Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

DozingOff · Post by **DozingOff** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:01 am

Good morning to you all. I have what might be an odd question. Let me give you some background first. I haven't slept good in years. I fall asleep sitting in my chair watching TV all of the time, in movies, heck, I fell asleep during an Aerosmith concert. (And I love Aerosmith.) My wife was recently diagnosed with OSA and is using a cpap machine. I am a eBay / Craigslist junkie so as soon as she brought home the machine for her 90 night trial (For insurance) I started hunting around for her a machine to keep. (She has a high deductible and the 90 night trial goes into next year) So I found her the exact machine she has for her trial. (A system one with c-flex) She started using her machine (The one for insurance) and hasn't slept better in years. (She has bad OSA with an AHI of over 100) She suggested I try the other machine. So I bought a mask and tried it out. (Set it to automatic because I don't know what pressure to use) I never slept better. (Reading the data from the machine after a few nights my AHI went down from 19 to about 2.6) I then talked to my Dr. and she sent me for a sleep study. It was horrible. (I went to a different place than my wife.) It took me 3 hours to fall asleep. (My normal time is <5 min. ) I woke about every 15 min. and did not get the results the next morning. (The tech was persistent not to discuss anything with me about the test) My Dr. got ahold of me about a week and a half later and told me my test was normal. Normal? I didn't have a normal night of sleep. So my question is I know using the machine prior to the study did not keep me awake. But could using the machine before the study have returned a false normal? I have an apt with my wife's sleep doctor tomorrow and he will most likely have me do another study. Thanks in advance for the help!

DozingOff · Post by **DozingOff** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:15 am

Also to add. I have asked for a copy of my first sleep study and should have it in the next week.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:35 am

Many people's apnea is positional, and some, like my husband, test "normal" while side-sleeping,
--But "severe" while supine (on their backs).

49er · Post by **49er** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:08 am

DozingOff,

I am just wondering if you simply had the misfortune of not sleeping enough for any apneas to show up. The reason I wonder if when I had my home study test at the end of 2011, the first night, I only slept an hour. But because several were scored while I slept, I was able to be diagnosed with the condition.

Obviously, I was "lucky" with timing while it sounds like you may not have been. Of course, I am just speculating and hopefully, getting a copy of your sleep report will provide the necessary answers.

49er

PS - To address the question in your post, I wasn't aware that doing so could alter anything.

bv1800 · Post by **bv1800** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:21 am

chunkyfrog wrote:Many people's apnea is positional, and some, like my husband, test "normal" while side-sleeping,
--But "severe" while supine (on their backs).

In addition to positional, it's not uncommon to have severe OSA during REM sleep, but have very minor/"normal" during other sleep stages. If you really woke up ever 15 min or so, then it may have never had a chance to record your condition. When you get the sleep study results, check both the positional and REM data. If you have no data for both of them (or very limited minutes), then it may be time to have a deeper discussion with your doc.

btw... are you seeing a sleep doc or just a PCP? If you aren't being seen by a sleep doc, then insist on getting a referral (a mistake that I made, when my PCP suspected that I had OSA).

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:25 am

DozingOff wrote: But could using the machine before the study have returned a false normal?

no.

DozingOff · Post by **DozingOff** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:33 am

I don't remember the exact mask but it uses just the nasal pillows. The 90% pressure is 9.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:34 am

It depends on whose paper you read. Some prefer people off their cpap for at least a week before the study.

Starlette · Post by **Starlette** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:21 am

Welcome to the forum, I have prepared a welcome wagon just for you: Hot chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies, and peppermint schnaaps for flavoring. NOTE: You will be carded since alcohol is provided. When you arrive, please sign in (your login name) so we'll know you stopped by. Then my post will return back to the top of posts for other newbies to stop by for a treat.

Newbie Welcome Wagon

Enjoy!

Starlette

DozingOff · Post by **DozingOff** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:50 pm

Thanks for all of the advice. I have an apt with my wifes sleep doctor tomorrow... Will let you all know what happens. Still waiting on the results of my first study... (My GP works at the speed of the post office. )

Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

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Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

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Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

Re: Will using a cpap prior to a sleep study alter the results?

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