Diagnosis - Results Inside, Please Help!

[AdamITR]

Hi All,

I recently used the at home resmed sleep apnea test. Got my report back. Say's "Mild Sleep Apnea" ... meeting with physician soon, but wanted to share these images to get any opinions .... Thanks!!!!

[Julie]

Hi, unless I missed it, your results don't say what position(s) you slept in, and that can be very meaningful for someone who has only hypopneas and no apneas. If you're a back sleeper, you may well have no, or few, events if you were to try side sleeping, using whatever necessary to stay there overnight, e.g. a backpack, foam wedges in behind, etc. If you'd registered many apneas (all of which would still be fewer on your side) then I'd suggest a different path, but you don't have apnea... so as I said unless I'm missing something (like you never back sleep) then you should be fine if you make an effort to change things.

[AdamITR]

Hmm, the complete results don't indicate my sleep position. I know that I sleep on my back the majority of time. During the test night, I was on my back most of the night, but recall rolling to my right side at some point ... yes I know that this is not scientific approach to the question

[Julie]

Well why not try to do some of the stuff I mentioned and see what happens.

[AdamITR]

I sure will!

[Guest]

Just wanted to add some more info. My Sleep Doc. wanted me to have the study at the hospital, but my insurance would only cover the at home study.

I snore so loudly and so much that I sleep in a separate room. In the past my wife has witnessed pauses in my breathing. I also clench my teeth? The worst part is I'm so, so, fatigued during the daytime, I always nap (3-4hrs) during the day. I do have a deviated septum, and also large tonsils ... my ENT wanted me to have surgery, but I declined. I also have sleep phase disorder ... which does not help, I would think.

With that said ... I find it weird that the test showed zero apnea events??? Can anyone explain this further? Waiting for a phone call from my Sleep Doc. to be seen hopefully next week.

[Okie bipap]

I don't know about the tonsils, but I would definitely have the deviated septum fixed. After mine was done, I was able to breathe through both sides of my nose for the first time in my life. I had always had sinus problems. After having the deviated septum fixed and the sinus cavities cleaned out, I have had very little problems since. Being able to breathe through both sides of my nose is really nice.

[Julie]

Hypopneas are wannabe apneas, but I think you need to look at one variable at a time so you'll know for sure where the problems are and where they're not... though I agree that getting your septum done should be asap. Not everyone has apnea! And if between your snoring and back sleeping you have 'only' hypopneas, don't be sad, be glad! The sooner you address things the sooner you'll know for sure if you still have anything left to 'fix', but as they stand now, it shouldn't be too hard.

[Pugsy]

Hyponeas (which you had a considerable number of) can be just as devastating to the body even if they don't technically make the criteria for a full grown apnea.
Obstructive apneas usually require 80 to 100% blockage of the airflow.
Hyponeas can be 50% to 79% blockage...we don't know how close to OA criteria your hyponeas were.
We know they lasted long enough and the reduction was enough for your oxygen to drop to 83% for part of the night and it was below 88% for about half a hour.

Not sure what the "Flow Ltd Breathing" criteria is but it could be flow limitations that don't meet criteria for hyponeas...either in # of air flow reductions or maybe duration.
But those numbers are a lot higher...and makes me wonder about UARS being a potential factor.
Google "Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome" and see what you think.
UARS is usually treated with cpap anyway.

[chillAtGVC]

I was in your position about six years ago with an AHI slightly over 10 and a primary complaint of not falling asleep quickly and frequent awakenings during the night. The sleep doc called it "sleep apnea lite" and told to lose 20 pounds and quit drinking alcohol. He said if I did not do that, I'd end up on a CPAP machine making it sound like the worst possible outcome. Forward six years and I am heavier than I was, still drink alcohol and barely dragged myself into to find that I have full blown sleep apnea. And to find out that CPAP therapy is quite OK. I wish that he had put me on it six years ago. I've also since had my deviated septum fixed. Now I feel better than I have in years and am working on reducing the alcohol and weight. I don't plan on ever getting off of the CPAP but I have enough energy now to feel like getting healthier.

[AdamITR]

Thanks guys for all the great information! I will mention all this to my Dr. I also take a lot of meds. for Anx/Dep. throughout the day and night. These may need to be addressed as well