Starting my Apnea journey

[Kittamaru]

So... uhm, yeah. I've had issues with sleep quality and low energy for over a decade now... finally have a job with good insurance, so I was able to start the discussion with my Primary Care Provider. Blood panel came back good, everything right where it should be, so he sent me for a sleep study. I already expected Apnea, since I have large tonsils and snore pretty badly, and my wife has said that I randomly stop breathing at night.

I spent an hour and a half after being wired up before the tech came in, told me I stopped breathing at least 30 times in that hour, and fit me with the CPAP.

My GOD, I cannot remember a time I had woken up feeling so good! No dry mouth, no sore throat, no headache, no fogginess... she came in at 6am to end the study, called my name once, and bam, wide awake and ready to go! Even sleeping supine, I felt great!

I have my follow up with my PCP this Thursday (3/10) - I'm hoping he'll agree that a CPAP is the way to go, rather than a tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy .

I'd been a bit worried going into this - years ago, my Father used a CPAP machine. It was the size of a medium filing cabinet, and so loud it had to be plumbed through the wall from an adjoining room so they could sleep. The mask was like something I'd expect a fighter pilot to wear!

The machine they had me on in the sleep study was a Philips Respironics OmniLab Advanced+ that had air filtering and a heated humidification feature. The mask was some little silicon thing that fit over my nose... it was comfortable, the air pressure was pleasant, and it was dead silent!

I'm excited... but nervous. Is there anything further I need to consider and any info I need to gather before my follow up? I don't have the full results of my sleep study yet (I presume I'd get them at my follow up), but... yeah, it's been a few days now and I have to say - now that I know what a good nights sleep is supposed to feel like, I really want to get back into that!

[stienman]

The main thing I would suggest is pushing the doctor for an auto titrating (APAP) machine if they try to write a prescription for a regular fixed pressure cpap (CPAP). If they recommend a bi-pressure (BiPAP) or auto servo ventilator (ASV) or auto titrating (APAP), then you should be all set, but if they try to suggest you just need a fixed pressure, then see if they'll give you a script for an APAP. Even if it's set up to fixed pressure, the APAP machines provide what we here call "full data" which allows you to see your breathing charts if you so desire, and if the machine reports an increase in AHI then you can look into it rather than visiting the doctor again.

There are full data CPAP machines, but it's hit and miss, and the medical equipment provider(DME) will try to push lower end machines that are less useful if you are really interested in understanding your sleep apnea.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I love your positive attitude!!!!

The main thing you have to focus on now is getting your doctor, insurance and DME onboard for a data capable machine. It'll allow you to track your own therapy and export data to a great free sleep software program called Sleeyhead. Most people here use it. Here's the link to the data base that tells you the data capable machines:

https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

When you get into the data base type in the machine name/model number accurately and then look the the right side box where it'll say yes or no regarding data capability.

That'll keep you busy for a few hours If you get confused, don't be shy, come back and run your doctor's decisions by us to be on the safe side. The machine you used in the sleep clinic was only for sleep labs. ResMed and Phillips Respironics are the two work-horses in this field and are widely used by most members.

POP QUIZ FOR NEWBIES: What kind of machine do you want?
ANSWER: A data capable machine

[FoggyFroggy]

Welcome Kitt! You are in the right place to take charge of your health regarding sleep apnea. I have learned so much here! My advice, for what it's worth, is don't get overwhelmed with all of the information available. Seriously, take small bites. If you run into problems, just ask for help. There are wise folks here who are willing to work with you.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[Kittamaru]

Much obliged all! I'm getting ready to head to my follow up - once I have all the numbers and such I'll be sure to post em here!

I'll be sure to press for an APAP machine - my biggest requirements are that it has to be quiet, and it HAS to have humidification (otherwise my sinuses will dry up and I'll start mouth breathing) - I've been fighting all winter to keep our bedroom around 40-45% humidity due to how much our heat has had to run to keep the townhouse warm!

As far as the data-capable machine, that sounds like a huge boon that would really help me track my progress, especially as I get my energy back and start to lose weight (I need to drop about 70 pounds all said and done)

[Kittamaru]

I'm really considering this if I can get it:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html

The s9 with the humidifier sounds like it should give me everything I need in a therapy machine Thoughts?

