When/if to repeat a sleep test

[Tigerlily]

Hey everyone,

I was tested in 2012 and diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. I started cpap therapy in Jan 2013. I’ve been using it daily for over 8 years now. I am experiencing symptoms again, mainly daytime tiredness. I asked my dr if I could have another sleep study to see if things have changed. I asked if my insurance will cover it and he said “they should cover it no problem since you have documented sleep apnea”. A week later, they call me and say my insurance denied the in lab sleep test saying “it isn’t medically neccessary”. Seriously!? Asinine! Apparently they will cover a home study though, I don’t understand that, but my Dr. doesn’t really like the home studies.

Thoughts?

Have you had a repeat test? If yes, why and how long after your previous test? Did your insurance cover the repeat test? Was it in lab or at home? Did the repeat test make a difference in your treatment and how you feel afterwards?

Thank you!

[klm49]

Hey everyone,

I was tested in 2012 and diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. I started cpap therapy in Jan 2013. I’ve been using it daily for over 8 years now. I am experiencing symptoms again, mainly daytime tiredness. I asked my dr if I could have another sleep study to see if things have changed. I asked if my insurance will cover it and he said “they should cover it no problem since you have documented sleep apnea”. A week later, they call me and say my insurance denied the in lab sleep test saying “it isn’t medically neccessary”. Seriously!? Asinine! Apparently they will cover a home study though, I don’t understand that, but my Dr. doesn’t really like the home studies.

Thoughts?

Have you had a repeat test? If yes, why and how long after your previous test? Did your insurance cover the repeat test? Was it in lab or at home? Did the repeat test make a difference in your treatment and how you feel afterwards?

Thank you!

I didn't have a repeat sleep test but when my Sleep dr. quit taking Medicare and I changed Dr.'s I was given a 2nd. overnight titration mainly because I showed the dr. I was having O2 desaturations. The dr. told me I should probably be on a BIPAP but we needed to wait for the 5 year mark so Medicare would pay for it. Recently my machine died at 4 yrs. 9 mos. I went to sleep Dr. again and she said we can either wait 3 mos. and get a new machine or I could do another overnight titration for a Bipap and I could get one. I just got my new Bipap last week and during the titration they found I need to be on oxygen.

[chunkyfrog]

APAP machines can help you find a better pressure range without all that cursed glue in your hair.

[LSAT]

I haven't had a repeat test since I originally went on CPAP 12+ years ago. I haven't had a problem that could not be identified by the machine's data or the data shown on Sleepyhead/Oscar.

[Julie]

Ditto!

[Miss Emerita]

Tigerlily, what kind of machine do you have? Depending on the answer, another sleep study may be unnecessary.

[Pugsy]

More and more insurance companies are going with the home sleep studies now because they are cheaper than an in lab sleep study.

[klm49]

APAP machines can help you find a better pressure range without all that cursed glue in your hair.

All that glue and electrodes can find other things.

[Deborah K.]

It could be that your machine is not dialed in correctly for your needs, or that your needs have changed over the years. If you sign up for and use the free OSCAR program talked about all over this list, the experts here can give you good advice on changing your machine settings so that you can feel better. Many of them have LOTS of valuable experience you can tap into.

Best of luck!

[ChicagoGranny]

I asked my dr if I could have another sleep study to see if things have changed

A sleep study would be a waste of time and money. Let the expert users here teach you to figure out what's wrong and how to correct it.

[Wulfman...]

If you have a data-capable machine (either APAP or CPAP), you're getting an "in-home" sleep study each and every night.

It's been 16 years since I had mine ( 03/29/2005 ) and have never needed to have another.


Den

.

[Architect]

Sorry to read your insurance company refused additional sleep study. Since I began sleep therapy, been so long can't remember what year

I had another sleep study done approx 2.5 years ago, I was feeling mildly fatigued again. Clinic desired to test me on Bipap, after study I was issued a Bipap.

[Tigerlily]

I didn't have a repeat sleep test but when my Sleep dr. quit taking Medicare and I changed Dr.'s I was given a 2nd. overnight titration mainly because I showed the dr. I was having O2 desaturations. The dr. told me I should probably be on a BIPAP but we needed to wait for the 5 year mark so Medicare would pay for it. Recently my machine died at 4 yrs. 9 mos. I went to sleep Dr. again and she said we can either wait 3 mos. and get a new machine or I could do another overnight titration for a Bipap and I could get one. I just got my new Bipap last week and during the titration they found I need to be on oxygen.

Oh interesting. I really don't know the difference between a regular cpap machine and BIPAP. Can you explain? Thanks!

[Tigerlily]

APAP machines can help you find a better pressure range without all that cursed glue in your hair.

I think my machine can do that.....

[Tigerlily]

Tigerlily, what kind of machine do you have? Depending on the answer, another sleep study may be unnecessary.

Phillips Respironics System One 60