Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
SloHustle

Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by SloHustle » Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:39 pm

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I'll have been on CPAP for a decade a month from now. I'm still using my original ResMed Tango (remember that one?) with a Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit 405 mask (don't think they make them any more). I'm so jealous reading about the new machines you all have but, until this breaks, I can't get Medicare to buy me another and, all I'll have is an adjustable blower with adjustable humidity (if they even make something that simple anymore).

Here's my problem. I recently went to my PCP asking for sleep meds because I was only sleeping 3 hours a night. I'm currently waiting on pathology reports for 2 different types of cancer so, I was relatively certain that it was an anxiety problem. The nurse I saw (the doc was off) insisted on setting me up for a sleep study in case I needed a pressure change. Well, they had a cancellation the next day and I went for what they called a "split study" (first few hours without CPAP and the rest of the night with it). I slept very badly and they never hooked me up to a machine. I took all the paperwork I had gotten on my 2007 studies so they could review it.

They called me almost 2 weeks later to tell me I don't have sleep apnea anymore. I explained to them that I had just come back from a visit to my sister's 2 weeks before the test, had forgotten my CPAP when I left and it had to be mailed to me. That was 3 of the worst nights sleep I had ever had. I just wanted to ask everyone if this is possible. I know that for some people, if they lose weight, it can sometimes eliminate apnea. I weighed 3 pounds MORE than when I was originally tested. I realize that some people can be cured with surgery but, I have had no surgery. Is it possible that obstructive sleep apnea can just spontaneously disappear? From what I've read, I'm doubting it but, if anyone has any anecdotal stories, I'll listen (although that won't relieve my apneas, hypopneas and restless legs).

My primary concern is that my machine will break and I will need another. Now that I miraculously (sarcasm) have resolved my disease, Medicare will not pay for a machine. Spoke with one lady at Premier who said if I could get my PCP to write a prescription I could purchase one on my own. Another call and another lady said she contacted the folks who sold me my first machine and they are happy to sell me another (also self pay). I have not been able to speak to the doctor who interpreted my recent study but will call again and see if that's possible. Can anyone suggest questions I may ask of this individual? They have every scrap of paper I was given in 2007. I gave them the original sleep study papers I received which is amazingly detailed (polysomnography summary). It cross-references everything: arousals, apneas, hypoxias, number of events for each sleep position. leg movements, Rem and non-Rem sleep, Desaturations; there's just no end of it; 3 full pages single-spaced of data. The second study (while on a CPAP machine) was a narrative Dr's report without all the technical data. They made a big deal out of the fact that there was no doctors narrative report to go with the first study. Since they have a Dr. under contract to interpret these summary's, can't he look at it? Or, for that matter, the Dr. who interpreted the first study has his name clearly marked on it. Sorry to make this post endless but I'm extremely frustrated and it helps to vent. Suggestions?

User avatar
kteague
Posts: 7768
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: West and Midwest

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by kteague » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:25 am

I think it would help clear things up if you get the detailed report from your current study. You mentioned trouble sleeping, so I'm wondering if you got enough of the different stages of sleep and positions to have conclusively ruled out the presence of sleep apnea. That would have to include REM stage sleep while supine to have been considered to capture your potential worst case scenario. It is common for apneas to be worse in REM, and worse when back sleeping. Put those together and you get that worst case scenario. Any time that wasn't present in my studies, the doctor's report termed the study technically suboptimal. That would mean your results may not be conclusive. There's a big difference between a study showing you don't have sleep apnea and a study not able to capture sleep apnea due to sleep interferences. Speaking of sleep interferences, you mentioned restless legs and limb movements. Check your report for the presence of limb movements and those details. They can mask OSA if arousals from the movements during the study are so frequent you don't get to sleep long enough for the sleep apnea to manifest. So, get that report and see what's in it and go from there.

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions

SloHustle

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by SloHustle » Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:02 am

Thanks so much for your reply with quite a few items I hadn't thought about. Yes, I was definitely going to ask for a copy of the current study. I also found the Dr. that did the decade old study and will call him to get his take on the current study and its validity.

Funny you should mention the supine position. For the past 5 years, I've been sleeping on my side in a fetal position due to herniated disks. They insisted I lay on my back after 1 1/2 hours in but, after 45 minutes they realized I'd never get back to sleep so they allowed me to resume my usual sleep position.

I think your suggestions are apt and will certainly bring them up when I speak to someone in authority. Thanks again.

User avatar
zoocrewphoto
Posts: 3732
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:34 pm
Location: Seatac, WA

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by zoocrewphoto » Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:10 am

If you aren't able to clear this up and would like to get a newer machine, keep checking craigslist and cheap machines will come along. I got my backup Resmed S9 for $200 via craigslist. I just saw one last week for $100. Usually, they are in the $250-300 range. The newer machines are a bit more, but also available on craigslist. If you check every few days, eventually something good will come along.

_________________
Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by Julie » Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:34 am

Secondwindcpap.com - very good to deal with!

User avatar
SleepyBobR
Posts: 312
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:42 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by SleepyBobR » Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:00 am

I suspect that you just didn't sleep well enough to exhibit symptoms during the sleep study but I have personal experience with a case just like yours. A friend of mine struggled with CPAP therapy for several years trying to get a good night's sleep. Finally, a follow up sleep study revealed no OSA. Was the original diagnosis incorrect or did the condition cure itself? Or does he still have SA and is going untreated? No way to know but he has been sleeping fine (so he claims) with no treatment ever since. It's been about 3 or 4 years now since he ditched his CPAP machine. SA is a complicated ailment and the situation is made worse by the widely varying quality of medical care. The machines are wonderful but sleep studies and "sleep" doctors are a crap shoot at best and a Gong show at worst. IMHO.

_________________
Mask: Simplus Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her @ 7-10

SloHustle

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by SloHustle » Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:12 am

Thanks, everyone for your suggestions. I never would have thought that a prescription item would be available on Craig's but yes, I did see several from individuals albeit old postings. I'll be sure to check daily. Also will follow up with the current study interpreter after having original doc look over the recent sleep study. Although I've looked over the site many times, I never suspected I would get this much help so quickly. Thank you and God Bless.

User avatar
jagzoo
Posts: 340
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:14 pm
Location: Nh

Re: Wow! My Obstructive Sleep Apnea Just Went Away

Post by jagzoo » Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:28 pm

New XPAPs are also available on Amazon without prescription. Also any MD or Dentist can write a valid prescription. I also don't understand why Medicare won't replace your 10 yr old machine - especially if your prescriber will state that it is no longer giving you adequate therapy. Have you tried?

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Heated Tubing; mask sometimes is TAP PAP mask; now P10 nasal pillows; use Sleepyhead software
APAP 9-12