[Okie bipap]

This is actually an older model machine, but it is still a good one. If you check on line, you will find some suppliers offering the S 9 auto for her model for just under $500. The only difference is, it has a pink cover on it. The latest version of the Resmed machines are the S 10 series.

[Gasper62]

I'm really considering this if I can get it:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html

The s9 with the humidifier sounds like it should give me everything I need in a therapy machine Thoughts?

That's the machine I specified. (love it BTW) I think the newest ResMeds are still too new and plagued with asst. "bugs" for me to want one. S9's seem to have a long track record of reliability and longevity. Good luck.

[Kittamaru]

This is actually an older model machine, but it is still a good one. If you check on line, you will find some suppliers offering the S 9 auto for her model for just under $500. The only difference is, it has a pink cover on it. The latest version of the Resmed machines are the S 10 series.

Ah, cool cool!

Just got back from my doctor - he was very confused why the sleep center sent me back to him to have the results discussed - he's having the referrals department make an appointment to go back to the sleep center to discuss this and get a prescription (I had thought it was odd they'd send me back to my GP, but figured eh, they know what they're doing lol!)

I do have a copy of my report now though!

I'm not sure what some of these values mean but... well, here we go

Split-Night Report:
EKG Summary:
Heart Rate, Wake - 91 BPM
Heart Rate, Steady Sleep Avg - 69
Shortest R-R - NREM .6, Rem .7
Longest R-R NREM 1, REM 1.2

Oxygenation Summary:
SpO2 - Mean Wake, Percent - 96
Sp02, Range, Percent - NonREM - 86 - 95; REM - 89 - 95, Total - 86 - 98
SpO2, Mean, Percent - NonREM - 92, REM - 92, Total - 92

It looks like I had 3 central apnea events and 33 obstructive apnea events without the CPAP, with my blood O2 dropping to a low of 86%... averaging about 92%

No wonder I wake up with headaches... my brain is going "BREATHE YOU IDIOT" all night long XD

Looking over more of this paperwork.... yeah, I'm not sure what most of it means XD Would it be helpful/useful for me to scan and upload the results (there's no real identifiable information on them), or should I just wait till I can get back in with the specialist? Any key-words I should look for?

[Kittamaru]

OH, found on my paperwork: my AHI is 56.8

0_o

So... given what I'm reading online... it sounds like I'm not sleeping so much as I basically DIE for about 8 hours a night...

[palerider]

OH, found on my paperwork: my AHI is 56.8

0_o

So... given what I'm reading online... it sounds like I'm not sleeping so much as I basically DIE for about 8 hours a night...

well, on *average* your sleep is being disturbed almost once a minute. certainly not, by far, the worst we've seen reported, but concerning.

[robysue]

Looking over more of this paperwork.... yeah, I'm not sure what most of it means XD Would it be helpful/useful for me to scan and upload the results (there's no real identifiable information on them), or should I just wait till I can get back in with the specialist? Any key-words I should look for?

You might find my blog entry Understanding the data in your sleep test useful in figuring out what all the acronyms and numbers on the sleep study mean.

[Kittamaru]

Alrighty, I go in on Wednesday to see a specialist about my results Hopefully they will be amicable to simply pencil-whipping the script for an APAP and letting me take it to a local medical supply company - I'd rather set the thing up myself than have to wait a few weeks for it to be delivered/setup!

[Kittamaru]

Woot, just got back from the Neurologists office... I'm getting a CPAP! I should be hearing from the DME center soon (it's not far from my home yay!). She explained the results to me in much better detail... the scary thing was correlating my heart monitor to my blood oxygen and apnea/hypopnia incidents... a few times it looks like my heart went a little bonkers as my O2 dropped severely! And I was wrong... my AHI isn't 56.8... it's actually closer to 70. (I was looking at the overall AHI vs the fully untreated number)... so... yeah, ow. No wonder I sleep like crap XD. Ah well, I'm looking forward to the next week or so... hope the machine comes sooner rather than later!

Peace - time to go clean our bedroom up a bit so it isn't embarrassing when they come lol!

[ThePrincess&ThePea]

My doctor sent my script to Apria Healthcare, I guess because that's the supplier they use, but I kind of wish I'd gotten my script and went somewhere else. Apria is pretty darn slow and it's so frustrating to wait when you know you could be feeling so much better.

Best of luck to you! I hope you get a machine soon!