Sleep Apnea - sleep studies

[ISUalways]

I’ve failed all my sleep studies. Could never get comfortable with CPAP after trying different mask types with no luck. Moved to an oral appliance which is like a mouth guard that moves out your lower jaw a little which opens up your airway. Very comfortable but I failed that sleep study as well. Ugh
Now I’ll going thru all the steps for getting an Inspire unit embedded in my chest to send a small amount of voltage to my tongue to keep my airway open. So all TBD.

 

[CtownCyclone]

I’ve failed all my sleep studies. Could never get comfortable with CPAP after trying different mask types with no luck. Moved to an oral appliance which is like a mouth guard that moves out your lower jaw a little which opens up your airway. Very comfortable but I failed that sleep study as well. Ugh
Now I’ll going thru all the steps for getting an Inspire unit embedded in my chest to send a small amount of voltage to my tongue to keep my airway open. So all TBD.

This sounds like the first step in becoming a Terminator.

 

[jmb]

If you do a sleep study, you will get a cpap. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t received one. Do you need a prescription for one or can you just buy one?

Prescription required

 

[shadow]

My dentist had me do a sleep study based upon the tooth erosion on my teeth. I ended up getting a mouth appliance that pulls my jaw forward to open up my airways better which seems to work. My weight impacts things to some extent too.

 

[Frak]

I snore like a bear. I kind of resisted the study at first, but I was getting close to having to move into the spare bedroom. Got the take home test and they prescribed the cpap. Snoring is gone. I don’t know that I’m sleeping a ton better, other than the wife elbowing me multiple times a night isn’t happening any more.

They do make you jump through a bunch of hoops, but it’s worth it.

 

[jmb]

Sleep apnea is very serious. Get the study done if needed.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I just had a sleep study done back in August (I was actually due for one years ago, but the beginning of COVID shut everything down, including nonessential doctors' appointments). For me it was in-clinic through a different branch of the same company my doctor is associated with.

As others are saying, prescriptions are required. It's not just a matter of owning the machine and attachments; the machine has to be set to the proper setting. Have the pressure too high and you're pushing an unnecessary force of air through your nose (I use nose pillows instead of full mask), which can be quite uncomfortable. Have a pressure too low, the CPAP isn't doing its job, and if it's way too low you might as well not be using a CPAP at all. And, as I stated earlier, I was 3-4 years overdue for my new sleep study, and in that time my pressure units had become 3-4 units too low... and it being that low meant I was having 80ish palpitations (is that the correct word? what's the word for "incidents of not breathing?") in an hour. Just those 3-4 units brought be back to under 1 an hour.

So yes, all of this stuff matters, which is why as much as it's a pain in the ass, it's best doing what your doctor tells you to do.

 

[clonechemist]

Crazy enough my 3 year old was scheduled for a sleep study this morning.

He has pretty classic apnea sysymptom

I don’t know how it started for you, but our 7 year old just had his tonsils out basically due to sleep apnea systems (he snored like and old man and woke up and needed a parent every. Single. Night.)

He’s still recovering a bit but last 2 nights he’s slept through the night, so so far so good.

 

[nfrine]

Same here. The wife was NOT happy with the outcome. You’d think she’d be thrilled that my snoring is not related to a horrible disease…

Be careful...she may figure out a way to stop your snoring permanently if it gets too bad.

 

[everyyard]

There is a high probability of being treated for sleep apnea if you do a sleep study because sleep studies are generally done on people suspected of having sleep apnea. But, they are occasionally negative. Some people just snore, without apnea.

 

[KnappShack]

I don’t know how it started for you, but our 7 year old just had his tonsils out basically due to sleep apnea systems (he snored like and old man and woke up and needed a parent every. Single. Night.)

He’s still recovering a bit but last 2 nights he’s slept through the night, so so far so good.

We think that will be the next step, but he has some other issues too. The doc wants the study to double check.

Will probably be an overnight procedure when he finally goes under the knife. I have nights where I wake up breathing hard. Typically proceeded by a dream where I'm in a cave in or smothered in some way. Not the greatest way to wake up.

I'm a bit skeptical about a sleep study on a 3 year old, but the doc has Mrs KnappShack convinced

 

[MeanDean]

Had the take home test. Showed I had sleep apnea. They scheduled in hospital test and determined I needed CPAP and the pressure prescribed.

Found a mask that worked for me. I felt the pressure was too high (14). I asked my GP if we could try it on 12 and he approved that. My results were unchanged so stayed on 12 for a while. Then I lost a bunch of weight and asked if it could be dialed down again (to 10). Again, my results were unchanged.

