scared to death

[Canadianguy]

First of all hello everyone and thanks so much for sharing your experiences, it really helps others.

Last night was my 3rd sleep study in 15 years, the first was a hotel room where I was in the same room as the Tech. who typed on a computer all night, talked on the phone and ordered pizza and ate it about 10ft from me. So with no sleep, that study was useless. The second sleep study was done in a hospital, they said my apnea was mild and if I lost a few pounds it should be good. Years later I had a tonsillectomy and uvulectomy, not related to snoring or sleep apnea but my wife said it did stop my episodes. The last few years things have returned and have gotten progressively worse. My wife says I hold my breath and snore while sleeping, sometimes I wake with a mild headache that goes away after I have been up for a few hrs. I have had some fluctuations in my blood pressure as well I have developed an irregular heart beat. I am not overly sleepy in the day, I do like a nap for 15 - 20 mins in the afternoon after work. I usually go to bed around 10 to 10:30pm and get up at 5am, so its not unusual for someone to want a nap in the afternoon. Don't fall asleep while having a conversation with someone, driving etc. I'm mid 50's, 5.8 tall and 160lbs, so not heavy for my size, I work standing and moving all day, but not heavy cardio. When I get home from work I do feel the need to sit down as my legs and feet are tired from being on them all day, so I don't feel like running around the block.

Now for my sleep study last night, it was the best for sleeping so far. During the night I moved from my back to my side to try and sleep better as that's how I mostly sleep. The Technician came into the room to adjust the nose and mouth air sensor two times in the night. After the second time he put more tape to hold it in place, I had a feeling that I might have been moving it sleeping on my side, so I change to my back. In the am I asked him if there was a problem with the sensor, he said no that I was having long bouts of apnea with very low oxygen levels. He said I would more than likely be called back for a second sleep study.

Is this the norm when sleep apnea is detected that you need a second sleep study?
I know the last few months I can feel some light heart pain and now I am scared to death and yes I have been to the Dr. and just had a ECG a week ago.

Thanks
Canadianguy.

[Madalot]

Is this the norm when sleep apnea is detected that you need a second sleep study?
I know the last few months I can feel some light heart pain and now I am scared to death and yes I have been to the Dr. and just had a ECG a week ago.

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you have to need to be here, but you won't find a better place for information, help and support.

It is not uncommon (or abnormal) for a person to have to come back a second time. My sleep lab has very specific protocols for doing a split night (meaning they diagnose & titrate you on a cpap the same night). I did NOT qualify for a split study so I had to go back about a week later for it.

It's not that unusual.

I'm sure many here will be interested in what the diagnostic study showed, then what happens during the second one where they titrate you.

Keep the board posted -- and don't worry.

[ameriken]

It's quite common. Depending on how long you sleep during the first study and how much data they get, they usually try to do the study and titration in one study. However if they cannot get it all done on the first night, then it requires another study.

I had to do two for that reason, on the first study they put me on a CPAP which proved to be fruitless for my breathing issues and I had to go back for a titration on an ASV.

[dwynne]

Low O2 can cause a headache. Apnea episodes can cause your heart to race / strain your heart.

I got lucky and the doc ordered a split study for me. As soon as they determined I did have apnea they started trying to find the right pressures to prevent it. I was also badly desaturated so they had to give me extra O2 during the 2nd part of the study. I know other folks that once they were diagnosed were sent home at that time and have never had their levels set by a "pro". Maybe with the current crop of automated CPAP and BiPAP machines this is more common?

I would assume in your case they want to a 2nd study to find the right pressure and possibly supplemental O2 for you. When is your follow up with your doctor to go over the study results?

[chunkyfrog]

I, too, did not qualify for a split study, although I suspect that insurance decides on the protocols,rather than the lab--
X number of minutes in Y stages of sleep, that sort of thing. Totally normal.
Be sure to read here about the machines and DME tricks.
You want a machine that is fully data capable--with ALL the data--not just usage.

[mmealman]

Is this the norm when sleep apnea is detected that you need a second sleep study?
I know the last few months I can feel some light heart pain and now I am scared to death and yes I have been to the Dr. and just had a ECG a week ago.

Going back for a 2nd study was normal for me. The first study diagnosed the problem and then I talked over the results with my doctor. The recommendation was CPAP, so I went back for a second study where I wore that. During that study they tweaked the CPAP machine(remotely) all night to see where I responded best for treatment.

After that I was able to order my own machine for home.

