CPAP Study

I am scheduled for an overnight CPAP study August 9. What questions should I ask and what should I be aware of or look for? Besides sleep apnea I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Any helpful info on either condition will be appreciated. I am so totally overwhelmed by it all.

Howdy and Welcome!

You have come to the right place. Nearly everyone on this board has had a Sleep Study and dealt with all the drama that results. Here's what to do:

1. Watch the cpaptalk.com "Introduction To The Sleep Lab" Video:

cpaptalk-cpap-video-movie.php?videos=video&VGID=58

or request a DVD free by mail

cpaptalk-cpap-video-movie.php?videos=mail

2. Hang around here and ask questions.

3. Use the CPAPoepdia above to learn some key terms. Most importantly, learn the difference between a DME and an online provider. Should you be diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, make sure you are not given subpar equipment!

I'm sure others will follow with more helpful advice, it's a good bunch.

Again, welcome. We're glad you are here and we're available to help answer any questions you have.

Johnny

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): video, DME

Carol, I also have pulmonary hypertension. Sleep apnea can worsen it. I suggest going to chfpatients.com and look it up. The info on that site is accurate. Much of what you read online about PH is out of date. Don't be alarmed. In my personal opinion, the Ph Association message board regulars are a bit alarmist, and IMHO tend to overreact. A lot depends on your symptoms. Sometimes an echo is wrong btw. PM me if I can answer any questions!

Hi Carolann G,

You've got some tough decisions regarding your sleepover.

First, do you prefer knitting or reading? If I were you I'd cover my ass and take a good book as well as the needles.

Before you get there, find out when they intend to kick you out so you can plan when you can have a good shower and breakfast. Follow this up by scheduling a mid morning get together with your cronies to let them ooh and ahh about all the tales you will tell them. If you can get the technicians to take pictures of you with all the neat wires and masks, you will be a hit with your buddies as well as their new found fountain of knowledge.

After you get there, you're first question should be - where is the bathroom?
When they show you where it is be sure to note the other bedrooms available and try to worm the best one out of them that meets your needs. Be sure to clearly understand the process when you have to go pee. They will have to unhook the wires and then hook them up again. Do not be embarrassed by this - when you gotta go, you gotta go. Doesn't matter how many times, the most they can charge you for is one roll of toilet paper by law. Fold it as many times as you like!

If this is the first study they may just check out how well you snore and not bother to try and shut you up by putting some kind of a plastic thing-a-ma-jig over your nose which may or may not include your mouth. The thing is, they may try to do this your first time but for sure on the second appointment. They have this theory that the more hot air they can pump into you, the less you'll belch out and the better you will sleep. Somehow this is true. So don't be afraid to pass wind, they're used to it.

An important point to consider is when they do start feeding you the hot air you should make careful note of exactly what kind of thing-a-ma-jig they are putting on your face. Try to get them to use as many as they can, Then be sure to take a pen and paper and write down the make, model and especially size of each mask they use. Insist on at least a few and note which ones you like and seems to work well for you.

If they tell you there will be coffee in the morning, forget it. They are bullshitting you. If they say you can shower and clean up before you leave, forget it. If you're not first you wait in line and if you are first the others will be knocking at the door. Just get the hell out of there and head for the first Tim Horton's you can find - drive thru, don't go in cause you'll look crappy and people will stare at you.

Most important - no tipping! Sleep techs are professionals and it offends them. Save your money for the DME's, they do allow it and actually expect it. Otherwise they may repeatedly sell you out of date equipment.

Some of the above is tongue in cheek to try and lighten you up a little. Just relax and go with the flow it's not that really a big deal. Just don't tell that to your friends. Do make note of the masks they try on you and be sure to get a copy of your sleep test results.

Wishing you well.

Bob F

Most important - no tipping! Sleep techs are professionals and it offends them. Save your money for the DME's, they do allow it and actually expect it.

LOL, unclebob!!!

Carolann, you might want to take your own pillow(s) along. Do take a little notebook and pen with you - that's really a good idea Bob had about writing down the make, model and size of masks (including the ones that don't suit you) if they try any masks on you. Ask before you leave in the morning for the name and size of each mask they used on you, if any. Heck, ask if you can have the mask...many sleep clinics do let the person have the mask if you ask.

Ask your doctor if you can take an Ambien along with you, in case you have trouble getting to sleep. It would be a shame if you went through all that and couldn't sleep enough. Most people seem to be able to get enough sleep for a useful study, but just in case the excitement and strangeness of the whole thing made it hard for me to get to sleep, I'd want to have an Ambien ready. Better to have it and not need it than lie there wide awake most of the time. From what I've read "lurk-reading" a message board that sleep techs use, Ambien doesn't affect the data they collect during sleep.

Unclebob, I'm laughing so much I've got tears in my eyes...
O.