I called the Doctor's Office and spoke to the receptionist

chunkyfrog wrote:And now we pause while the white van pulls up, and the people come out with butterfly nets.

if you're trying to catch TL, it better be a big net... she's got a big truck!

49er wrote:Enchanter,

Kudos to you for apologizing but do you understand why you have angered people? For example, Julie rightfully criticized you for not thanking people for their help. You don't seem to understand how frustrating it is to take the time to offer assistance to people only to be responded in a way that comes across as completely invalidating what they said even if that wasn't your intention. So yeah, while I agree that some of the posts are over the top, at the same time, I can understand the frustrations.

Also, while I understand the need to ask questions as a newbie, you don't seem to be paying attention to the answers and keep asking the same ones repeatedly. That can be very frustrating to people who have taken the time to initially respond to what you said.

It is also good that you understand that anxiety is contributing to making you desperate. Now the key for you is to figure out how to prevent that in the future either on your own or with some type of help that has been suggested. Not to sound like a cliche but I am sure you are aware that actions speak louder than words.

As one who also feels that being on psych meds wasted years of my life, I understand your frustration. But at the same time, you have to let go of the past as much as you can and focus on the present. If I remember correctly, you're supposed to call your doctor's office on Friday, right to see what the next step is. That is all you should be worrying about.

Anyway, good luck to you.

49er

I see. Yes, there is the anxiety and there is my sleep/physical problem. They can both overlap but at the same time are 2 different things. And the anxiety can make me overly worried about my problem and make me do things like ask the same question. But now I will wait and see what happens with the doctor and the test. I just hope that nothing crazy happens and ends up making me talk like a crazy guy again. But until then, I'll stop asking the same questions I was. Now just gotta wait and see what happens.

Good for you!

I asked this before enchanter but what is your age?? I had the same symptoms as you for almost 9 years and while cpap was a good thing it didn't fix my problem. Ended up being low T. There is a huge thread about that on here so I'm not going to delve into it

Enchanter wrote:

49er wrote:Enchanter,

I see. Yes, there is the anxiety and there is my sleep/physical problem. They can both overlap but at the same time are 2 different things. And the anxiety can make me overly worried about my problem and make me do things like ask the same question. But now I will wait and see what happens with the doctor and the test. I just hope that nothing crazy happens and ends up making me talk like a crazy guy again. But until then, I'll stop asking the same questions I was. Now just gotta wait and see what happens.

Lot's of us have been in your shoes and worse. Hang it there, buddy, we're pullin' for you.

Malibu wrote:I asked this before enchanter but what is your age?? I had the same symptoms as you for almost 9 years and while cpap was a good thing it didn't fix my problem. Ended up being low T. There is a huge thread about that on here so I'm not going to delve into it

29. So your problem is not fixed? what is your problem and how are you going to fix it? Do you have a solution or still searching?

Problem is fixed. Take TRT daily. Cpap took a couple of years to figure it out but it's dialed in now with the help of fellow cpap members. 29 is young for low T however it happens more than you think in the younger sector. I do know moderate exercising helps low T but to much exercise will send the number low. Google it. Interesting reading none the less

And kudos to you, 49er, for expressing kindness and understanding to him.

49er wrote:Enchanter,

Kudos to you for apologizing. . . .
I agree that some of the posts are over the top . . .
As one who also feels that being on psych meds wasted years of my life, I understand your frustration . . .
Anyway, good luck to you.

49er

Malibu wrote:Problem is fixed. Take TRT daily. Cpap took a couple of years to figure it out but it's dialed in now with the help of fellow cpap members. 29 is young for low T however it happens more than you think in the younger sector. I do know moderate exercising helps low T but to much exercise will send the number low. Google it. Interesting reading none the less

That's great to hear that you fixed the problem. Actually a number of years back while I was experiencing the same problems and even to a larger extent at times, I had my testosterone and DHEA tested and it was fine. I've had many things tested by multiple doctors and so far the only thing that anyone has found was when the tech found out my oxygen levels were low. And like I said, he wouldn't give me anymore details on that. So we have to wait and see. I feel that there's nothing wrong with my muscles or testosterone per say, but it's the blockage that I have in my breathing, neck, and head.

