HELP!

[brandito]

I had my sleep assessment last night and as a person who both, doesn't sleep well in foreign environments, and has apnea, I could hardly sleep a wink. The assessor was awesome and very patient and assured me that I had enough stage 1 sleep for a proper assessment but I know I didn't sleep long enough to produce enough apneas to warrant the CPAP. The technician told me that the doctors would probably review my results and have me back for a CPAP only assessment. I am deathly afraid that if I can't reproduce my apneas due to the unfamiliarity of the hospital and my anxiousness about proving my conditions the doctors will say they don't have enough info to recommend me for CPAP. I guess if if its any consolation, the technician told me that I had some apneas in the little sleep I had.

Any info anyone could provide me with about the next steps would be awesome. I want more than anything to go on CPAP and to live a normal life where I am not walking around pissed off and tired all the time.

Thank You
Brandon

[ozij]

Relax, Barndon.

First of all, they are calling you back in for a titration.

Second, If they can't figure out the right pressure for you, there are home sleep tests - not as good as the lab, but they exist.

Third in some places, when a person doesn't get enough sleep in the lab, they send them home with at "self adjusting" aka auto-titrating aka APAP machine that will figure give and indication of what pressure you may need. Look at mbrown's recent posts.

Fourth, if you do get an Rx for cpap, you can use it to buy your own APAP online at a price which is often cheaper than your insurance copay for a bare bones cpap.

You'll get the treatment you need.


O.

[brandito]

Thank You!

The technician was very vague about what was going to happen next, because she said she got in trouble for telling other patients about possible next steps without the doctor. At least now I know whats in store. I guess the worst part is waiting for my new assesment date and machine.

[Slinky]

I am assuming that you expressed your concerns about not having slept enough to your sleep tech which is most likely the reason the tech told you that the doctors would probably have you back for a CPAP only assessment after reviewing your results and also that you had some apneas in the little sleep you feel you had. Usually patients underestimate just how much they slept. And generally the techs do not volunteer that kind of information to the patient.

To lessen your concerns about being able to sleep w/the addition of CPAP pressure and mask to all the wires, etc. for a titration study, just ask if you may take a sleep medicine the night of the titration study. Quite likely they will be agreeable to your taking Ambien or other sleep aid. But it is best to ask because some script and OTC meds taken for sleep can interfere w/titration.

[roncron]

I perhaps can relate a bit.

When I had my initial sleep study, they made me watch an informational video on OSA while the tech hooked me up. It showed me what a dangerous problem OSA really is. So after the tech shuts off the light and leaves, I can't fall asleep - I'm afraid I'll stop breathing. Every time I start to drift off, I become aware of my air passages closing and I wake up. Now, this is irrational - the tech is monitoring me and simply will not let me suffocate. Yet, I feel my air passages close and I panic a little. It took me 3 or more hours to fall asleep (and the total time alloted for sleep was no more than 6 hours).

Fortunately, I eventually fell asleep and the tech diagnosed OSA. I had another study for titration a couple weeks later, and like many others here, that first night on cpap gave me tons of energy the next day. It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you when you're used to not getting any good sleep at all.

[brandito]

You guys are awesome. Yeah she said I only got about about 2 and half hours of sleep. Im probably gonna have to take Ambien. It stinks my mom is a extremely light sleeper and my dad has apnea. I guess it could be worse, there are no instances of heart disease or Cancer in our family

[brandito]

Well I finally had my titration and I feel great! The only problem is now I have to wait 1-2 weeks for the doctor to review my results and set my machine. Not to be pushy but shouldn't this be available like the next business day? They don't make diabetics wait for insulin or migraine sufferers to wait for aspirin. Perhaps I am being facetious but, its gonna be awful staring at my mask, without the machine, and waking up feeling like crap for another 1-2 weeks of my life.

[GeneS]

Brandito
Make sure you get a copy of your prescription.
GeneS

[papoose]

Brandon,

It's good that you are eager to begin your therapy, but like many good things in life, it does take time and patience.

Unlike some treatments for urgent care, there are clinical reviews and business processes that delay xpap therapy. After interpreting the data from your titration, your doctor will issue a prescription, and if you have insurance, your insurer will need to review and authorize payment for the equipment order. After your equipment provider receives the authorization, your equipment may need to be ordered, if not in stock. And then, most places require you to schedule a meeting with a respiratory therapist for machine orientation and mask selection and fitting.

I can tell you that so far, you've been fortunate to have waited only a few weeks between your two sleep studies. Chances are, you'll have your equipment in a matter of days.

Incidentally, my own experience was unusually inefficient and prolonged: My first sleep study (revealing severe apnea) was on Aug. 21. My titration followed on March 9, and I finally received my equipment on May 19. Nearly 300 days.

[goose]

Hey Brandon....
Relax!!! Your stressing over the deal isn't helping you any!!!!

I was recommended for sleep study in Nov. 2006. Had my first sleep test (PSG) in January 2007 and my second test (titration) in March......I had to wait until June 5th to get my machine, mask and other xPAP "stuff"......
So the few weeks you're having to wait is really nothing!!!

And by the way -- Welcome to the forum!!!! You have found a great place for information and advice. If you haven't already, take a look at the yellow light bulb (Our Collective Wisdom) and the red balloon (CPAP FAQ). You can find all kinds of good stuff there.

Like you, I couldn't wait to get on the hose!!! I knew that it couldn't help but make me feel better and it has. Not miraculously, but little by little and I still have a long way to go in my estimation -- BUT, that said, I didn't get here overnight!!! I've been undiagnosed for at least 20 years and probably longer, so I don't expect an overnight fix.....But as I said, I do feel better!!!!

Chill a bit, look forward to the treatment and then go for it!!!!
Please let us know how you're doing once you get started, and if you have any questions you already know where to ask!!!!

Take care
cheers
goose

[OutaSync]

They might be telling you two weeks as a worst case scenario. I was titrated on a Saturday night, heard from my doctor on Tuesday morning (because Monday was a holiday) and had my mask and machine by Tuesday night.
So hang in there. It doesn't always have to take that long.