Newly Diagnosed

So, I had a sleep study done about a week ago. The study was ordered after I complained to my family doctor about excessive congestion at night and not feeling rested in the morning. The study determined that I had an overall API of 70/hr with 358 events in 308 minutes of sleep. The majority of these events were obstructive apneas. What concerns me is that my Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 3 out of 24 which indicates normal sleepiness. It seems like these two diagnostic tests do not support one another. Any thoughts? Is congestion common with OSA? I go in for the CPAP Titration study this Friday and am concerned that I will not be successful with a nasal mask due to my congestion.

Welcome to the forum! There are lots of folks with lots of experience who are always willing to help.

Some people don't have daytime sleepiness as an OSA symptom, but they still have it nonetheless. I didn't think I was very sleepy during the day before I started on CPAP, but looking back I was at least tired all the time. You may have a different perspective after you've been on CPAP for a while.

I have quite a bit of nasal congestion from my allergies, so I didn't even try a nasal only mask. I would ask the tech for a full face mask at your titration. That way, when you're too clogged to breathe through your nose only, you can breathe through your mouth.

The most important reason for treating your OSA is to prevent damage to your body from hypoxemic hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

Sleep apnea is too often linked only to snoring or daytime sleepiness issues ... it is a lot more than that. Sleep only describes when your condition generally occurs ... it is the apnea term you should focus on.

While the Epworth is a great indicator, remember it is a subjective test. You may actually be sleepier than you think, but since you have been living with being tired for so long you don't notice it as much. Or the day you took it was a good day, so you score yourself lower. The sleep study is an approved, objective, medical test based on data that is observed and recorded, and in all likelihood would repeat the same results if you took another one tonight. 70 events an hour is very severe. If I were you, I would go to the titration and get started on CPAP as soon as possible.

Thanks for the comments. I will let you know how things go on Friday and I am sure I will have more questions.....

In the meantime, read, read, and read some more.

Under "our wisdom" at the top under the Yellow Light Bulb you can find tons of good info.
You might want to start with the articles under Visiting the Sleep Lab

Good luck on your 'test'