awaiting CPAP and afraid to go to bed

[SleepyStarfish]

I had my second sleep study (CPAP titration) last Thursday night and am now waiting for the doctor to review it, call me, order my equipment, etc. In the meantime, after getting the results of my initial sleep study, I am kind of scared to go to sleep withOUT a CPAP! The doctor told me I had "very severe" OSA. In the 6 hours I slept, I had 889 Apneas and 135 Hypopneas. That means in six hours I basically stopped breathing 1000 times!!!! The index reading that is usually "severe" if it is greater than 30? Mine was 171.8! So, here I sit as 12:31am, exhausted and falling asleep at my computer but afraid to go to bed. I can't wait until Monday morning so I can call and (hopefully) prod the doctor into getting my paperwork done just a little bit faster.

Sorry. Once again, I just needed to rant to people who understand. Thanks.

[jdm2857]

Until you get your xPAP, try to sleep on your side. Obstructive sleep apnea is positional for most people, and sleeping on your back is almost always the worst position, as gravity tends to pull the airway closed.

Some people sew a tennis ball to the back of their pajama top to make rolling onto one's back uncomfortable.

[harry33]

it also helps to sleep sitting up in a comfortable chair

[kteague]

Yeah, it's hard to do what we've done once we know what we know. As JDM suggested, take measures to assure you stay on your side. Some actually sleep wearing a stuffed backpack just to be sure. Another thing that might help is raising the head of your bed. Don't just prop up on pillows because if you slide in your sleep your neck position could make matters worse. I just rolled up a comforter and placed it across the head of the bed between the mattress and box springs. Some say their apneas are better when they sleep on their stomach. Do what you can do then try to get some sleep. These "tricks" won't stop your apneas but a combination should reduce them. Let anatomy and gravity work in your favor. I sometimes sleep in my recliner in a nearly upright position with a small pillow under my chin so my head doesn't fall forward. (Not good for apnea either). It is very good that you are taking this seriously especially considering the severity of your OSA. Do prod the doctor and be assertive if you must. Till then, you've gotta get some sleep. Hopefully knowing you've done everything you possibly can will help you relax and not worry too much.

If they say it may be weeks before you get a machine, you might want to consider purchasing one outright. The sponsor of this site, cpap.com, usually ships quickly, and there's cpapauction.com which might be a bit longer. And there's always your local Craigslist. Just make sure you do your homework first so you get a machine you'll be content with. One that records treatment data and not just hours of usage makes optimizing the treatment more exact and less of a guessing game. Best wishes.
Kathy

[LisaEileen]

I know how you feel. I started this sleep study journey back in April and I'm still sitting here waiting for my insurance company to approve my machine. They've denied it twice now. I simply can't afford to buy one. I was told I have a severe problem too. Back at Easter time, I was woke up by a severe headache. I took my bp and it was sky high. I thought I was stroking out or something. I know this episode was due to my sleep issue, but that's not even enough to get my insurance to get on the ball. I've been afraid to go to sleep too. If I had the money to outright buy one, I'd do it and I suggest the same to you.

[seventyone]

I know the feeling. After I was diagnosed with severe apnea I would wake in the middle of the night and wonder "did I just stop breathing?" Hang in there, help will be on the way.

[Muse-Inc]

If there's another person in the residence, you can buy & setup a baby monitor until you get your CPAP. I was tentatively diagnosed April 07 and didn't get on CPAP until Aug. That baby monitor ensured that the several times my breathing (or lack of) were noticed and someone came and woke me up so I could turn on my side (took a while to break my habit of sleeping on my back). I sleep propped up and have for yrs...no fun but I sleep better.

[roster]

....... I can't wait until Monday morning so I can call and (hopefully) prod the doctor into getting my paperwork done just a little bit faster.

......

Starfish,

That may help speed it up. I felt the same way you do. I pushed hard and speeded things up quite a bit.

After the doc showed me the results of the PSG, he dropped me at the appointment desk to schedule the titration night. They were scheduling four weeks out. I stood at the desk and insisted and the scheduler insisted they did not have anything else open sooner. I still stood there and said I wanted something sooner. This was at 3:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. Suddenly she said, "Well, we do have a cancellation at 7:30 tonight." I said, "I will be there".

Then I started figuring out how I was going to drive home to get a bag/clothes and back by 7:30. My wife reminded me on the cell phone that my daughter had a flute concert that night. She then called the music school director and had my daughter moved to first on the concert program. I saw her play and immediately drove to the clinic, calling them on the way to tell them I would be there at 8:30.

(Then they totally botched the damn titration, but that is a story for another day.)

Side sleeping will help about 40% of patients and tummy sleeping does the same thing. Try the Falcon position for tummy sleeping, viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36738&p=380472#p380472 .

May you fare speedily well,

[SleepyStarfish]

Y'all are WONderful! Thank you so much for the advice and words of encouragement!!!

[ziggytosh]

Hang in there. Help will arrive shortly. My only advice is, be as pushy with the doctors and insurance as you fell comfortable being. None of them care about you as much as you do. You can find great machines for cheap on craigslist. I bypassed the insurance arguments and got a great backup remstar auto for 200 that way -- less than I would have spent as copay. Anyway, you're in the right place to get help, guidance and support. And with OSA that severe, you should be VERY excited for the tremendous changes you are about to see in your quality of life.