Meeting with Doc to Get Sleep Study Results Tomorrow

[kritoke]

Finally meeting with the doctor tomorrow to discuss the results of the sleep study I did (there was no mask/cpap testing). Any recommendations on things I need to bring or advice on what to ask? Sleep technician saw hypopnea and a little bit of apnea, but that's the extent of my knowledge at this point from the sleep study.

[yaconsult]

I am surprised that the tech told you anything at all - that's not his job. It's up to the doctor to interpret the data collected from the equipment by the technician.

The doctor will tell you whether you have sleep apnea or not and, if so, how severe it is and whether you need to be prescribed cpap. Ask any questions you have about his diagnosis and why he made it are based on the data sent to him by the lab.

If he says you do need a cpap machine, then the critical part is getting a good, full data, auto cpap machine from one of the two leading manufacturers, Resmed or Respironics, that is supported by the wonderful free SleepyHead software. But that is all premature until you get your diagnosis from the doctor. Good luck!

[Sir NoddinOff]

Echoing what others have said, here's a reasonably up-to-date database that tells you if a prospective machine has data capability... yes, even a few of the newest models are NOT data capable, sad to say. Some other features are covered also:

https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment/cpapmachines

[kritoke]

Thanks for the advice. Pretty much sounds like what I assumed regarding the two main brands. The technician apparently has been doing this stuff for a decade or more, so has a lot of experience I assume with this stuff, but ya, it wasn't her job to diagnose me. Small throat, short neck, tonsil in the way is what the doctor told me in my first visit, saying he would predict I either have apnea or will have it at some point. I guess the take away is, don't settle on a machine until I research it thoroughly and don't settle with a DME that is trying to screw you. Since they didn't do a mask on me duing the study, I assume there is a chance I may have to take another study for titration if they saw enough instances per hour.

[JDS74]

What I didn't do in a similar circumstance was be prepared with questions.

1) Ask for a copy of the sleep study report.

2) Ask the doctor to walk you through the report and explain the terminology and the meaning of the results in it.

3) If the report concludes that you do have an apnea problem the should be treated, ask about what is the next step. Sometimes a titration study is scheduled, sometimes they prescribe an auto cpap for a few weeks to see how well such a machine can treat (or not treat) your condition.

4) If there is going to be a "home titration", ask about what masks are available and how will they be fitted, etc. You should have some help from a respiratory therapist in selecting and fitting a mask.

5) Again, if the diagnosis is treatable sleep apnea, ask the doctor when the time comes to prescribe a machine, will he include in the prescription that the machine be fully data capable and report on apneas, hypopneas, flow limitations, breathing data, etc. Will he write the prescription to include cpap manufacturer of the patients choice so you can choose? Will he write the prescription to include cpap mask of the patient's choice? And finally, will he give you your own copy of the scrips so you can choose the DME of your choice so you will have a chance to interview the providers and select one that will work with you and will supply the machine of your choice?

[kritoke]

Met with the doctor, he gave me several print outs. Basically hit an AHI of 47 and oxygen levels got as low as 83% but remained mostly at 94 and below. They are going to try to get me an auto pap without another study if the insurance approves, otherwise I have to do another study. They say my insurance usually has no issues, so we will see. They only sell PR Dreamstations and Resmed products there, and it looks like the dreamstation is what they are going to try to get me and a pillow mask.