3rd Sleep Test for Narcolepsy

galilee416 · Post by **galilee416** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:39 pm

Ok - here's my brief story. 2 years ago I tested positive for OSA. I received a CPAP and started at pressure setting of 4 (I am about 5ft 9in 180lbs). Worked fine and I saw improvement. After about 6 months I went to pressure of 7. That made a huge difference - I felt GREAT! . After about a year on that I went to 9. That seemed to be difficult to exhale against. I asked my dr. if I could go to bipap which I did. I have had that about 3 or so months. I have steadily declined in my sleep. I now have feelings of exhaustion during the day that are as bad if I weren't' using the machine at all. I am now going in for another study. I honestly think I am having apnea attacks at night and I don't know it because I am on the machine. I don't see me having narcolepsy because I am so exhausted when I wake up. I have no problems using Bipap. Can you get used to the machine and build a tolerance? My dr. doesn't want to increase my pressure anymore. Now that I have the BiPap I am all for another pressure increase. Perhaps if he sees that I am having apnea attacks at night, he'll increase it?

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:16 pm

have you thought about using apap?

[quote="galilee416"]Ok - here's my brief story. 2 years ago I tested positive for OSA. I received a CPAP and started at pressure setting of 4 (I am about 5ft 9in 180lbs). Worked fine and I saw improvement. After about 6 months I went to pressure of 7. That made a huge difference - I felt GREAT! . After about a year on that I went to 9. That seemed to be difficult to exhale against. I asked my dr. if I could go to bipap which I did. I have had that about 3 or so months. I have steadily declined in my sleep. I now have feelings of exhaustion during the day that are as bad if I weren't' using the machine at all. I am now going in for another study. I honestly think I am having apnea attacks at night and I don't know it because I am on the machine. I don't see me having narcolepsy because I am so exhausted when I wake up. I have no problems using Bipap. Can you get used to the machine and build a tolerance? My dr. doesn't want to increase my pressure anymore. Now that I have the BiPap I am all for another pressure increase. Perhaps if he sees that I am having apnea attacks at night, he'll increase it?

galilee416 · Post by **galilee416** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:26 am

What is the difference between APAP and Bi-Pap? I am very comfortable with the Bipap. It shuts off during the exhale which is great.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:32 am

I'm confused....

What does this have to do with the Topic? (Third test?)

- JB

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:24 am

Perhaps if he sees that I am having apnea attacks at night, he'll increase it?

Some machines - all apap are a case in point, and also some bi-paps - have software that will let the user see how they are effecting her apneas. In order to see if galilee416 has apeneas at her present pressure, she needs a machine, and software to report it.
Hence - have you tried an apap (that will report the night's apneas). Or have you tried any machine with reporting software?

O.

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:33 am

ahujudybear wrote:I'm confused....

What does this have to do with the Topic? (Third test?)

- JB

me too.... bait and switch

ron

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:17 pm

I am now going in for another study. I honestly think I am having apnea attacks at night and I don't know it because I am on the machine. I don't see me having narcolepsy because I am so exhausted when I wake up

Seems very clear me.
O.

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:24 pm

ozij wrote:
Seems very clear me.
O.

I was partly just being a little silly, but by the subject I did expect to see some discussion specific to a special test for narcolepsy. In reading, and re-reading the initial post the discussion revolves around standard sleep testing and CPAP therapy with no specific reference back to narcolepsy testing.

Ron

galilee416 · Post by **galilee416** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:55 pm

Ok - I'll redo my post. I apologize for the confusion. Oh, and I am a 30 year old male by the way...
I had 1 test and was diagnosed w/ OSA. Was on a CPAP for about a year and a 1/2. When the pressure was at 9, I asked for BiPap b/c of the trouble exhaling. Now that I am on the Bi-Pap, I am progressively getting worse. When I contacted my dr., he said I might have narcolepsy - thus that is why he is sending me in for my third sleep study -a 2 part study (One night and all the next day). During this study, they will see if I am having apneas at night(part 1), then the next day (part 2) they will monitor how fast I fall asleep as they will have me take naps during the day. I believe that when they monitor me at night they will find that I am having apneas, and that it has nothing to do with narcolepsy. Ok - I said all that to ask - has anyone ever been on a CPAP/Bipap had great results, and then gradually had the treatment become ineffective?

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:41 pm

OHHH! I get it!....

You are about to go in for your FIRST test for Narcolepsy?! (I was wondering why you would have to have three such tests.)

Thanks for the clarification!
- JB

JiEmiN · Post by **JiEmiN** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:56 pm

Bilevel machines are for double-pressure support right?
If i'm not wrong, an increase in EPAP will give you better apnea relief.

Anyway, why should you be using a bilevel when you've gotten used to a CPAP? Should just stick out with CPAP or APAP for sleep apnea.

Oh, VPAP III series(bilevel machines) do give apnea readings.

3rd Sleep Test for Narcolepsy

3rd Sleep Test for Narcolepsy

Re: 3rd Sleep Test for Narcolepsy

NarcOlepSy?