What should I know before I go?

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:57 am

I am having a sleep study done tonight. I guess it is one of the split night ones because they said if I was having apneas they would put me on a cpap for the second half of the night.

I've been reading a few posts and want to be sure that I am armed with the info needed when I go. I have BCBS insurance, and I think I read that the sleep study without any CPAP needs to be at least 2 hours long of actual sleep time or insurance will not cover the machine. Is this correct?

Also, if I have sleep apnea, will I find out right then, or do I have to wait the 1-2 weeks for them to send the report to my Dr.?

I am a side sleeper and currently do not have trouble with mouth breathing. I think I would get claustrophobic with a FF mask, so the nasal pillows sound like a more viable option. Polident strips also seems like a good cure for mouth leaks.

Should I know anything else going into the study?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:11 am

Try the yellow lightbulb icon (above) "Our Collective Wisdom".

Many of the answers to your questions vary, depending on your sleep lab, insurance and doctor.

"Claustrophobia" is all in your head......

Den

msheda · Post by **msheda** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:26 am

allisonandrews wrote:I am having a sleep study done tonight. I guess it is one of the split night ones because they said if I was having apneas they would put me on a cpap for the second half of the night.

Also, if I have sleep apnea, will I find out right then, or do I have to wait the 1-2 weeks for them to send the report to my Dr.?

If you wake up with this thing attached to your face, I think that might be a major clue!

If you get a good sleep tech, you can ask them in the morning what you were titrated at and they will tell you. Other than that, it's pretty much wait to hear. (or call and pester, which I'm a strong advocate of)

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:34 am

Thanks. One of the things I liked about this clinic is in the FAQ's:

Many patients have had a less than optimal experience with CPAP because of poor mask fittings and improper CPAP pressures. Mask comfort is a mandatory prerequisite for CPAP. Our philosophy is that mask comfort is our responsibility. We provide expert mask fittings with the availability of hundreds of different type of masks, pillows and other interfaces for patients to try. In contrast to some sleep labs who carry only one mask manufacturer, we have available nearly every type of mask available. We are also regularly provided with the newests masks by the manufacturers because of our reputation. Dr. Ostransky believes mask fittings should be performed by sleep technicians and not be delegated to durable medical equipment companies. Patients having difficulties tolerating the constant pressure of CPAP may be switched to BiPAP which allows the lowering of the exhalation pressure with more comfort. Some OSAS patients may be referred for other treatments including upper airway surgery and/or dental appliances.

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:47 am

When I went in for my sleep study I did not wake up with a mask on my face, however, I was called two days later and told that I do have severe sleep apnea..So, my question was why didn't the tech place me on the CPAP that night?

No one had an answer for this question. But I was given my CPAP, a mask and sent on my way..

Fast forward, I love my CPAP and I love how I am feeling now.

All those past years of being diagnosed with depression or anxiety and being told I was too thin to have sleep apnea are gone. I have a very narrow airway and damage done from GERD and this is why I have OSA.

I am also no longer anxious, in fact all my anxiety has gone away in a matter of a few months.

Good luck with your sleep study!!

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:28 pm

I know it may sound wrong, but I am actually hoping that I have SA. It would be so nice just to have a "reason" for my symptoms and a possible treatment!

I seem to be one of the lucky ones with Drs based on what I read here. I was prescribed an antidepressant a little over a year ago. I had had some events in my life that I just couldn't get over. I was also having a lot of trouble sleeping. My dr prescribed Zoloft. I ended up on 100mg of it per night, one hour before bed. After a while the initial effects of the Zoloft making me sleep wore off. The dr then prescribed me trazodone which worked for a while. Then it stopped. I went back to the dr and she said that we could either do a sleep study or up the dosage of trazodone and see if it had any effect. I was only on 50mg, so we upped to 75mg and I did notice a difference.

However, that all faded as well. I went back to the dr recently and told her that the relief was just temporary each time I upped my dosage and I was still tired all the time. She said that before we messed with either of the meds that I was on, that she wanted me to have the sleep study done to rule out apnea or restless leg.

And so that gets me here, to having this sleep study tonight at the North Texas Lung and Sleep Clinic. It's over an hour drive from my house, but I think it will be worth it.

As I have read more on apnea from various sites and sources, I can now see some of the "symptoms" that I would have never connected to sleep apnea might actually be there.

I can sleep all the time and never feel rested.
I have trouble getting up in the mornings.
I am sleepy during the day.
I snore loudly, even while laying on my side.
I wake up often during the night to urinate.
Sometimes when I walk, I tend to drag my feet a bit in the toe area.
I wake up sometimes feeling like I am choking and when I swallow, it feels like there is a lot of mucus in my throat.
I am overweight, but the majority of my weight gain has been in my stomach area over the past year or two.
My short term memory sucks.
My concentration level is nowhere near what it used to be.
etc, etc... (if my concentration and short term memory were better, I probably could have added more to the list )

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:18 pm

Seems like I have seen those symptons before.

Been there and done that! Good Luck!

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:29 pm

The person who did my sleep study wouldn't tell me anything. I guess he didn't want to have any liability, and I understand that. It is hard to sleep in a weird place, hooked up to all kinds of wires, and not get any feedback whatsoever. The only thing he told me is that I don't snore very often or very loud. My husband said I sounded like I was chainsawing the forrest down. I ws never hooked up to the hose when I did my sleep study. I was told they have to do it by a certain time for insurance purposes. Seems kind of dumb to me. If you are having apneas, and you hook them up to the hose and apneas go away. Problem solved.

Alas, the medical industry seems overbearing in their procedures and the rules they have to follow.

I recently had a mole removed. I was called and told it was benign. Then they wanted to set an appointment for a follow-up visit. For WHAT? I hung up.

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:58 pm

Yes, it clearly stated in my packet that they mailed me that the sleep technician would not be able to give any details. I figure though, if I do wake up with something on my face, I should at least be able to ask them what the name of the mask is just for future reference.

I've got about an hour left before I leave work and then rush home to shave my legs. (I didn't even think about that until I was looking over the info again today and noticed they put stuff on your legs as well.)

I think if I can leave the house in about an hour, I will do fine on time... I should have gotten everything together last night, but yep, I am a procrastinator...

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:21 pm

Good luck, allison!

Kajun

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:12 pm

Thinking of you tonight and wishing you good luck, Allison. From the info in the FAQ from that clinic that you included in your post it sure sounds like you are in good hands w/a particularly good, possibly outstanding sleep clinic!!

Sleep, sleep so the get lots of good data tonight!!!

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:32 am

Sleep test went fine. Basically a normal night of sleeping/not sleeping. I don't know anything right now. They said the dr would call in 7-10 days.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:07 am

Did they put you on a machine and mask somewhere through the night?

Den

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:56 pm

No, but when I go to the clinic, they didn't mention doing that. With as long as it took me to fall asleep (or at least as long as it felt), I don't know if they would have had time.

Also, sleep tech couldn't even comment when I asked her if I snored. They had the intercom on, you think they would know and that they wouldn't be something that was private... but I guess it is a lot easier to do a answer no questions policy.

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:06 pm

I meant to ask, do all sleep studies have you wearing a nasal cannula? Mine did, but I never felt any air coming through it that I was aware of.

What should I know before I go?

What should I know before I go?

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