You tell him you want a sleep test because you are worried that you have obstructive sleep apnea. And that you are experiencing symptoms that point to OSA. And that you know you have multiple risk factors for OSA, including the fact that you are overweight. And that you know OSA is a serious, but manageable condition. Hence, if you have it, you want to know about it so that you can start treating it.Guest wrote:Thanks guys. I think I should see my doctor and get a Sleep apnea test done. I mean why should I put this off? And what do I tell the doctor?
If you tell the doc you want a sleep test because you think you might have OSA and all the doc says is "Lose some weight", then politely but firmly tell the doc that you know you need to lose some weight, but that you also know losing weight is NOT likely to "fix" moderate-to-severe OSA. And reiterate you want a sleep test because your sleep is crappy and you have multiple risk factors for OSA and you have identifiable symptoms of OSA.If I already know he's just gonna look at my numbers and tell me to lose 30 pounds, do I bring up the fact I'm already working out really hard and eating healthy?
If the doc still won't refer you for a sleep test, then you need a new doc. Seriously.
The chances of a false negative on a sleep apnea test are NOT that great unless your OSA is very, very mild (i.e your untreated AHI is barely above 5.0). If you have OSA, then it shows up every time you fall asleep whether you remember it or not.Do I tell him that BEFORE he suggests that? I don't know where to start, it's a monumental thing to go to the doctor about this, it's a phobia. But then again it's my life. It's serious. But I am also apprehensive about the fact I'm so used to blood tests saying I'm fine. I will flip out if the sleep apnea test says I sleep really well when in fact that couldn't be further from the truth.
You're actually worried that you're going to get the best night sleep in years when you're sleeping in a strange place with wires attached to your head, your nose, your chest, your legs, and your finger and belts around your chest and abdomen?What if I sleep well that one day and the test says I'm doing good when that was like the best sleeping night in years? For instance I woke up today and actually feel better than 9 out of 10 times. Still not great, but less bad.
The usual (and valid) worry is: Will I get any sleep at all? But most of us do. And a diagnosis of OSA can be made with as little as 2 hours of highly fractured sleep in a six to eight hour "Time in Bed" window.
Or---you could ask about home sleep tests. They're cheaper, but less accurate since less data is gathered. But you're also sleeping in your own bed and that tends to make you sleep more "normally" than the first night of sleeping in a sleep lab.
Don't mention the weight. Don't talk about the exercise. Make the appointment and tell the receptionist you want to speak to the doctor about requesting a sleep test. And when you see the doctor and you have a chance to speak, start with: I'm here because I think I may have obstructive sleep apnea and I'd like to get a sleep test done.But here is the thing. I am nervous to talk to my doctor about this. I'm partially embarrassed and don't want to seem like a failure when I tell him I try so hard and it's not my fault. In the past, doctors used to tell me it was all about just living a healthy lifestyle but I never knew it might be apnea. I'm in my late twenties.
If the doc asks, "Why?" tell him the quality of your sleep is lousy and you've read enough about OSA to know that you have several risk factors (including your weight and neck size) and that you are experiencing several of the common symptoms of OSA (including waking up feeling like you're choking and your daytime fatigue).
If the doc suggests just losing the weight, tell him you're doing all you can, but you're tired and exhausted all the time and that while you know you need to lose weight, you also need to find out whether you have OSA. You might also point out that people with moderate-to-severe OSA have a difficult time losing weight until the OSA is treated with CPAP.
