At home testing

I know the best thing is to go into a sleep lab. But my wife refuses and she has sleep apnea.
I am not being nasty when I say this but she is overweight and it going through a weight loss program and is probably going to have the band installed to help her lose. Anyway I have been telling her she snores badly and wakes up alot at night which we already knew. For the program she had to see a Respiratory specialist and he told her she had sleep apnea. She thinks she will be fine when she loses the weight after she has the band installed in six months. She is afraid of having someone what her sleep among other things. She said she would do a study if it could be done at home.
So with that being said what does everyone know about those home sleep studies or would she be better off just waiting until she loses the weight and her sleep apena doesn't improve and she finally goes in for a study.


Gerry

I don't think she should wait - weight loss may help, but that's still in the future (it won't all disappear just after the surgery) but often does not and if she's qualified for that surgery, she probably has quite a problem. Does she not understand that whoever "watches" her sleeping will be people (technicians) who do it all day and night and have seen absolutely everything by now? No different from what an MD would experience and no more judgmental about it. It's not enough I think for someone like her to test at home with a borrowed machine of ?? kind, as yet unknown software and whatever mask she might end up with - maybe a 25 year old without major weight problems could get away with it, but... Plus, there are other conditions (sleep related) that often show up on testing that need dealing with, and different types of apnea that may call for different equipment, as well as any other conditions she might already have (diabetes?) that need to be taken into account by experts, not ... you (nothing personal ). Is she really aware that cardiac problems and/or strokes may not just wait for her surgery and can kick in at any time (I presume you have children?) and taking chances on that just seems a shame.

While a sleep study at a sleep center is definitely the preferred course for your wife, if she absolutely refuses, you might check into a professional in home sleep study like the one mentioned here:

http://www.SnoringCenter.com

Before my sleep study, I checked into this as an alternative if my insurance refused to cover the sleep center study, or if my son put up too much of a fight having me away from home for a night (that's another story - please no parenting tips). As it turned out, I was able to go to a sleep lab for a comprehensive study, but this is another possible option.

I've done both. I did a lab sleep study 3 yrs ago and hated it. Then 2 mos. ago I did an at home study that was SOOO much nicer and I slept so much better. My ins. is Kaiser who did the at home study.

Tell your wife that she could have serious complications between the 6 mos. 'till the surgery, then at least a year until she's at a normal weight, depending on how much she has to loose. And there's no guarentee the sleep apnea will go away. My BMI is 30 and my doc said due to my recessed chin and small mouth and age (40), I'd probably just be able to lower my pressure, but the OSA Won't go away.

Gerry........

What OSA causes.....is low blood O2 saturation levels.

If our blood O2 levels fall below 93% while we're sleeping, it's a problem.

"Get-by" is probably 90% to 93%....but, below 90% is a cause for alarm.

If your wife is intellectually honest, purchase a SPO-7500 recording oximeter....and let her test her O2 blood saturation levels for a couple of weeks. She can see for herself whether she's in trouble or not.

The above is what I did for my honey....and after a couple of weeks, she could clearly see that she had a problem. She now uses a CPAP machine.

My neighbor suspected that he had a problem.....I loaned him my SPO-7500....and now he uses a CPAP machine.

Stuffing a finger in an oximeter cup is nothing like the discomfort....and expense....of going to a sleep lab for a study. If your wife is intellectually honest, she'll make up her own mind to conquer any problems she discovers.

And if she chooses to disregard bad news from the recording oximeter, preparing yourself to find another wife is prudent.

Gerald

Gerald wrote: If your wife is intellectually honest, purchase a SPO-7500 recording oximeter....and let her test her O2 blood saturation levels for a couple of weeks. She can see for herself whether she's in trouble or not.
Gerald

Or you may be able to find a doc or DME that can loan or rent you one to save you the expense of actually purchasing one. Again, an in home sleep study would be even better than just an oximeter, but you're getting some good suggestions here!

Bluebonnet Gal is right....but....

Here's what I left out.........

My honey's problem was not severe.....and I knew that I'd never get her to go for a sleep study in a lab. I also knew that she wouldn't go through the trouble of self-titration.

