My Sleep Study Results

[4638675696]

https://imgur.com/a/vup8xjO

Hello. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor tomorrow to review these sleep study results (see Imgur link above) and will schedule a followup with a sleep doctor if needed.

Someone also suggested I post them to the forum. Any thoughts on these?

Some background:
-I snore a fair amount
-Have been grinding my teeth for years (and use a thin mouthguard every night, made by my dentist - something similar in thickness to Invisalign or Smile Direct, and have for years)
-I try to allow at least 8-9 hours of sleep opportunity per night (actual sleep time in completely dark, cool-temperature room after a winding down bedtime routine with no blue light/using orange glasses beforehand, night mode on my phone after sundown...etc).
-I usually fall asleep between 11PM and midnight and wake up at least once to urinate, typically around 3AM. Sometimes I am unable to fall back to sleep.
-I wake up fairly tired, am often tired during the day, and frequently have the desire to nap (and sometimes do) in the early to mid-afternoon.
-I've read Why We Sleep and listened to Matthew Walker on Peter Attia's podcast, and already follow most of the general sleep hygiene advice he provides.
-I use blue light therapy (S.A.D. light) each morning as directed by my doctor.

[Geer1]

Someone also suggested I post them to the forum. Any thoughts on these?

The first in home study shows nothing abnormal.

The second in clinic study shows you have moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Must be some combination of good night/bad night but I would rely more on the in clinic test which recommends using CPAP treatment.

I assume your doctor will either want to perform the titration study (hook you up to CPAP and increase pressure while monitoring you to determine your ideal CPAP settings) or start you on a CPAP trial. You want to end up with a data capable automatic adjusting machine (APAP), Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset or Autoset for Her (has an extra setting) are two favorites. If your doctor is recommending something else (especially if it is only basic continuous pressure machine ask why not use an APAP). The data side will allow you to view your own data and ensure your treatment is being effective.

Sounds like you are on the right path to getting things figured out.

[palerider]

(hook you up to CPAP and increase pressure while monitoring you to determine your ideal CPAP settings)

Sleep labs rarely come up with "ideal" settings, if such a thing even exists, sleep varies too much from hour to hour and night to night. The best they can do is find a starting point.

You want to end up with a data capable automatic adjusting machine (APAP), Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset or Autoset for Her (has an extra setting) are two favorites. If your doctor is recommending something else (especially if it is only basic continuous pressure machine ask why not use an APAP)..

Best to just refuse a single pressure machine,and under no circumstance ever accept a no-data machine.

[4638675696]

I have reviewed my results (posted here: https://imgur.com/a/vup8xjO) with my primary care doctor and she recommends I try a CPAP. I have United Healthcare, spoke with them and they said if I buy from an in-network provider they will cover 90 percent of costs and I can get a new machine every 3 years.

1.) Is there a specific in-network provider for United Healthcare which you would recommend? I don't mind buying online if advantageous.

2.) I have seen Resmed Autoset for Her recommended in this thread and others.
>>>If I have good coverage and no budget limit in mind for my part of the payment/am finicky about sleeping with anything attached, is this still the best?
>>>If spending more equates to better sleep, I am very willing to do so.
>>>Will it let me breath through my nose with mouth closed?

3.) What about for travel in the above scenario?
>>>I fly about once per month for work, must carry-on only for practicality, and don't have much additional space.
>>>I already have a Dr's note to bring a cooler with food for medical purposes, in addition to personal item and carry-on, so could not manage a 4th item.
>>>If a CPAP works well for me, I don't mind investing in an additional one for travel.
>>>Insurance won't cover more than one unit every 3 years, so looking for best recommendations overall, but don't want to sacrifice on functionality vs. travel size while at home, so am open to buying the second outright.
>>>After trying a CPAP to see if there's improvement, I also plan to attempt a dental appliance to see if that might be a workable solution for short business trips.

[palerider]

2.) I have seen Resmed Autoset for Her recommended in this thread and others.

Then you know what we're going to say.

>>>Will it let me breath through my nose with mouth closed?

