I just got back from my sleep study. Arrrgh!

[Bearcat42]

What a night. Could'nt fall asleep, so I had to take a sleeping pill. The leads gave the technician fits all night long, which meant getting disturbed I dont know how many times. And to top it all off I have to do it all over again. Arrrgh!!!
Heres what I know, which is'nt much. I did a split study. I didnt think I had really fallen aslpeep when the tech wakes me up to go on the machine. She said I wiggled constantly, whatever that means, and that I could really snore something terrible. After going on the machine and sleeping for awhile she was trying to reach titration with no success.
She said that she had to switch to bi-flex, I think. She said that my presuure was really high, something about 20 over 17, whatever that means. I am confused. I was so tired after the test I didnt ask her anything. She just told me that I would have to come back and sleep with the machine all night so she would have more time to get everything right.
I was using a respironics machine and a gel mask with a heated humidifier, and it wasnt too bad. She said it sounded as if I was snoring with the mask on. I tend to get obstruction and snore alot when I exhale. Can anyone make any sense out of this mess? Thanks.....

[packitin]

Why don't you try the new SleepTrek technology? You can do it at home.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_p ... _n24932049

[builta]

Good luck! My experience is that In Lab Sleep studies suck! The good thing is that your next one will be a titration study. Only about half the probes. Tell them that you want the sleeping pill now so that it is "All set" and ready for your next study.

Also, if you can, after the study, push really hard for and "Auto" Bi Level PAP.

With a high pressure like you reported, they may agree that Bi Level is required. Make sure that they write that on the prescription (see this link for examples of scripts):

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescript ... l#FGID-130

I hope you sleep better really soon.

[S-Dubya]

If the tech said you were snoring with the mask on you may have had some mouth leak. You may need a chin strap (never worked for me) or a full-face mask.

Hang in there and better luck with the next study.

[Bearcat42]

If the tech said you were snoring with the mask on you may have had some mouth leak. You may need a chin strap (never worked for me) or a full-face mask.

Hang in there and better luck with the next study.

Oh, I forgot. I was wearing a FF mask. And yes, I noticed leaks from time to time. The tech would tighten the straps even more.

[kteague]

Considering that you may need a high pressure and even a bipap, and they couldn't titrate you in the short sleep time you had, sounds like a full night of data would be a good thing to give you as much data as possible to use toward your successful treatment.

Since titrations start at a lower pressure and move up in increments, it is expected to have events and snores until the pressure is enough to resolve them. Also, with lots of leaks, it is not surprising that raising the pressure didn't eliminate them. Hopefully when you go back the leaks will not be so bad so they can get a real picture of how to meet your needs. Maybe without leaks a lower pressure will suffice.

Please do keep us informed on how this goes.

[Gerryk]

I was snoring at first with the mask on too. I wasn't snoring anywhere near as bad as I was before cpap but I was still snoring. My pressure was 20/16 and when it was increased to 21/17 the snoring went away.

[Bearcat42]

I was snoring at first with the mask on too. I wasn't snoring anywhere near as bad as I was before cpap but I was still snoring. My pressure was 20/16 and when it was increased to 21/17 the snoring went away.

Okay, I have been doing some more reading and I want to make sure I understand this correctly. When you say 20/16 or 21/17 are you referring to a bi-level, most noteably IPAP and EPAP? That must have been what the tech was telling me, that she figured out that I needed bi-level but did not have the time to get it dialed in.
Well, I dont mind doing another study as long as it is soon and not in a month or two as she said it might be. I want to feel better so badly, so now I guess I get to exercise my patience.haha.....