Do I need a sleep study?

[Newbie with Question]

Hi, Hope you can answer my question. At my last doctor visit we discussed the fact that I am always tired. She ordered a home fingertip oximeter sleep study. She called and said that the records showed that my oxygen levels did fluctuate during the night and that I had 2 choices at this time - one was to have a full sleep study done and the second was to lose weight (I am about 50 lbs overweight) and repeat the oximeter text overnight.

If you were me - what would you do?

[Bons]

And here's another doctor who doesn't get it. Not everyone who has sleep apnea is overweight, and not everyone who is overweight has sleep apnea. If you oxygen levels are fluctuating and you are tired all the time, get the sleep study done!

[newhosehead]

I would have the sleep study. If you do indeed have sleep apnea, it will continue to do its damage as you lose weight, so it would be in your best interests to find out. Good luck!

Jeanette

[newbie with a question]

Thanks - I was just reading more on this site and it mentions that hypothyroidism can be a factor in sleep apena. I am hypo and have benign nodules on my thyroid...

Guess I will call and have the study set up.

[Emilia]

Please register properly and log in to use the full features of this forum. You have a lot to learn here before your study and after..... keep on reading and asking questions! Start with the yellow light bulb at the top of the page and read, read, read....

I hope your sleep study goes well... keep us posted on your progress!

[ozze_dollar]

Do both.

[Otter]

A lab sleep study is only one way to go about it, but it's a good one if cost isn't an issue. Obesity may be causing your OSA, but it could also be that it's the effects of OSA that have caused you to gain so much weight, and in any case, losing the weight will be easier if you're sleeping well. So if you have insurance or a few grand to spend, go ahead with the sleep study. If the cost is a problem, start a new post asking about the less expensive alternatives, and I'm sure you'll get some input from the home study and DIY crowd.

You posted about the hypothyroidism while I was typing. I'm not sure how that figures in, but it may be a reason to go with full PSG.

[taberge]

A lab sleep study is only one way to go about it, but it's a good one if cost isn't an issue. Obesity may be causing your OSA, but it could also be that it's the effects of OSA that have caused you to gain so much weight, and in any case, losing the weight will be easier if you're sleeping well. So if you have insurance or a few grand to spend, go ahead with the sleep study. If the cost is a problem, start a new post asking about the less expensive alternatives, and I'm sure you'll get some input from the home study and DIY crowd.

You posted about the hypothyroidism while I was typing. I'm not sure how that figures in, but it may be a reason to go with full PSG.

Ditto! Especially the part about the OSA possibly being the cause of gaining weight.

[Merryj]

Thanks everyone! I have become a registered member and will read, read, read!

[Bons]

Since you appear to be female, if you are getting close to "the change", your chances of having sleep apnea go way up. Once the baby factory begins to close down, apnea goes up because estrogen levels keep us better oxygenated to support possible pregnancies. Estrogen also helps keep our throat muscles firmer to keep our airways open (and you thought only our external body parts drooped.......).

[Merryj]

I am an "estrogen free zone" had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago and then went off estrogen completely about 3 years ago… so that may be part of the internal and external droop factor!

[Drkirishdancer]

I'd still say go for the sleep study. I went through several doctors telling me that being tired was "normal" and that all I needed to do was change my diet and exercise more. Losing weight is a hard battle with the apnea- it caused me to gain weight and, if I'd listened to the first few doctors, I'd never have gotten diagnosed. It sounds as if the one you havent isnt fully listening but, if you're comfortable with them and feel they listen to you, bring up your concerns with them.

[Merryj]

My doc didn't say that I shouldn't have one - she left the choice to me. I haven't been able to talk to her because she is moving practices and is in-between right now. My records are still at the old place so I can call them and have them order a sleep study and just have the results sent to her new practice once with the rest of my records...

[tamourn]

I have problems sleeping almost every night. I wake up many times and I have a hard time staying asleep. Even taking tyelenol pm doesn't help some nights, other times it will keep me asleep. It doesn't really seem like I have racing thoughts that keep me awake, as that has been the case for me before. Now my body just doesn't stay asleep. I also always feel uncomfortable in many positions and change alot. My family has told me that I sometimes gasp for breath or breathe weird but I don't know how often that is.
I feel like I need a sleep study just to get something solved but I am running out of insurance pretty soon and I wondered how much they are, if it is worth getting one, and what happens during it.







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