Sleep test

I recently had a sleep test and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. During the test they insisted that I sleep on my back, which I never do. It was very uncomfortable for me and I did not sleep well during the first half of the night. Half way through they put a CPAP on me and I slept better the rest of the night. Whether that was because of the CPAP or the fact that I was so tired by then I don't know. I was also told that I did not enter deep sleep during the first half of the night. That doesn't surprise me because I knew I wasn't sleeping well.

My question is this: Is it routine to insist that the person being tested sleep on their back? A friend told me that her husband was allowed to sleep on his side. I always sleep on my side or stomach. If I had been able to sleep in those positions during the test I might have been able to sleep better. Might the sleep apnea results have been better if I had been able to sleep in a position that was comfortable for me? Should I just accept that I have sleep apnea and wear a CPAP regardless of the position I sleep in or should I request another test in which I am allowed to sleep in my usual position? I don't think I have apnea in those positions.

Any answers to these questions are appreciated.

Susan

My sleep test was the same. I didn't really accept (or like) the OSA and cpap idea at all.

The technician told me to sleep on my back. I also sleep on my side or stomach normally, whether that's because I subconsciously breathe better that way or not I don't know.

The first sleep test was all night, on my back with 103 episodes per hour. I was astonished, didn't expect that at all. The second test was all night with cpap, I was told I could sleep however I was 'comfortable' and did manage to sleep on my side for a while. I asked my doctor whether I had any apneas on my side and he showed me that I did still have some.

So, reluctantly, I am accepting the diagnosis and with the help of everyone on this website adjusting to this new way of sleeping. My machine is not here yet and I'm sure that will bring a whole new set of questions.

I think I understand how you are feeling.

I couln't before either. I think they are checking to see if your tongue chokes you as mine did. It only happens on my back though. They can see you choke. Your tongue can be a big problem in apnea if you have a small chin . Your tongue is back and mine on my back would fall into my throat when I started to fall asleep. So if you choke on your back tell your not . They can fix that now. i had a tongue advancement and I can sleep on my back now. So I think that is what they are looking for .Feel free to ask whatever you want. We are all in this together.

Some have worse apneas on their back, others have nearly equal no matter how they sleep. Everyone's different. The labs try to get at least some time in the possible worst case scenario during the study. During the titration part did you sleep on your back any? As far as if you even have apnea when on your side or stomach, if that's how you always sleep, what prompted your doctor to order a sleep study? I've read maybe a couple people on here saying their side sleeping eliminated the need for cpap - most say they have fewer events but not eliminated them.

Do you have your copy of the sleep study results yet? Maybe there are some clues in the details that will answer your questions (or generate more). That would be a good place to start. Basing ones treatment on a suboptimal study is disconcerting. Been there, done that.
Kathy

What's "titration"? I'm assuming it's the time I slept with the cpap on?

I had the sleep test as a pre-bariatric-surgery requirement. I was instructed by the person administering the test that I had to sleep on my back the entire time so I did. Very uncomfortable for me, especially with all of those electrode things stuck to my head. Should I request another sleep study where I can sleep in my normal positions--side and stomach--before going ahead and getting a cpap? I'm afraid that if I don't believe that I have apnea in those positions that I won't use the cpap, so what's the point in getting it? If another test in which I can sleep in those positions shows that I have apnea even then I am willing to use the cpap, but will definitely ask for one that allows me to sleep in those positions. Am I being unreasonable here?

I have not seen the results of my tests. I was simply informed by phone by the sleep doctor that he had referred me to a durable medical equipment supplier to set me up with a cpap. For a variety of reasons I have not spoken with the supplier yet and won't be able to get a cpap until January but am thinking that it might really be worth another sleep test before that.

I guess I need to try to talk to the doctor about this and see what he says.

By the way, was anybody else's sleep test as uncomfotable as mine was. I really did not like the experience at all. How many did the sleep test at a hospital or clinic and how many did it at a hotel?

Susan

Hi, you probably don't need another test - it's standard procedure to have you sleep on your back as it's the most common 'worst' position for apneas to show up and they need to know your worst case (as the other poster mentioned) so they can know how to adjust the machine to suit you. TItration is the process of setting the machine to different pressures (of blowing air) according to results of your testing. Very few of us slept decently (if at all!) during testing, but unless the techs felt they didn't get enough info from monitoring you, they most likely did (or would already have scheduled a new appt). What I do suggest you do is read everything you can by clicking on the lightbulb at the top of the main forum page, because it explains a lot that you'll want to know in future. Believe it or not, no one's trying to make your life hard, it just seems like it right now !