Enchanter,
Every once in awhile I still check this forum. It is a great site for information and support, but every once in awhile the regulars turn on someone. Once one person becomes negative, the rest of that group tends to join in.

An easy way to get information without antagonizing the people who tend to get hostile is to use the search engine and look up questions that have already been asked and answered. For example, there are tips on getting used to using cpaps at home.

Being diagnosed with OSA can be very frightening for some people, especially if you tend to obsess on things. I know that for me, anticipating a diagnosis is more difficult than dealing with that diagnosis once it is made. No one WANTS to have OSA, and at first the idea of sleeping with a cpap seems like a terrible thing. But it is not as awful as it seems at first. My husband swore he would never use a cpap, and he became even more adamant about that once I was diagnosed with complex apnea and started using my ASV. But his cardiologist finally insisted that he have a sleep study. The next morning, after having been given a cpap partway through the night, he was sold - he slept so well that he couldn't wait to get one for use at home.

As to your question about being put on cpap part way through the night: it depends on how low that oxygen level dropped. My brother was put onto cpap within an hour of his first study because his levels dropped into the 70's. The insurance companies require 2 hours on cpap before they accept a diagnosis of OSA and pay for the machine; but the cpap can be used at anytime after the study begins.

I'm afraid I was one to jump on the 'ugly' bandwagon and let my irritation get in the way of compassion. My apologies to enchanter and others exposed to the vile posts. It was very immature of me. Sorry.

Bons wrote: As to your question about being put on cpap part way through the night: it depends on how low that oxygen level dropped. My brother was put onto cpap within an hour of his first study because his levels dropped into the 70's. The insurance companies require 2 hours on cpap before they accept a diagnosis of OSA and pay for the machine; but the cpap can be used at anytime after the study begins.

Interesting. I didn't know this. So if the oxygen drops low enough, you don't need 2 hours of sleep? But do you need any, or does it not matter? I guess he was putting a Cpap on me before making the diagnosis, just to help me sleep?

The way I would think it happened was that you did fall asleep (even though I know you don't really believe it!) and during that period your oxygen level dropped a significant amount. How much was that? I don't know. I suspect that different labs have different standards. I don't think your oxygen would have dropped without you falling asleep.

There are probably more than one trigger that demands the tech put the patient on CPAP. Very low oxygen probably gets you on CPAP almost immediately, while less severe readings over a more protracted time gets you on CPAP later.

Just depends on the specific rules the lab is using I guess.

Enchanter, the important thing to realize is that the machines can't and don't lie. What the doctor will get will be hard data - every single breath, brainwave, blood pressure, leg movement, chest expansion, eye twitch, etc. will be recorded and available to the doctor.

This is objective, factual data - not opinion or interpretation, which is the doctor's job. The person running the study has no control over the data generated. That is the whole reason behind the sleep study. The people at the sleep study are technicians. Their specialized training is how to hook up sensors and start and stop equipment that is programmed and runs automatically.

Hang in there, cooperate, do what they ask of you. Don't question them or try to figure out why they are doing what they are doing. They have procedures that they must follow. These procedures tell them, if this happens, do that. If something else happens, do this other thing. Remember that they do these tests to people every single night all year long and are very good at it.

Your job is just to complete the study as best you can and then get the result from the doctor. It should be somewhat easier from you this time, if only because you know what to expect now.

Best of luck to you!

Enchanter:
Here's a heads up so that you will not be surprised by how things are likely to play out.

You will most likely NOT hear directly from your doctor, or be asked to schedule an immediate appointment for a consult. Most likely you will get a call from the doctor's office or a medical supplier, informing you that you have been prescribed cpap and told where to pick it up, or asked where the prescription should be sent. That is because the doctor has all the needed data and does not need to see you before it can be prescribed. Instead, s/he will want to see you (and your data) a few weeks after you start using it at home.

When you pick up the prescription and the cpap, specify that you want a machine that is fully data capable. Ask the good folk here what machines those are, and do not accept a machine that will not give you data. There are some machines that do not record your AHI or anything, and so they cannot indicate whether or not the cpap is actually helping you. Also be sure that the supplier helps you to fit the mask using your machine at the pressure which is prescribed. When you get it home and start using it, you have a 30 period to exchange that mask if it does not suit you...you may need to let the supplier know that you know that, as some suppliers (DME's) don't like customers to know that fact.