Wife won't do sleep study

[Cuda]

I know several people that I am almost certain have OSA and I am getting no where getting them checked out. One does not have decent insurance so I kind of see his view as when I did not have insurance and let that stop me (regrets regrets). Some have insurance and I do not really understand it. So I just go on and on about how much better I feel, they seem interested. I will keep talking about it and just hope they get tested. If it was my wife I would insist. If she said no I would ask her how she felt if I refused treatment for something, if she would let me be I would let her be. If she would be on me for doing so I have every right to push the issue with her. She has to understand its because I care and just as ridiculous for her to not test as it would be for you to not have a biopsy for skin cancer when the doctor is rather certain you have it. You just have to get her to either agree its ok to refuse medical treatment for serious things or its not. Which is it?

[archangle]

Consider dealing with an obese person. You think they're killing themselves by eating too much. They may very well agree with you.

They don't lose weight. They don't go on a diet, or they don't stick to the diet.

What do you do?

Obviously, we haven't answered that question yet. Why should CPAP and apnea be different?

Or consider the person who doesn't exercise. Someone who drinks too much but isn't an alcoholic. Someone who won't take some medication they "should" be taking, but they don't like the side effects. Someone who doesn't get the medical checkups they "should" get. Someone who won't wear their seat belts. The night owl who won't give up on staying up half the night.

How about someone who won't give up the burgers and eat the organic vegetarian meals you think they should.

[Cuda]

My wife and I get on each other about health related issues. That's why we eat healthy and exercise now, she pushed me to take care of the OSA, I did not want to. Being married I feel I do have the right to push my wife to seek treatment if she is sick. She has the same right to push me. Especially when you know they are just looking out for you that's a prime time to compromise. I caved in to the wife to make her happy and I am glad I did. If I was in a marriage where she did not seek medical treatment to prove she does not have to take my suggestions I would want a divorce. That's just me but my marriage is about being stronger together and working as a team. If she was avoiding medical treatment to spite me that's a game ender, I don't need that. However if she is avoiding treatment for any other reason I would be understanding and keep looking for ways to convince her to go in. Right now I could say "you pushed me to go in and you were right so now I am asking you to go in". Since I went in she has caved on giving up cigs. I quit, I exercise, drink lots of water and am on CPAP. Now I have asked her to work on the cigs (her only vice) and she agreed she has to quit. The idea being we work together at getting better. Of course thats just my opinion.

[ameriken]

Tekcor, has she taken the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?

I believe this is one of the test doctors use to help decide if a polysomnogram is needed. Perhaps you can have her take this and maybe it will lead to some more discussion about getting it checked out. I remember when I went to the VA, my provided referred me to another doctor who does a consultation and it included the Epworth scale. When we finished he told me he thinks I have severe apnea and he immediately ordered a sleep study.

Maybe this will help?

http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/epworth.html

[moresleep]

As others have suggested, if you do this test, you would not want to set the min. pressure too low. That would increase CO2 and not be comfortable. An auto range of something like 7-10 with no ramp would probably work.

One problem with using Cpap to test for apnea is that the testing may eliminate the problem. That is, if a person with suspected sleep apnea uses a recording Cpap machine and displays an AHI of 1 -- normally, a number indicating no sleep apnea problem. But, AHI=1 is _with_ Cpap, so we still don't know what the AHI would be without Cpap -- it might be AHI=40.

A recoding oximeter is a cheap way to screen for moderate-severe OSA; but, it may not catch mild-moderate OSA in some people who do not display desaturations. For those, the Respironics RUsleeping is a better option. This device uses a single nasal canula to measure airflow and determine AHI. It's completely self-contained--no computer or software necessary. I've seen it as low as $495, See https://secure.mvapmed.com/prod-RUSleep ... r-233.aspx.

There are also companies that will do a home sleep test for around $300.

[rested gal]

Things to consider about using an autopap (or CPAP at very low pressure) to test a friend or relative at home for OSA:

?for Rested gal about home screening with APAP
topic started by Pugsy - June 2009
viewtopic.php?p=379661#p379661

First and foremost, I'd make SURE of these things:

1. that my sister really, really, really was already quite convinced for herself that she almost CERTAINLY does have sleep apnea.
2. that my sister really, really, really understood what untreated sleep apnea does to people.
3. that my sister really, really REALLY was very much gung ho about trying "CPAP" and open to the idea of using CPAP for every sleeping moment of the rest of her life, if she does have OSA.

If all those "really's" are not in place, the danger is that she would dislike the first time of trying to wear a mask (even a very unobtrusive mask like the Swift nasal pillows) sooooo much, that one night of trying "CPAP" would turn her off completely to the idea of that kind of therapy at all. Ever again.

A home titration
topic started by loonlvr - August 2005
viewtopic.php?p=36073#p36073

The only caution I'd have is this: Such an experiment could backfire in a big way....he might find that wearing a mask is sooooo uncomfortable that he'll get a bad impression of cpap treatment. That could happen even if you use a more comfortable pressure than "4" and the most "comfortable" mask possible for him.

He might go along with the experiment anyway, but dislike the whole thing so much that he would be reluctant to ever get a real sleep study done. A real study could reveal drops in oxygen levels that would be the REAL catalyst to literally scare him into deciding he'd rather learn to put up with a mask and machine than go untreated.

Only if he's already very convinced that he has OSA and has already made up his mind that he absolutely WANTS to get himself on cpap treatment if it turns out he does have OSA...then (and only then, imho) would such an experiment be useful as a "screening" test.

Otherwise, it might be totally counterproductive. If he's only "interested" in knowing, not absolutely gung ho about finding out, then his first experience trying to sleep with a mask and machine might drive him away from ever thinking about "cpap" treatment again -- perhaps not ever consider a sleep study at all in the future. That's the last thing you'd want to have happen.

[Newbie Woman]

She's a mother, right? I remember a time I would have killed for just one uninterrupted night's sleep. Tell her the sleep lab is a quiet hotel where she can read or watch television in peace. She will get to sleep all by herself with no little people needing her during the night. No one will greet her in the morning with wet pants and sloppy kisses.

Skip the part about six million wires and a sleep tech who comes in every half hour to adjust them.

[Dark Matter]

I wish I knew the magic word to get someone to go get tested for sleep apnea. My husband stops breathing, snores the whole nine yards and he refuses to go get tested. I won't push because I know that is what he hates more than anything but I hope that he will get tested one day. I don't want to see him go to an early grave over something like this...you have my sympathy and my hopes that your wife will get tested. Good luck.

[chunkyfrog]

DH was diagnosed before I was.
Refused to go for the titration study. ("position works, yeah")
I video'd him snoring and gasping on my phone--(getting there)
Later, he took me to the support group meeting.
The lecture was about apnea complications.
Shoulda seen his face after he heard about A-fib.
He was scared. It worked.
Now sleeping is not all we do in bed any more. (nudge, nudge)

[Perrybucsdad]

My Dad gave me some great advice on my wedding day almost 20 years ago, and it has served me very well over the years. He said to me "Son, in marriage you must remember that you can be right, or you can be happy, but you can't be both at the same time." I have used this saying over the years in many ways. Sometimes I will just agree with my wife and not prove I am right, and I end up living a happy life. Other time, I find I must prove myself right (due to pride) and I end up being miserable.

In your case though, I would choose to be happy... but you can do that and it may convince her. Show her that through your therapy you are improving the quality of your life, and that you are becoming more happy with your energy levels (when you had none), your patience, you ability to concentrate, etc. Maybe she will then see the benefits (as others have stated) and come to your side of the playground and look to your for some guidance.

Best of luck,

John