But, because she is very intellectually honest, I knew that she would make the right decision....if her sub-conscious was convinced that she needed CPAP. That's why I bought the SPO-7500. She ran her own O2 blood saturation test.......and in that way, she was convinced. It was easy....it was simple......it was 1/4 the cost of a lab based sleep study....and we got to keep the tool (oximeter). I use it myself.....to double-check my own therapy.

Once she was convinced she had a problem.....the results were there in black and white....the computer generated charts didn't lie...she was ready for CPAP.

I then purchased another CPAP machine....identical to the one I use every day......helped her find a mask that worked pretty well......and we then did a multi-week home titration test using Viewer software. The CPAP software confirmed what the oximeter was telling her.....and she worked hard at tweaking the M-Series pressures so that she got the highest O2 levels with the least amount of discomfort.

I also realized that....if she later decided not to use the machine I bought for her......it would go on to be a back-up system for me.

After a few months, she determined that I was not going to get "her" machine....and I purchased a third M-Series to act as a back-up machine for both of us.

Gerald

Gerald wrote:Bluebonnet Gal is right....but....

Here's what I left out.........

My honey's problem was not severe.....and I knew that I'd never get her to go for a sleep study in a lab. I also knew that she wouldn't go through the trouble of self-titration.

But, because she is very intellectually honest, I knew that she would make the right decision....if her sub-conscious was convinced that she needed CPAP. That's why I bought the SPO-7500. She ran her own O2 blood saturation test.......and in that way, she was convinced. It was easy....it was simple......it was 1/4 the cost of a lab based sleep study....and we got to keep the tool (oximeter). I use it myself.....to double-check my own therapy.

Once she was convinced she had a problem.....the results were there in black and white....the computer generated charts didn't lie...she was ready for CPAP.

I then purchased another CPAP machine....identical to the one I use every day......helped her find a mask that worked pretty well......and we then did a multi-week home titration test using Viewer software. The CPAP software confirmed what the oximeter was telling her.....and she worked hard at tweaking the M-Series pressures so that she got the highest O2 levels with the least amount of discomfort.

I also realized that....if she later decided not to use the machine I bought for her......it would go on to be a back-up system for me.

After a few months, she determined that I was not going to get "her" machine....and I purchased a third M-Series to act as a back-up machine for both of us.

Gerald

Owning your own oximeter is great - if you can afford it. I was merely trying to point out that they are other options if you can't afford to purchase one. Also, insurance will likely not cover the purchase of an oximeter. They will however likely cover an in-home sleep study or rental of the unit and it's use for a few night if prescribed by a physician. I don't want to belabor the point, but since we don't know if Gerry's wife has insurance or not - or what their financial situation is - I was just trying to put multiple "options" out there so hopefully Gerry will find the one that suits their situation best! What's great about a forum like this is that many people can throw out ideas and hopefully everyone that needs help will find that help in one or more of those ideas!

You can buy a CMS-50E recording oximeter ( software is free ) for about $150 U.S

While that isn't pocket change for some folks...most people could find that much somewhere.

Did all the change out of the couch.

It is your / her life you are talking about.

Sleep Apnea kills.

Sleep Apnea kills.

Sometimes fast ... sometimes slow ... but it is a life shortener.

I haven't checked but you might be able to find one on cpapauction.com or ebay or even craig's list.

We have insurance. We are very fortunate to both have insurance so we have dual coverage. She just doesn't want to be watched and she is afraid someone will say something about her rocking some before she falls asleep. I guess some of us can sleep anywhere we won't get run over and others are pickier.

Keep us posted on any action your wife takes! We hope hope you're able to convince her to get help NOW!

I am talking to her about it but only a little bit at a time. I don't want to push her because she will never go it I do that. It won't be right now that she goes in. I have to convince her that it poses a health risk. She already said since it bothers me and wakes me up the way I used to wake her up she will sleep in the guest room. That wasn't the answer I wanted to I have shifted into a lower gear.

She isn't convinced.....and my bet is....the only way you can save her......is to encourage her to wear a wrist mounted recording oximeter for a few nights. Not only is her conscious mind opposed to your idea.....but her sub-conscious won't let her get anywhere near a sleep lab.