GP referred me to a sleep specialist at the clinic. When meeting, the sleep specialist explained that the home test wasn't really designed for someone like me - I'm very petite and pretty young and not the typical patient who they test for sleep apnea. He referred me to a sleep clinic to do overnight and daytime sleep testing. He also warned me that in an extreme case, my drivers license could be taken away from me. I had to evaluate the risk and determine if the testing was worth it. I decided that ultimately, if I was going to endanger others, I would want to know and wouldn't want to drive.

I checked into the overnight clinic at 9 PM, and I had a private room to sleep in that night. I was hooked up to a bunch of wires on a box that I'd be carrying around with me for the next 16 hours.
The technician explained that one of the things they'd be watching in the night test is for apnea - if I had apnea, they would come into my room and give me CPAP, and I would not stay the next day for additional testing. I did snore on my back and woke up twice to the technician adjusting the plastic piece over my nostrils. I had very vivid dreams, but the testing showed that I actually slept very well overnight - 90% efficiency. I did not have sleep apnea and was not disqualified for the additional daytime testing. For the daytime test, they had me take 30 minute naps every 1.5-2 hours for 4 total naps. It was pretty stressful just laying there and trying to sleep on command for 30 minutes - I thought I didn't sleep at all. It turns out that I slept about 6 minutes each time. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia. It's similar to Narcolepsy, except I don't suddenly lose muscle control, and I don't fall into REM sleep. (Also, I get to keep my driver's license - but I should be very aware and cautious while driving and stop driving as soon as I feel sleepy.) As for treatment.... that's what we're working on now (trying medication). And still haven't gotten to the bottom of the night sweats, night terrors, and sleep talking... working on that, too. The diagnosis was a little scary - on one end, I'm kind of sad that there's something wrong with me- I'm so young... does this mean I will be on medication for the rest of my life? But then on the other side, it's kind of nice to know that I'm not just making things up. I'm not just a rude person who falls asleep while someone is talking because I'm bored. And I am young... if I get on top of this now, maybe I can get a handle on it and it won't be such a problem later in life.

Sorry you're having to deal with all of that. You know, I've suspected for years that I may have a mild form of narcolepsy. I know the at-home sleep test (to rule out apnea) will not diagnose that kind of thing, so part of me does want to just do the overnight test so we can really see what's going on. Although, I think my insomnia (which is why I'm having the sleep test) is hormone related and because I'm in this vicious cycle of not sleeping, I've developed anxiety over it. I've always dreamt a lot. When people say they don't remember what they dreamt about, I can't imagine such a thing. I always remember which makes me think I spend far too much time in REM sleep and don't get enough deep sleep. I also start dreaming upon falling asleep which is another sign. And I've had sleep paralysis off and on over the years. I do have daytime sleepiness, as well, but not enough to fall asleep in public.

 

[wombat_5606]

You do realize that the post you just answered is exactly what you are arguing against. The nephew HAD a sleep study to rule out apnea.

I'm not arguing against anything. In this instance, their first thought was sleep apnea. That's what I think Drs are doing all the time, instead of looking at his tonsils first. You have your opinion, I have mine.

 

[wombat_5606]

Oh, the horrors. Technology has gotten better so the medical profession has ordered more sleep studies. And because there is more testing, more sleep apnea has been caught. More lives have been saved. It is called medicine.

If you are so against the sleep study, make an ENT appointment yourself. All this angst over a simple test (home studies have become very good) is silly. Ignore the results if you don't believe in sleep apnea and pick up the phone and make an appointment with a local ENT to discuss your concerns.

This is beginning to sound like an anti-vax thread where science doesn't matter and conspiracy theories abound.

Look, I'm sorry you seem to be getting so upset about this conversation.

If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP, it's all good for you. But I have a right to question my treatment plan. I am doing exactly what I want to do about it and you don't need to concern yourself with my problems.

All I am trying to do is have a conversation about it. I have questions about the science and if the science is so solid, then there shouldn't be any problem with talking about it.

Let me ask you this, do you know your scores as to Central Apneas, Obstructive Apneas, Mixed Apneas, and Hypopneas? Do you have to have a bunch of any one of these or do you have to have at least one of these to be classified as having sleep apnea?

It is these kinds of things I'm questioning.

To equate this thread and some of it's poster to ani-vaxing is ludicrous.

 

[Hrhpd]

I'm not arguing against anything. In this instance, their first thought was sleep apnea. That's what I think Drs are doing all the time, instead of looking at his tonsils first. You have your opinion, I have mine.

Any doctor worth its salt will rule out the most obvious first. The most common reason for snoring is sleep apnea. There is not a doctor out there that would start doing more invasive tests without ruling out sleep apnea first.

If your car stopped on the side of the road, would you trust a mechanic who wanted to rip the engine apart to find the problem without checking the gas gauge first? Same difference. You go for the easy first, rule it out, and then go to the more obscure reasons.

Many anesthesiologists won't even do any kind of surgery these days without ruling out sleep apnea first. Lately, every person I know lately who has undergone surgery, whether hip surgery to abdominal surgery, had to have a pre-op sleep study done before the surgery to make sure they did not have sleep apnea. It has become as common as an EKG before surgery.

It is just common sense to rule out the most obvious first and sleep apnea is ruled out by having a sleep study done.

 

[sam_gordon]

How do you question a treatment plan when you haven't been diagnosed yet?

 

[Hrhpd]

Look, I'm sorry you seem to be getting so upset about this conversation.

To equate this thread and some of it's poster to ani-vaxing is ludicrous.

Not upset at all, just shaking my head in disbelief in all the angst over a non-invasive common test that is the gold standard for ruling out the most obvious reason for snoring.

And to quote you, you have your opinion, I have mine.

 

[wombat_5606]

Any doctor worth its salt will rule out the most obvious first. The most common reason for snoring is sleep apnea. There is not a doctor out there that would start doing more invasive tests without ruling out sleep apnea first.

If your car stopped on the side of the road, would you trust a mechanic who wanted to rip the engine apart to find the problem without checking the gas gauge first? Same difference. You go for the easy first, rule it out, and then go to the more obscure reasons.

Many anesthesiologists won't even do any kind of surgery these days without ruling out sleep apnea first. Lately, every person I know lately who has undergone surgery, whether hip surgery to abdominal surgery, had to have a pre-op sleep study done before the surgery to make sure they did not have sleep apnea. It has become as common as an EKG before surgery.

It is just common sense to rule out the most obvious first and sleep apnea is ruled out by having a sleep study done.

Well, you and I disagree with the sleep study being the least invasive.