UARS isn't a thing in Sweden - private evaluation in Europe?

Hi!

I have suspicions that I might have UARS. I live in Sweden and did a sleep apnea home test, but after testing negative for sleep apnea, no doctor wants to send me to a polysomnography to look for UARS. Their reasoning is that "with an AHI that low, you can't possibly have sleep breathing issues".

AHI: 0.4 (indeed very low)
ODI 4%: 0,1
Minimum Sp02: 93%
Average Sp02: 95,4%
Flow limitation: 7,8% (this seems kind of low too? Does it suggest I don't even have UARS?)
Epworth sleepiness scale: 11
Age: 26
BMI: 23

Still, I can't really let the thought of UARS go, as I tick almost every box for it. So I've been looking into private clinics in Europe, mainly in Germany, but I haven't found much. I thought I could maybe ask for recommendations here. Does anyone know a private clinic that can measure RDI and RERA and make an UARS evaluation?

I also have no idea what a private sleep study could cost, maybe it's cheaper to just get a CPAP and see if I feel better? (Buying a CPAP without diagnosis is legal in Sweden.)

Thanks!

I think you already figured it out.
Good for you.

What symptoms lead you to suspect a sleep respiration disorder? Do you feel sleepy during the day (like you really want a nap) or fatigued (tired out, like you'd feel with the flu)? Do you wake up frequently during the night? How long do you usually sleep?

With a little more information, we might be able to make some suggestions.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:36 am

What symptoms lead you to suspect a sleep respiration disorder?

Thank you kindly for the reply,
I'd list my symptoms as the following:

- Bruxism and acid reflux at night, night guard and antiacids/gaviscone haven't helped

- Waking myself up snoring. I've used an audio recorder and it seems I snore a single time, wake up from it, turn around and fall back asleep, only to repeat the process again a few minutes later. No big gapsing, but frequent wake-ups from the snores.

- Needing 10h30m of sleep. I have the desire to sleep more but I force myself up after that to have time for the things I need to get done.

- Trouble focusing and anxiety during the day. Meds and therapy haven't helped for the anxiety.

- I've had my blood work done, checked for vitamin deficiencies, and checked my thyroid. I've cut out sugar and processed foods. Things look good on paper. This is what made my think of my sleep.


I could of course be totally mistaken about it being UARS, and so I'm very curious to somehow find out my RDI and RERA in Europe, but I don't know where or how.

Thank you again for your time.

I think your idea of getting a machine and seeing if it will help will answer a lot of your questions EVEN if you only get a placebo effect. If you go though a bunch of testing and it doesn't indicate RERA, you may still be wondering.

Can you resell the CPAP machine if it turns out it doesn't help?

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it.
Yes, that seems more and more like the best option. Yes, I could sell it.

If I could find a place that could measure my RDI and RERA, I would trust the results, even if they were negative for UARS. But since I can't find a place, that doesn't seem to be an option. So I might take the chance and find a machine.

From what you've described, giving PAP a try might well make sense. I recommend that you get a ResMed Aircurve 10 VAuto machine. It can deliver more pressure support (an increase of pressure when you inhale) than a regular ResMed Airsense 10 or 11 Autoset. According to several of the people who have pioneered in the UARS space, higher pressure support can be of special help to people with UARS.

The VAuto is more expensive, and only you know what the financial and practical trade-offs would be for you. But if you can afford it without too much strain, I think it'd be a good investment. (And if you're wondering, it can be set to emulate an Airsense 10.)

BUT -- one more question. Have you had your upper airway examined by an ENT doctor? That might be a smart first step.

Thank you kindly, that's very valuable information! I wasn't sure what machines to look at.

I have an appointment booked with an ENT, hopefully that will give me more clues either for or against UARS.

Thanks again to everyone for your time, I now have some things to look into!