sleep tech said sleep on your back as long as possible

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:00 pm

Even thou I am not a back sleeper, my sleep tech said to sleep for as long as I could on my back. I did so for quite a while, then spent time on my left side and right side. Now if I'm not a back sleeper (that's where most all of my apneas occured), why did they want me to back sleep? I don't do it in real life. The more I read about sleep labs, DME's and the way they service people, the more I question the validity of these sleep studies. This is a big business, and if you can't show a real need for sleep equipment, then you're out of business.
I would like to have another sleep study and be allowed to sleep normally, on my side...just wonder what it would show?
Anybody else remember being told to stay on their back as long as possible? Am I being a little paranoid?

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:10 pm

bluegrassfan wrote:Now if I'm not a back sleeper (that's where most all of my apneas occured), why did they want me to back sleep? I don't do it in real life.

The reason that they want you to try to sleep on your back is that they want to see the worst case scenario. People typically have more apneas when on their back. This is pretty normal procedure from what I have seen in most sleep labs.

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:10 pm

No you're not being paranoid. I was woken up a couple times and told to roll over on my back. Boy that loudspeaker was LOUD! I was told I would be expected to sleep on my back as much as possible but that I could fall asleep whatever way was most comfortable and then they'd tell me to roll over.

I am also a side and stomach sleeper so it's difficult for me to sleep on my back. I'm sure most of my events take place on my back, but that doesn't account for my excessive daytime sleepiness after "normal" nights. I know they could only get me into REM sleep when I was on side at a pressure of 9. Zero rem on my back, but then I'm not worried about that - I'm more worried about the lack of stages 3 and 4 sleep most likely caused by PLMD. (leg movements). Neither issue was addressed in my followup appointment.

So I'm going to vote with my feet and my $$$ and when I have to go for retitration in a month I'm going to a different sleep center! Probably will be mostly the same experience, but at least I will have tried!

Linda

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:12 pm

The idea of the sleep test, other than to make gobs of money, are to find out your worse case readings, so you qualify for treatment.

Would you rather do the test on your side as normal, and be told that you didn't have Apnea?

Or would you rather be told to sleep in a position that would be more likely to show that you did have Apnea?

Most of us have symptoms, before we get the sleep study, it might be important to find out if we have a problem.

What if they test you in a position (side), that shows you up as OK, and the next morning they find you on your back, dead from heart failure. Did you get your moneys worth? Jim

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:17 pm

Jim, you're pretty salty today . Are you having a bad day? Need a hug?
{{{{Jim}}}

Love ya!

Linda

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:18 pm

P.S.

Jim, you may be being sassy today, but you are telling it like it is!

Hugs,

Linda

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:22 pm

Well Jim, that's a good point and a valid one. I guess there are people who can sleep on their back and not have that little flapper drop down closed. I'm having a real problem lately keeping the mask on, because I feel like I'm gulping air, well maybe not gulping, but I feel the sensation that it's going down the wrong way...and I burp a little the next day. So maybe I'm looking for a good reason to not use the mask as much. I believe it's time for a new mask for me, plus I'm gonna get the PB420e which my Doc prescribed for me. I really need to know what's going on at nite with my bod. I know Complete Health is gonna give me a hard time when I ask them to get Medicare to swap out my basic cpap mach for this one.

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:29 pm

The gulping air and burping the next day isn't necessarily because of the machine or mask. It's just one of the wonderful side effects of CPAP treatment called aerophagia! Be thankful it's coming out as burbs and not the other way

We had a post here today that had me rolling on the floor in tears laughing regarding that very subject.

But, the DME SHOULD have given you the equipment your doctor ordered! Their bad... Tough - let 'em deal with Medicare. They were the ones in the wrong!!!!!

Best,

Linda

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:29 pm

[quote="bluegrassfan"]Even thou I am not a back sleeper, my sleep tech said to sleep for as long as I could on my back. I did so for quite a while, then spent time on my left side and right side. Now if I'm not a back sleeper (that's where most all of my apneas occured), why did they want me to back sleep? I don't do it in real life. The more I read about sleep labs, DME's and the way they service people, the more I question the validity of these sleep studies. This is a big business, and if you can't show a real need for sleep equipment, then you're out of business.
I would like to have another sleep study and be allowed to sleep normally, on my side...just wonder what it would show?
Anybody else remember being told to stay on their back as long as possible? Am I being a little paranoid?

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:43 pm

JSK, Delta, SDog...I appreciate the input...I bet that 420 will tell me what's happening like you said. I know more than one time a nite, I feel my teeth seperating slightly but my lips are closed...then sometimes I feel a burble...so I bet I am mouthbreathing sometimes and that's waking me up. The big gasps are probably my mouth opening slap dab wide open!. Well, tks again...bob

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:44 am

I was told to sleep on my back also at the sleep lab. I never ever sleep on my back, I'm a stomach sleeper.Didn't think I could fall asleep that way, but I did.

But, even though I had been sleeping on my stomach all of the time, I was still having all of the symptoms of sleepapnea.

Being on my back just made it worse.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:49 am

When I had my sleep study, I was told I could sleep in the positions in which I normally sleep (I'm a side-sleeper). I told the gal running the lab that I wouldn't be able to sleep on my back and that if she insisted on me sleeping that way, we were gonna have problems.

Den

ddpelp · Post by **ddpelp** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:58 am

to me from what I have read in this forum and been told by the doctors you need to be tested on the back to get all the results. Goofproof is not only saying it like it is but in my opinion.. to change sleep centers till you find one that does not do the test right and you get the results you prefer is silly and maybe even dangerous. Kinda like doctor shopping ..

My sleep center kept me 2 hours over the normal time trying to get more sleep on the back info as I too mainly sleep on the side. dunno just an opinion.. goofproof is right

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:05 am

It doesn't make sense to me to MAKE somebody sleep in a position in which they NEVER sleep. I CANNOT sleep....in bed....on my back.....PERIOD!

Den

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:45 am

I have always slept on my back, so it was never an issue with me.

sleep tech said sleep on your back as long as possible

sleep tech said sleep on your back as long as possible

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