Sleep study..FINALLY

After suspecting apnea (even after a negative home study) I bought a cpap about 4 months ago. Got lots of good help here and used it religiously for months but my symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, light headed) never got materially better.

Insurance finally agreed to a sleep study and the results came in today. Very mild/no apnea UNLESS on my back and then up to 30 hypopneas per hour.

Dr suggested a titration study but frankly, the last 3 nights I've slept without the cpap and I feel as good (maybe better actually) than when I was using it.

Thoughts? Thanks


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The 30 events per hour is really a significant number. Based on your statement though as long as you never sleep on your back it should not be an issue.

I doubt that is the case.

This forum can help you in many ways. Just give us detailed data.

The best is from SleepyHead software if your CPAP has a data card.

Just a question on the test report.. Does it reflect a significant chunk of REM stage while on your side? If so, it's probably pretty reflective of your usual sleep. If not, you can't be sure you are ok on your side without CPAP. I think that's a major factor in your decisions going forward. Secondly, is back sleeping important to you? (Some people have joint issues that make back sleeping necessary.) Are you willing to take steps to assure you cannot roll onto your back? If you can be reasonably assured your sleep apnea is positional, I would understand you not proceeding with CPAP. Something keeps nagging at me though. Do you describe yourself as a side sleeper? If you don't have events on your side, why have you been symptomatic? Either you've been back sleeping or you do have events on your side. Now, that's on the assumption your symptoms are from OSA. Not sure that's been determined. At any rate, I'd hold onto that machine for a while.

kteague wrote:Just a question on the test report.. Does it reflect a significant chunk of REM stage while on your side? If so, it's probably pretty reflective of your usual sleep. If not, you can't be sure you are ok on your side without CPAP. I think that's a major factor in your decisions going forward. Secondly, is back sleeping important to you? (Some people have joint issues that make back sleeping necessary.) Are you willing to take steps to assure you cannot roll onto your back? If you can be reasonably assured your sleep apnea is positional, I would understand you not proceeding with CPAP. Something keeps nagging at me though. Do you describe yourself as a side sleeper? If you don't have events on your side, why have you been symptomatic? Either you've been back sleeping or you do have events on your side. Now, that's on the assumption your symptoms are from OSA. Not sure that's been determined. At any rate, I'd hold onto that machine for a while.

I haven't seen the report yet. The morning after the study the tech that watched me said she saw no events at all. And that when I slept on my side my sleep was great.

Dr called me today after reviewing everything and said that there was nothing when on my side but significant hypopneas when on my back.

I'm happy in any sleep position but I'm guessing (as I did in my sleep study) I end up on my sides and back.

He suggested thinking about an oral appliance...


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