Had Sleep Study

Hi All,

I just had my sleep study done at a V. A. sleep Lab on 23 September; I need to go back for mask fitting and the Titration study once my CPAP machine, RemStar M, comes in at the lab. I had problems wearing a mask during the first study, so any help in that area would be appreciated. Below is a summary of my report:

EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE 3
Time in bed: 384.5
Total sleep time: 336.5 minutes
Sleep Efficiency 87%
Snoring was noted, moderate OSA

Sleeping on back.19.9% of time
Arousal index: 37.4

RESPIRATORY AROUSAL INDEX (RAI) 25.1%

AHI
Overall 16.6
Supine 60
Non-Supine 5.8
REM 20.4
Non-REM 16.0

Stage 1: 10.8%
Stage 2: 51.6%
Stages 3/4: 23.6%
Stage REM: 14%

SaO2
Average awake: 92%,
Minimum: 84%
4.3% of sleep time at saturations below 90%

Jim

JimDB wrote:I had problems wearing a mask during the first study, so any help in that area would be appreciated

What kind of problems? Anxiety? Mask fit or comfort? What type of mask was tried? You say you are going back for the titration study so one wasn't done because of problems with mask? Couldn't sleep with mask? So many possible factors. If you can explain further you will get more specific suggestions.

BTW I noticed the difference between supine and non supine events. You are much, much worse on your back. This is very common. Make sure that you get them to titrate you on your side as well as on your back just in case you don't need as much pressure on your side. They will tend to want to have you be on your back because that is where you are much worse but if you can sleep on your side and avoid being on your back you might (stress the might) not need as much pressure to deal with your events. No guarantee but sure worth trying. Less pressure is easier to adjust to in the beginning.

It certainly sounds like cpap will help you. Getting the right mask, and getting it adjust correctly for you, is the hardest part, in my opinion.

However, your titration pressure has nothing to do with how severe your sleep apnea is. People with mild sleep apnea sometimes need a high pressure and some with severe sleep apnea may need quite a low pressure. The pressure is set at whatever will keep YOUR airway open and prevent as many events as possible FOR YOU. If you need a high pressure, a full face mask may be better.

Getting used to wearing a mask does take time and you may not do well with the mask(s) they try on you during the titration. You may well be able to use that same mask when you have a little cpap experience.

The 1 night titration study is a little artificial, since you are in a strange situation all "hooked up".

It does take time but keep asking questions here and you will do fine, I am sure.

I couldn’t wear the mask due to having asthma attacks; I think that the pressure was to low. I didn’t try a full face but from reading here pillows may make things better. I do sleep on my left side mostly with some back sleep, I’m a sleep turner.

At my sleep study I went through at least 3 mask styles because I had a lot of trouble with discomfort, as well as that feeling of suffocation on exhale which I would have learned to live with. In retrospect, they were so concerned that zero leakage occur during the titration that the masks were strapped onto my face much harder than anyone would expect for ongoing treatment. So, hopefully your "real life" mask will be more comfortable than what you experienced. If the trouble wearing the mask was feelings of suffocation when you exhale, ask about exhale relief features on the equipment you get. I don't know what REMStar M you're getting, but the Pro has CFlex and that might help you get used to breathing with the mask.

I do have a recommendation. I don't know if this occurs everywhere, but I had no ability to try on a mask before choosing the one I used at home--if I opened it, I owned it. So two things. First, if your titration is done with sleep lab equipment ask to try on as many mask styles as they will let you. The sleep lab has the means to sanitize and reuse masks. Second, the CPAP.com site has a mask fitting guide. I would recommend that you take those measurements so that you can go in with a list of masks that are recommended for your face, or not. It's better than pure trial and error. The first nasal mask I used, and ditched, would not have been recommended using the CPAP.com fit guide.

Once you have your home equipment fill in your profile and come back to the forum for tips. There is a lot of information here that will help you get used to CPAP and someday soon you will be very glad you stuck with it.

JimDB wrote:I couldn’t wear the mask due to having asthma attacks; I think that the pressure was to low. I didn’t try a full face but from reading here pillows may make things better. I do sleep on my left side mostly with some back sleep, I’m a sleep turner

At my titration study they started with a pressure of 5. They start low so that it isn't such a shock to us. I now feel stifled if I try to use a pressure of 5 and it is for this reason I don't bother with the ramp feature.
I am not asthmatic but I do feel very short of breath at the low pressure so.... if the breathing issues were related to low pressure that is one thing but if you were having a full blown asthma attack that is another thing and you need to talk to your doctor about it. In fact I would discuss both right now before this goes any further and get it sorted out. There are many members here who are asthmatic. It can be done.

The nasal pillows can be less overwhelming if you can get used to the air up your nose. I found them much more comfortable than the traditional nasal mask but not everyone feels the same way. Only way to know is to try..
If you have nasal congestion issues then obviously those need to be sorted through if possible.