That has nothing to do with the machine., Just the mask.

[4638675696]

2.) I have seen Resmed Autoset for Her recommended in this thread and others.

Then you know what we're going to say.

>>>Will it let me breath through my nose with mouth closed?

That has nothing to do with the machine., Just the mask.

Thank you for your reply. My question is whether that machine is popular because of a balance between price and features or because it's "the best" (and I know that term is relative)? For example, if I could get a quieter machine or some added features that benefit me, but cost more, then I am open to that.

Regarding the mask, may I request a recommendation for a nose-breathable version?

[palerider]

2.) I have seen Resmed Autoset for Her recommended in this thread and others.

Then you know what we're going to say.

>>>Will it let me breath through my nose with mouth closed?

That has nothing to do with the machine., Just the mask.

Thank you for your reply. My question is whether that machine is popular because of a balance between price and features or because it's "the best" (and I know that term is relative)? For example, if I could get a quieter machine or some added features that benefit me, but cost more, then I am open to that.

See above.

Regarding the mask, may I request a recommendation for a nose-breathable version?

No, what I like, you may hate.

[Pugsy]

The ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and the For Her models....probably the quietest machines out there in terms of machine motor noise.
Essentially silent to the naked ear.

For mask options....you can nose breathe with all of them.
You could even nose breathe only with a full face mask if you wanted to but the nasal interface masks typically have less issues when it comes to maintaining a seal. The more surface area the mask touches the skin...the more potential for leaks.

So the smaller footprint on the face...less chance for leaks.
The nasal pillow masks have the smallest footprint of any of the nasal masks. Very little touching the skin.

I can tell you which nasal masks I like but that doesn't mean that you would like them. Everyone has their own personal preferences, wants and needs and mine might be different than yours.
I happen to hate the headgear so I opt for a mask that doesn't use headgear. See the mask in my profile. About as nothing to it as a mask could get.

Otherwise take a stroll through the masks available and just see what looks interesting to you.
https://www.cpap.com/

[Morbius]

... sleep study results ...

Someone also suggested I post them to the forum. Any thoughts on these?

Yeah.

Where are you guys getting these sleep studies at?

96 obstructive apneas without a single desaturation? Obstructive apneas in SWS? AHI 0.3 on one study and 21 on the next?

[Morbius]

... I would rely more on the in clinic test which recommends using CPAP treatment.

Oh really? Why?

[Morbius]

tAG4QAe.jpg (60.05 KiB) Viewed 1139 times

[Miss Emerita]

It's puzzling why there's such a discrepancy between your two tests, but your subjective day-time symptoms strongly suggest that you do indeed have moderate apnea, as the more detailed study suggests.

It is absolutely worthwhile for you to try PAP treatment and see whether you experience improvement. You'll need patience -- results don't always appear quickly -- but this is a very good thing to try.

If you breathe through your nose during the day, you should probably start trialing masks by using a nasal mask or a nasal-pillows mask. (Always listen to Pugsy!)

Keep us posted, would you? There are so many people here who can advise you when you have questions or problems.

[Geer1]

... I would rely more on the in clinic test which recommends using CPAP treatment.

Oh really? Why?

Epworth scale score.
Snoring.
RERA's
Difference in studies could be good night vs bad night.
What should be the more accurate study indicating moderate sleep apnea.
Because the Resmed home sleep study is the same program that had some questionable scoring for me...
Lack of desaturations could be explained by mouth breathing.

Most importantly, because a CPAP trial is going to be more definitive then these couple tests. His doctor is recommending titration and treatment, you think he should just turn that down and throw these reports away because they may or may not be accurate? Might as well try the equipment out if the doctor is offering it.

[Morbius]

... your subjective day-time symptoms strongly suggest that you do indeed have moderate apnea...

Actually, the only thing his symptoms suggest is that he has a sleep issue.

[Morbius]

Here's another "Something's Rotten in Denmark" observation:

Read the technician notes. Never noted the presence of respiratory events, and indeed noted that there weren't any.

Kinda odd for somebody with 96 obstructive sleep apnea events...