In order to get past your fears you need to realize that the process you're going through is a good thing. You're ill, they've found a very likely reason why, and it can be easily and safely treated with CPAP. The machines today are very quiet and there are a lot of masks out today that are comfortable and fit many different faces and needs. While it "sucks" to have to use one, wearing something at night while you sleep so you can lead a healthy lifestyle during the day is a small price to pay.

I just did my first night of CPAP last night and it was a comfortable experience. My neighbor is on BiPAP and he also adjusted to it within a couple weeks. It just becomes a part of your life.

[Canadianguy]

My follow up check up, is in 2 weeks, with the Dr. this appointment was made at my initial evaluation for the need of a sleep study. I was told that our coverage here with the Gov't, only allows one sleep study in a 12 month period. Maybe once you are confirmed to have sleep apnea they allow more to get your pressure rate, will have to check that out. Needless to say even if I have to pay the cost, this is not something I would not do.

Again thanks for your answers and support, my new found friends.
Canadianguy

[nanwilson]

Hi there CanadianGuy
Just wanted to welcome you and say there are a bunch of us Canucks here on the forum, I'm pretty sure every province is represented. Let us know what type of equipment you get....and make sure it is totally data capable. I would suggest you read the New Users guy and CPAP wiki at the top of the page, you will get yourself a great education on what to expect and how to go about being a "hosehead".
Cheers and again welcome.
Nan

[apneawho]

To add to all the affirmations, my husband has to go back for a second night. He was so worried when he woke up to find they had not put him on any cpap during the first night. The tech would not tell him much saying the doctor is the one to discuss the test results. When the doctor called he said my husband's oxygen levels were dropping during the first test and he was having more hypopnea than obstructive apnea, but it took them much of the night to get enough data. He will be going back for the titration study. It is not uncommon at all. Good luck with your treatment.

[Madalot]

Adding more to this as well....and I don't know if it was a lab policy or insurance as chunkyfrog said. My lab just said "we" so it could easily have been an insurance policy.

My lab said that certain things have to happen within the FIRST TWO HOURS in order to do a split night. With me, my big problems didn't surface until later in the night, so they couldn't do the split.

My tech wouldn't tell me much either, but I was able to phrase the question to her in way that she COULD tell me that they DID see enough that I probably would be hearing from my doctor soon about coming back to do a titration. I think I said "did you see ANYTHING?" and she replied "oh yeah...we sure did."

[BlackSpinner]

My follow up check up, is in 2 weeks, with the Dr. this appointment was made at my initial evaluation for the need of a sleep study. I was told that our coverage here with the Gov't, only allows one sleep study in a 12 month period. Maybe once you are confirmed to have sleep apnea they allow more to get your pressure rate, will have to check that out. Needless to say even if I have to pay the cost, this is not something I would not do.

Again thanks for your answers and support, my new found friends.
Canadianguy

Sometimes - depending on the province - they will do a home study for titration. Sometimes - like with my hospital in Quebec they prescribe you a machine (at a low setting) before they do the titration so you can get used to it before they give you the titration machine and set up.

[squid13]

When I did my sleep test I did it in two nights. One to see if I had apnea and the next week went back for another sleep test to find my settings. The rooms were just like a motel room and actually the bed was quite comfortable.

[Katagal]

You are on the way to being well and healthy again....I had two sleep studies, one to establish yes indeed, I did have OSA in a big way and then another to work out my needs on a CPAP, ie air pressure etc etc.

Read all the information you can on this site and you will be very well informed.

Best of luck

Katagal

[ThirdOutOfFive]

Don't be scared. PAPpy therapy takes getting used to, but it is well worth the time and effort. It took time for me to find the right combo of mask, pressure and humidity, but I stuck with it. I am now getting my ability to concentrate back to normal -- for which my boss is grateful.

Now that you have found this forum, you have a vast resource of knowledge and experience to help you. Watch out, though -- some of the folks here have unusual senses of humor. . . .

[Canadianguy]

Just an update,

Will be seeing the sleep Dr. on Thurs. Nov. 3rd for my sleep results, will keep you all up to date. Reading your posts to me has made me feel much more at ease and for this I am very thankful to you all. I have looked over a lot of information and believe if I can request the Resmed S9 autoset, with H5i, climate hose and I think would try the Swift FX nasal pillows first. I have been told by a co-worker that has apnea, that his supplier will let me try different machines and masks as long as they fall in the Dr.'s request for me. As well after the first month of trials if I purchase the equipment from her there will be not added cost for the trail, as it will be included in the full purchase price. I really hope that its not a problem for me to get the apap machine, because it seems like I would be able to do a better job of monitoring my apnea.

Again a big thank you to those that offer support to others, a few kind words go a long way.
Talk again soon,
Canadianguy