sleep apnea test ended in emergency.

debby9999 · Post by **debby9999** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:53 pm

Never had any idea I could have sleep apnea. Went on a trip with a girl friend and she woke me up frantic during the night and said she thought I had stopped breathing. She said I snored worse than her husband. So, I had the test last Friday. During the night both techs came running in hollering my name and shaking me and put me on pure oxygen for about 8-10 mins. Then they put a cpap machne on me for the rest of the night. I had a hard time breathing, because my sinuses were clogged up and they put a band around my head to keep my mouth closed. It felt like hanging my head out a car window doing around 40 mph and trying to breathe through my nose! It's Thursday and I still haven't heard from the sleep center or my doctor. I was afraid to go to sleep Saturday night.
Does anyone use the bi-level machines that hold back the air while you exhale? and does anyone use a nasal thing like the Bravo mask?

What I'm wondering is - do the sleep centers sell you the cpap machine and would they do that just to scare you into buying one??

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:03 pm

You need to call your doc and get this resolved tomorrow if you can.

The band was probably a chin strap. You might need some kind of full face mask instead of a nasal mask or nasal pillows. Do some looking online tonight at mask so that if you get the word to get the machine, you can get this treatment going as soon as possible.

A bipap offers exhale relief. It is up to your doctor to script one. There is some other smaller forms of exhale relief in cflex (aflex also) as well EPR.

Call your doc ASAP, talk to the nurse/ asst, and get this process going. If you needed O2 during the night, something big is going on and you don't want to put off treatment any longer.

debby9999 · Post by **debby9999** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:04 pm

When I asked the tech what was wrong, she just said she could not discuss any of my symptoms or anything that happened, but I should contact my doctor first thing Monday morning. I did and was given his nurse to talk to. I told her about the sleep test and what happened and she calmly said, "Well, we won't have the results back for a week or so". I said, so what if I die before then? She said that was highly unlikely. So, I'm still waiting and trying to read everything I can on it.

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:07 pm

Debby, the sleep center was not trying to scare you, they would need a doctor's prescription to sell you an xPAP machine so they wouldn't benefit from your fear.

It sounds like your apneas were such that they resulted in a lowering of the oxygen saturation in your blood. That is not a good thing, as your organs rely on a steady stream of oxygen delivered by your blood.

If you are frequently congested you may have better luck with a full face mask instead of a nasal mask.

I use a BiPAP machine and it does become easier to exhale against the pressure that is needed to keep your airway open.

I would call the doctor's office and find out where your Rx is. If they have not received the sleep study report, I would call the center where you had it done and ask them to fax it to your doctor. Don't be afraid to be a bit of a pest, it is your health.

BTW, I remember experiencing the same fear right after my sleep studies. I was afraid that if I fell asleep I would stop breathing and never wake. But, I did. And realized that my body had been waking me up, without my knowing it, for years, in order to breathe. Try to sleep on your side as much as you can, because for most people, sleeping supine increases the likelihood of apneas.

While you are waiting on your doctor's office, you might want to click on the yellow light bulb at the top of this page and read some of the collective wisdom of this forum. There is a lot to learn!

Susan

RiverDave · Post by **RiverDave** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:07 pm

Debby,

Click on the lightbulb at the top of the page. Lots of good information there.

Good Luck,

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:08 pm

debby9999 wrote:During the night both techs came running in hollering my name and shaking me and put me on pure oxygen for about 8-10 mins.

It sounds like your blood oxygen level dropped to a dangerously low level.

You need to discuss this with a physician ASAP!

Cheers,

Bill

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:08 pm

Push the nurse - tell them you were told to call Monday morning - you did what you were told.

Call the lab and tell them the nurse is not getting you help. Get the doc at the sleep lab to call your doc with what you need. That week can be shortened big time if needed.

Again, if this was an emergency last week, it isn't any less of one now.

PUSH some buttons - make some calls.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:11 pm

For your own sake, please don't accept the nurse's response and just wait. Many doctors don't know that members of their staff do this until it is brought to their attention. I've had two sleep tests. Neither one ended in a medical emergency. I"m not trying to alarm you, but this is something that needs to be answered right now. You have the right to know and I would make a visit to the doctor if I couldn't get him on the phone. It's highly unlikely you will win the lottery or get struck by lightning but who wants to fool with the odds when it's your health. Don't let them brush you off.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:28 pm

Hi Debbie,

You can loan a cpap machine first without buying one for urgent use. I was tested with 76seconds without breathing....they sure scare....but I was once a good underwater diver years ago. Not a record holder but good enough to scare them away. You need to talk to your doctor asap and hire a cpap if needed. In cant understand sleep apnea serious as I am one.

Take good care....sleep apnea is not a joke.

Mckooi

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:28 pm

Debby oh wow sounds pretty scary. If your apnea is as bad as that they may probably rush your test through the interpretation. Oxygen desaturation is a serious thing. I don't believe they would of come in to put you on Oxygen unless it was real. I know I was told they almost put me on Oxygen made me scared to sleep for the next week till I got my machine (rushed because my Apnea was very severe) My Oxygen went down to 59 during my sleep study. It was bad enough that they never turned me on my back and I was only "asleep" for about an hour and a half (Never felt like I was asleep I thought they never could of gotten any data.) My AHI was 150, and my tech said she was on the edge of her chair during the entire time. There is still debate if they should add Oxygen to my BiPAP, I have a full Titration set up on the 3rd of December to find out, and to tweak my pressures, since they said they didn't find a pressure setting that handled all the events that they wanted and kept my O2 up enough.

If you do get a BiPAP, I totally would suggest you request your Dr ask for an Auto, Mine is a Respironics M Series Auto BiPAP with Bi-Flex, I like it but I don't know much about any of the other most people suggest you not get the integrated Heated Humidifier and get a Fisher & Paykel HC 150. I like my integrated one, but there have been leaks with others water tanks if you open them to often to clean them. The good thing about the F&P 150 is that they will work with any CPAP machine.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:31 pm

Call your doctor's office and ask who the office manager is. When you have that person's name, ask to talk to her or him. Tell her/him that it turned into an emergency situation and that you need to deal with this right away and want to talk with the doctor about how to get treatment, oxygen, etc.

I had a scary diagnosis and couldn't get anyone in the large drs office to help after waiting and repeated phone calls. Someone suggested I ask for the office manager and I got results quickly.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:42 pm

My doc called the sleep center the morning after my test and got the hand written draft of my report faxed to him and wrote my script, called me to come pick it up and I had a machine by 1 oclock the next day. They eventually sent him the typed and prettied up copy of my sleep study about a week later. It can be done when it needs to be.

Sounds like in your case it needs to be done. Get to someone that can do it.

Jerry

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:12 pm

I'm inclined to agree w/the others. If your 02 sats dropped that low that the tech rushed in and started you on 02 and your friend was so terrified as you say I absolutely do NOT understand why you weren't at the very least ordered 02 and at least a temporary CPAP the very next day. It CAN be done.

By all means, call the sleep lab tomorrow and ask to speak to the sleep lab manager.

Meanwhile you should give serious consideration to sleeping in a recliner to night and/or packed w/pillows to keep you off your back tonight. Good luck and God bless!

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:24 pm

Like everyone else already said .. you should try and get in contact with your doctor as soon as you can.

In the mean time you should try and sleep in a recliner and if that won't work try and sleep on your side and avoid sleeping on your back.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:00 pm

What they all said, Debby.

O.

sleep apnea test ended in emergency.

sleep apnea test ended in emergency.

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