Thanks Rested Gal !

[leftlane45]

Thank you for answering my post. I am so frustrated with this whole OSA because I really don't think I have it. This is not a case of self denial. I have had 3 sleep studies in the last 4 years. The first one was in Sept 05 and the Dr said The results were negitive. I was very happy to here that, although I do not really sleep well so I had mixed emotions. I am planning to have the lap band surgery in Jan 09 so I was sent for a bunch of tests including a pulmonary function test (PFT). The DR. said I needed to take a sleep study test. I explained to him that I had a test a few years ago and showed him the results.

He insisted I take a new sleep study and ordered a split study. I went and took the test, and when I woke up the RT told me I slept well with good deep sleep, so he did not make me sleep with a cpap for the second half of the study. He also said he saw no signs of OSA.

I went to see the DR for his evaluation and was told he was not able to locate the results from the study, but would call me when they located them. About a week later the doctor himself called and said he believes I have a mild case of OSA and that I should schedule a new study with cpap. On 11/04/08 I went back for my second study. The same RT was present and got me all ready and gave me a nose only mask. About a few hours later he wakes me up and says I am mouth breathing and need a FFM. I sleep for the rest of the night and when I am leaving the RT tells me I again had good deep sleep.

I go back to the Doctor for the evaluation at his new location, I am waiting and waiting, when his nurse says again they can not locate the second study she had 2 copies of the first one.

Well I was sitting there wondering how can they do business like this . At any rate the Dr. comes in and looks at the first study and says you need a machine. I will write a perscription for it and send it to a DME with apressure of 6/10 and looks at the nurse and then me . A few days later I get a call from the DME and set up a appointment. They show up with the machine a good one I presume Resperionics Auto M series with a-flex
and a nose only mask.?? At the sleep center I was told I mouth breathing so why the nose mask. I think the doctor was embaressed about not finding the test results thats why he did this.

I have taken the epswitch test ( I think thats what it is called) for OSA and my score is a 2 which is normal tiredness. I cant go for another sleep test the insurance will not cover it. If I do have OSA, thats OK i can deal with it. I have really been trying with the mask and all but I am not sleeping, Last night after reading you post on my topic I went to bed no machine at around 12:30 am woke up @8:45 no interuptions at all and I feel pretty good today. So I really don't know what to do.


Thank you for taking the time to help
God bless
Jerry

[rested gal]

Thank you for answering my post.

Here's a link to the post Jerry's referring to:

viewtopic/t37276/Full-weeek-on-Quattro- ... leep-.html
viewtopic.php?t=37276

Jerry, you're welcome, but I'm afraid I'm not much help. Sounds like you're getting dropped through the cracks a lot, with all the mixed messages you've gotten -- the sleep tech seeing one thing (or lack of something) and the doctor saying something else.

I'm not saying you should think this way, but personally, I'd have more faith in what a good sleep tech thinks than what most "sleep" doctors think. But.... that depends on how "good" the sleep tech is in the first place, and there's not much way you can know how expert the tech is. Or, how knowledgable the doctor is no matter what the credentials. If the tech has the "RPSGT" credential (Registered Polysomnogram Technologist) then I'd probably definitely (how do you like that for my hedging..."probably definitely".. ) put more store in what the tech said than what the doctor says.

At any rate, if the tech said you were mouth breathing during the titration study night (when they used cpap on you) and saw a need to switch you to a Full Face mask, a FF mask is definitely (no "probably" to it) what should have been prescribed for you.

If you really need a FF mask and have been struggling to use "cpap" with a mask that doesn't cover the mouth too, then you've not been getting really effective treatment. Not a fair shake of what "cpap" can do, in another words.

The Epworth test that you scored "normal" on... it's possible to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea and not be sleepy during the day. It's also possible to be so used to how we feel that we think it's normal. We don't realize what fully rested and fully refreshed really feels like.

I used to think, "Well, I get drowsy driving, but I've not fallen asleep at the wheel. Anyone would get drowsy during long, monotonous interstate driving."

I used to think, "Well, I like to take a nap several times a week, but that's normal for people to need naps."

I used to think, "Boy, I'd like to hit the snooze button...I'd really like to get a little more sleep.

I used to think, "There are 'morning' people, but I'm not one of them. It's normal for some of us to simply be a little more reluctant about 'getting up'... but once I'm up, I'm fine all day. I'm not sleepy after I get up and stir around for awhile."

CPAP treatment made me realize those things were not normal. For me... now no more drowsy driving, no more need for a nap, no more desire to hit the snooze button, and I get up feeling "all awake" and ready to get out of bed...just like a 'morning' person.

[kopoloff]

Beautifully put, Rested Gal

[kopoloff]

Beautifully put, Rested Gal