bad sleep study experience

joepro7 · Post by **joepro7** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:46 pm

I recently had a sleep study (results not in yet) and got a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes of sleep. Do you think I am going to need a retest? Also, is there harm in trying a CPAP without a formal diagnosis? I am disappointed and frustrated with the "sleep centers" around here, one cancelled an appointment on me (that I waited 3 weeks for) the day of the test, and in the test I took, the walls were thin, a bright nightlight was used so their camera can record my positions, and they set up another patient in the adjacent room for 1/2 hour (talking etc.) while I was trying to sleep. I was coming off the previous night where I got three hours, max. Anyway as you can probably tell I am frustrated with the level of service, and when I searched the web and found reputable sleep centers, the University of MD for example, they require a consult before doing any study, and my appointment is not until Nov 27 (earliest!) and then I will have to wait two weeks after that to actually have the study... and if I can't sleep enough during the study, here we go again! anyway sorry to vent, and looking for hope...

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:01 pm

Joe, welcome to the forum. You slept twice as long as I did for my last sleep study. Wait till you get the bill. My bill was $3000.00 for 54 minutes of non-REM sleep. My portion $812.00.

is there harm in trying a CPAP without a formal diagnosis?

I say no, its safer than a curling iron. However, I am not a medical professional, and I buy my stuff at Yahoo Auction and cpap dot com.
Therefore, your milage may vary..buyer beware, etc, etc..

joepro7 · Post by **joepro7** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:59 pm

It is good to know that 1:45 is not that unusual. Thanks, I really don't want to wait for a re-test. I'm pretty miserable, averaging 3-4 hours per night, ambien assisted... BTW CPAP.com "ask question" reply said that I can pay $150 for an at-home device that will count apnea events and they will prescribe me a CPAP based on that. (A possibility if frustration with scheduing sleep studies continues..) Do you or do you know anyone who has used it successfully?

CSA0890 · Post by **CSA0890** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:28 pm

Sorry to here that Joe, is that the only sleep study near you. You might want to try and have your doctor send you to another center or like you said and try an at home it wasnt conclusive enough for me, but it's worth trying.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:32 pm

[quote="joepro7"]It is good to know that 1:45 is not that unusual. Thanks, I really don't want to wait for a re-test. I'm pretty miserable, averaging 3-4 hours per night, ambien assisted... BTW CPAP.com "ask question" reply said that I can pay $150 for an at-home device that will count apnea events and they will prescribe me a CPAP based on that. (A possibility if frustration with scheduing sleep studies continues..) Do you or do you know anyone who has used it successfully?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:39 pm

If you are really concerned, talk to your doctor.
Some people have either worked directly with a DME company to private pay rent an autopap for a short time and used the ability of those machines to monitor and adjust to act as a 'cheapie' interim device while waiting for a true sleep study. Your doctor may also be willing to work with you on something like that- either writing an order for it or working with a local DME company on your behalf. If not you can always work with the DME company on your own though they may not be able to do anything without a prescription.
When the athome test thing was first brought up a month or so ago there were negative reports from people who had used similar devices and positive reports from people who were familiar with the devices but hadn't used them themselves.
For what it's worth to you, I had about 1 1/2 hours in my sleep test so don't feel like it was too short. I've read posts from people who had under an hour!

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:43 pm

That $150 test is really new. Just was announced a couple weeks ago. If I were you I would go for it. Especially if you are pretty sure what your problem is.

Problem is insurance probably won't pay for CPAP with this test. Not yet any way. BUT given what a sleep study costs, the test and the setup with APAP (better machine than you are likely going to be pushed at) is probably not all that much more than you footing the bill for another sleep test.

Also you can add in that the insurance year is almost done, and if you start CPAP through a local DME before the end of the year, you will likely be hit up for another deductable in January causing your machine to be even more expensive.

I wish that test had been around for me, I would give it a try. If it comes up no apnes, you are out the $150, if it is positive you can choose your equipment and have it really soon and aviod the hassle with the DME...

I am adding this. I just read the note above and I don't remember seeing anyone on this forum commenting on the new CPAP.com test either pro or con, but of course I could have missed something.