Most modern models give you an almost immediate readout on an app the next morning to let you know how your seal was overnight, how many episodes you had, and how many hours/minutes you were wearing it. That info also gets forwarded to you doctor.

In my case, after the test, my GP is my CPAP doctor. I have a buddy who has a separate specialist organization that does his CPAP support, not his GP.

Studies show sleep apnea left untreated can lead to strokes or AFIB. I had been diagnosed with AFIB about 9 months before my sleep apnea test. Perhaps it (AFIB) could have been avoided if diagnosed sooner.

 

[ExCyment]

If apnea is leading to low oxygen in your blood as you sleep (hypoxemia), you should prob. try to do something about it, esp. since it may factor into #1 killer heart disease. Been very frustrating for me at Mayo to get right gear and right settings. If CPAP isn't working out, insist on a different specialist. First 2 I had sucked, third far better, could actually listen to and grasp what I was saying.

I've found the lack of listening true in general in the medical field.

 

[CyclonePigskin]

I have three ResMed units. The units at home and at our vacation home have water reservoirs. The third is a portable unit with a rechargeable battery. I use it when we travel and stay in a hotel/motel. I miss the water reservoirs when I have to use the portable.

Insurance helped pay for the 1st one. I bought a refurbished unit for the 2nd and I think my insurance may have helped pay for that one too as I’d had the 1st for several years and “qualified” for a replacement. I can’t remember whether I just paid for the portable one or if insurance helped pay for It too.

I’ve been using a CPAP since probably 2014. It really makes a difference in the quality of my sleep.

 

[RLD4ISU]

My mom has vascular dementia. She was (finally) diagnosed in her late 60s with sleep apnea and rarely wore her CPAP. In 2017, and the age of 72, she had her first stroke & was diagnosed with vascular dementia. I wonder sometimes if she had been diagnosed earlier with sleep apnea & actually worn her CPAP as she should’ve if that would’ve prevented the vascular dementia.

In 2019 I had an at home sleep study. I wasn’t snoring loud, but my husband noticed I would quit breathing during the night. Turned out I stopped breathing 25-72 times a night and my oxygen was down to 86%. Prior to that I had contributed being tired during the day & crappy sleep to thyroid & menopause issues. Best thing I did was getting that sleep study & CPAP.

 

[dafarmer]

It is called c-crap. Tried 3 different variations and now use a dental device.

 

[clones_jer]

it's a silly thing to worry about at this point but I largely sleep on my stomach (to avoid snoring), sometimes my side, kinda wondering if I can sleep on my back if that's required for the study.

do they knock you out with something?

 

[simply1]

so what style/brand do you have? did you try any different ones first?

I’d probably avoid Phillips if they still make them.

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1247774390/cpap-philips-sleep-apnea-injury-lawsuit

My mom likes her resmed pretty well.

 

[JRE1975]

I have been using a CPAP machine for over 30 years. It changed my life. I used to drive a lot for work and would have to park in a rest area to take a nap before it was diagnosed. It was hard to get use to, but I went with a nose mask because it is easier to keep it tight to give better results.

Couple of comments based on what I have read here-

You don't need to replace the hoses that often, I do it every 6 -9 months, I just rinse them out every month. The mask I change out every month.

The newer ResMed models that have variable speeds based on what is senses and are very good compared to the old machines I had. Very quiet.

Variable speeds come in handy with alcohol consumption, it does affect how you sleep with a CPAP machine.

Overall, getting the apnea problem solved significantly improved my health and life, and my wife will tell you it saved our marriage!

 

[jmb]

Had the take home test. Showed I had sleep apnea. They scheduled in hospital test and determined I needed CPAP and the pressure prescribed.

Found a mask that worked for me. I felt the pressure was too high (14). I asked my GP if we could try it on 12 and he approved that. My results were unchanged so stayed on 12 for a while. Then I lost a bunch of weight and asked if it could be dialed down again (to 10). Again, my results were unchanged.

Most modern models give you an almost immediate readout on an app the next morning to let you know how your seal was overnight, how many episodes you had, and how many hours/minutes you were wearing it. That info also gets forwarded to you doctor.

In my case, after the test, my GP is my CPAP doctor. I have a buddy who has a separate specialist organization that does his CPAP support, not his GP.

Studies show sleep apnea left untreated can lead to strokes or AFIB. I had been diagnosed with AFIB about 9 months before my sleep apnea test. Perhaps it (AFIB) could have been avoided if diagnosed sooner.

Afib is one of several cardiac impacts that sleep apnea can contribute to. I reiterate to everyone if someone in your life is concerned and shares that you stop breathing etc don't **** around with contemplating a sleep study. Get it done and determine the best course forward. Sleep apnea is deadly. It nearly cost me my life.