nervous about sleep study...

[kal81]

I did a home test in June this year..
i had 146 arousels in 6 hours....
I live in Germany...i was given an APAP machine without titration, i never stayed at a sleep clinic
i never knew this was strange..i have symptoms of extreme fatigue, brain fog, lightheadness..but no daytime sleeplessness

the first few months on the APAP machine were amazing...never slept like that for years and felt like a new man..

since november all my symptoms have come back ...i decided to get a second opinion and then was told that i should have had a sleep study in the clinic done..
normally the insurance would not give a machine without the sleep study in the clinic...
i have a sleep study in three weeks...
my sleep doctor said that my results were strange because my oxygen levels never dropped...but i still had 146 arousels..i explained the amazing difference i had felt with the APAP machine (when it helped)
he was very scepticsh but thank god referred me to a sleep clinic..

i have read about UARS and have heard that a person can awaken before the oxygen level drop...and have a thing called UARS breathing problems..
i have phoned the sleep center to see if they check for UARS..they said they do the standard test, they are not sure what UARS are and said they do the standard sleep test and told me not to worry...

im worried that if i have dont have a loss of oxygen but still have arousels...they will send me home saying i dont have Sleep apnea..

then im back to square one...im am 100 sure i have a sleep problem..
and the fatigue is debilitating to the extent i cant function much anymore....
ive been at home for the last 3 months...the fatigue and joint pains are too much and im really hopeful that they will find an answer in this sleep test...

does a person have to have the 5 to 10 seconds of loss of breath to be considered to have sleep apnea?

has anyone ever had arousels on there sleep test but maintained a normal oxygen level and were they still titrated to a Cpap machine?

would they able to see on my test if my sleep is refreshing or not? im really confused but i am sure i have a sleep problem

any ideas would be helpful....

[purple]

Can you get data from machine? My first hunch is that after several months of success, you might have started having leaks. Which is typical when some masks get old. How long have you been using the same mask?

Would be nice to know what machine you received, what pressures it is set too, what mask you have, how long you have had it since it was new. When did you last put a new filter in the machine???? but look at the hose for leaks, cats love to play with hoses. Mine tend to leak right where the large grey plastic end is but in the thinner plastic.

Might you have damaged the machine? Like you pulled it off onto the floor with water in it, or moved it with water in it.

Do you clean your mask and humidifier tank how often? Do you use distilled water in the tank? what else might have changed in your life? Medication and such.

The odds of your damaging one of these machines, and it not be functioning correctly is not likely, if the machine is blowing. Almost all machine failures are catastrophic. As the DME said, "If it blows, it is likely working correctly." and this from the people who would like to get me to buy a new machine.

[kal81]

Cant get data from the machine....the machine is set so i cant read the sd card

i clean my mask everyday also humidifier....

i have 3 different masks so my last mask is pretty new
its a Resmed quattro mirage...i have had the pressures changed from 4-14 to 6-16now i have 8-18
the machine cannot go any higher and they want me now to have the sleep test then it can be titrated...

when i put the mask on i can check for leaks...it can be displayed on the machine...so the hose doesnt leak...

more worried about the sleep study..i hope they see that i have a sleep problem...mabye i have a problem breathing angainst the pressure and need a bipap
machine...but worried is the sleep study gets any results...

im worried what the arousels mean without a drop in oxygen..does that actually mean i am waking up?

[HerbM]

The experienced and helpful folks here will give you a lot more useful help if you include your xPAP machine brand and model.

If it has a data card that includes detail data they can likely tell you how to read it despite any settings made to it.

Try to include all of the particulars.


Personally, I doubt that if the machine is helping you the sleep study would find it unnecessary. The study is going to watch your EEG for arousals AND your pulseOx for saturation, so they will know if you are awakening or not and how it relates to your breathing.

[kal81]

but i have heard that a person hast to have an arrousel episode with loss of oxygen for 5 to 10 seconds to be considered an apnea

i am worried if i have arrousels but no loss of oxygen that they will not consider it a sleep disturbance and send me home..

i have a weinmann somnobalance e apap machine..i have checked everywhere u cannot get the software..

[ironhands]

If you're having arousals without apnea, they may say there's no apnea, but they aren't going to just leave you without some form of treatment. If the EDS is that severe with no obvious causes, they can provide you with stimulant medications to compensate for the symptoms. Also, a sedative medication may help you sleep through the night more effectively if it's a highly disturbed sleep architecture.