Guest, I would love it if you would tell us on what date these experiences were commented on so I could read the posts. I am very interested as I would love a family member to try this if it works well.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, DME, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, CPAP, DME, APAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:44 pm

snoregirl wrote:Guest, I would love it if you would tell us on what date these experiences were commented on so I could read the posts. I am very interested as I would love a family member to try this if it works well.

Ask and ye shall receive my dear!

viewtopic/t14035/Cheap-Sleep-Apnea-Scre ... AP-Rx.html

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:37 pm

Now that I have quickly read your link, I cannot find anywhere an opinion by someone who has actually used this product.

So I am still wondering about your comment???

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:59 pm

Hi joepro7,

The most important thing is your long term health and well being. You should not rush into anything at this stage. Wait until you do get your results and get as much clarification as you can from the sleep specialist and family doctor. Do as much research as you can and use this forum to ask further questions and perhaps help interpret your study results.

You really should rely heavily on your medical professionals for your own health protection. This may also be the only recourse with insurance entanglements or unforseen medical problems. In the end, you have to manage your own health care. In the beginning you should use your doctors for all their worth. That's what they do and what you pay for.

All the best. Apnea treatment is a whole new world, it's not like just taking a pill!

Bob F

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:36 am

[quote="joepro7"]..................... I'm pretty miserable, averaging 3-4 hours per night, ambien assisted... ........................................................

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:19 am

My position is: If you think you have OSA, you probably do. The only good thing about a sleep study is it will test for problems other than OSA. So I say get the equipment, try APAP, then go for the sleep study if you still think you need it. In my opinion, OSA is a self-treatable aliment, and recent advances in the available software make it even more so.

When was the last time you heard of anyone having an accident with an
xPAP machine? How about a curling iron?

For me, doing it myself, without the DME or insurance company, has been
a bit less costly, for the hardware.

Please note, I am not a medical professional, and your mileage may vary, etc. etc..

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:10 am

My first sleep study was supposed to be a split night study...1/2 being monitored, the other 1/2 was to be the titration where they put a mask on you and hook you up to a cpap and try to figure out what pressure is required to keep your airway open to overcome the obstruction.

Unfortunately, I didn't sleep enough at either study and thus they were not able to come up with a # for me. Of course, we still had to pay for these unsuccessful studies.

My sleep doc then sent a prescription to the DME for an autopap machine.
THe autopap figured out what my pressures should be. And this is how they titrated me...at home, after 2 failed sleep studies.

You can ask your sleep doc for a autopap to try the titration at home.
No outside noise, no lights. If you have small kids, perhaps they could sleep at Grandmas for the weekend!

THis will save you alot of time. My experience was that it takes them a month to read the sleep study results, then you wait another month for the titration appointment, then wait another month for the titration results. THis adds up to too much wasted time...especially if you already know that you have OSA.
If I had to do this all over again, I would push for the at-home titration while wearing a pulse oximeter.
THe first study in the sleep lab is important. THey observe you for other abnormalities including PLS-Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, aka, Restless Leg Syndrome.

Good Luck, let us know what happens.
Barb

joepro7 · Post by **joepro7** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:11 am

Thanks Barb, and everyone else... It seems like maybe there is hope. Based on my partner's description alone, it sure sounds like OSA, no restless legs. I tend to actually wake up when I have apnea events. I have some addl problems because I have a sports injury (herniated disc) that causes my neck to hurt (waking me up) when I sleep on my side or stomach. And I can't seem to GET to sleep on my back because when I relax my throat I can't even exhale when I'm awake in bed. My GP says that I should be patient. I have made appoinments in advance for addl studies, when the results come in I will try to convince the doctors to prescribe an APAP ASAP, and cancel the addl studies that aren't what is prescribed. Otherwise I found a website that has the sleepstrip (the $150 thing) for $59. I still need to find out if CPAP.com will have a doc give me a prescription if they are not the ones selling me the strip... I can still keep doing the studies as long as insurance pays. Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Thanks again,
Joe

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:24 am

yes it does to me.

But why sweat the extra $100 for some unknown company when Cpap.com will provide the script? I would get it going if as you saw you can't even exhale while lying down on your back.

Or buy an auction APAP w/o script, If I had your problems I might even get a straight CPAP with data as they are readily available on yahoo auctions if I couldn't find an apap.

Only problem is if you need bipap (higher pressures) you would have the wrong machine.