Sleep study completed- questions/concerns

[Rydog22]

Good evening everyone.

I completed an overnight at home oximeter sleep study on the 14th Feb 2019.

I have a few questions regarding this.

1) Is an oximeter alone enough to be sure whether I do or don't suffer with OSA?

2) It has been over 2 weeks and no one has contacted me. The sleep clinic refuse to discuss anything over the phone. I was told during my initial consultation that I would hear within 2 weeks if CPAP was necessary for me. Is it safe to assume they didn't find anything severe at this point?

3) During this sleep study, I slept for 4 hours, then woke up because the oximeter was really irritating my finger. I then went back to sleep for another 1.5-2 hours. Is this enough to accurately diagnose my sleep?

4) What next?? Any advice?

Many Thanks

[ChicagoGranny]

1) Is an oximeter alone enough to be sure whether I do or don't suffer with OSA?

No.

Is it safe to assume they didn't find anything severe at this point?

No, it's not safe to assume. They may just be damn incompetent in managing their practice.

3) During this sleep study, I slept for 4 hours, then woke up because the oximeter was really irritating my finger. I then went back to sleep for another 1.5-2 hours. Is this enough to accurately diagnose my sleep?

According to what you wrote, you did not have a sleep study. You had a pulse-oximetry study. If you had significant oxygen desaturations, that is a good indication that you may have sleep apnea. If you had no significant oxygen desaturations, you still might have a bad case of sleep apnea.

4) What next?? Any advice?

Call them to say you want a copy of your pulse-oximetry study results. If they balk, tell them you have a legal right to copies of all your medical records.

[Rydog22]

1) Is an oximeter alone enough to be sure whether I do or don't suffer with OSA?

No.

Is it safe to assume they didn't find anything severe at this point?

No, it's not safe to assume. They may just be damn incompetent in managing their practice.

3) During this sleep study, I slept for 4 hours, then woke up because the oximeter was really irritating my finger. I then went back to sleep for another 1.5-2 hours. Is this enough to accurately diagnose my sleep?

According to what you wrote, you did not have a sleep study. You had a pulse-oximetry study. If you had significant oxygen desaturations, that is a good indication that you may have sleep apnea. If you had no significant oxygen desaturations, you still might have a bad case of sleep apnea.

4) What next?? Any advice?

Call them to say you want a copy of your pulse-oximetry study results. If they balk, tell them you have a legal right to copies of all your medical records.

Thanks for your response.

Oh dear. It looks like I waited months for a referral for useless treatment.

[palerider]

1) Is an oximeter alone enough to be sure whether I do or don't suffer with OSA?

No

2) It has been over 2 weeks and no one has contacted me. The sleep clinic refuse to discuss anything over the phone. I was told during my initial consultation that I would hear within 2 weeks if CPAP was necessary for me. Is it safe to assume they didn't find anything severe at this point?

No.

3) During this sleep study, I slept for 4 hours, then woke up because the oximeter was really irritating my finger. I then went back to sleep for another 1.5-2 hours. Is this enough to accurately diagnose my sleep?

Not if it's just an oximeter.

4) What next?? Any advice?

A doctor has to 'evaluate' the results and contact you... pester them.

[Filigree3]

Yeah, pester them is right. I waited 2 weeks afterwards and finally called. They did tell me over the phone that I had severe OSA, but the doctor never did contact me. I had to ask the ent office for a copy of the report to be mailed.

[HoseCrusher]

Oximeter data is very valuable. It gives you insight into your oxygen levels during the night and also lets you follow your heart rate changes.

Your body requires oxygen and also requires a heart beat to live. That makes this information important, but it is not inclusive.

If you never enter deep or REM sleep, you can have normal oxygen levels and a reasonably normal heart rate, but still have sleep disorders.

A sleep study includes oximetry data, but it goes beyond that to look at brain activity and respiratory effort and movement during sleep. All these are important in the evaluation.

If you flunk oximetry, you have a problem. If you pass oximetry, you may still have problems and further testing is needed.