Hi y'all,
Well had my sleep study last night, and I feel like I am no further ahead. Generally my symptoms are a general fog, snooze at my desk once in a while, sore throat, snore, toss and turn while I sleep. And last but not least when I snooze on the couch, more or less sitting up I can feel my airway close when I am just about asleep.
So my sleep study, well first I am very anxious, this cloud I am in needs to dissipate. I am loosing productivity at work, and my fledgeling home business is taking it straight on. I find when I am solving a really interesting problem or being physically active I am okay, so if my wife can get me to start cutting the grass I am okay. But sadly, very few of the problems at work are that interesting, and I have already solved all the tough problems on my home business, I just need to implement them (Bill knows that one).
Back to the sleep study, Stacy (wife) and I head off to dinner, and we realize I am cutting it close, get home, pack my pillow and some sleeping clothes, head out the door. Of course I read the wrong address and wound up being 10 or so minutes late. And of course my anxiety now has a bit of added adrenalin. So of course I am last in line to get sensor'd up. It was about 10:45 by the time lights out comes along.
Guess what, for the first, maybe second time in a year I can't fall asleep, arggg!!!!! Why me, which of course makes it worse. Part of the problem is I never fall asleep on my back, 99% of the time I am on my stomach. My wife will generally complain if I look like I am thinking about sleeping on my back, something about my snoring But the tech's wanted me to sleep on my back, better snoring/OSA potential. It also did not help that their desk was acriss the hall from my room and I could hear them talking.
Anyway, I finally fell asleep but woke up about 4 or 5 times. Again something I almost never do. Finally around 3 or 4 I turned to my side and slept for about 2 or 3 hours, I think???
Now, I don't know if I woke up due to apnea events, one time when the tech came in to check on the wires I asked, he did not respond. Again, I very rarely sleep on my back so I guess it is possible that I woke myself up???
Well last to bed, last to get up. Felt like a Mac truck just ran me over. Funny part is, I actually feel a bit better now than I usually do at 10:30am, but then again, I usually save my second can of Diet Coke for the afternoon, not today.
When I was getting ready to leave I asked the tech about the results. He was pretty coy, but he did confirm that I did have Apnea events, and that my O2 saturation did go down, but he would not confirm how many. Best he got is that he might be seeing me again for another visit for fitting of a CPAP. At that time it was 6:55am, and it looked like they wanted out of there by 7am.
While we where talking he did fit me up for a couple of masks and nasal pillow, "just in case" I was coming back.
Anyway, thanks for listening, and any thoughts on my experience would be greatly appreciated.
cheers,
Tom
My Sleep study, observations and questions
11 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Too bad you didn't get a friendly RT like I had who would divulge any detail. It sure sounds like you are at least borderline for being considered for a titration study. Actually it sounds like you are in the "definite" category, but an RT cannot diagnose so they were actually being proper in being cagey. If they said too much one way or the other they could get in trouble.
Frustrating, I know, when all you want are answers.
As you've now learned, anxiety is your enemy. This is doubly true when a mask gets strapped on!
My suggestion for when (not if!) you have your titration is to not plan on anything else that night. Don't go out for dinner, just leave work on time if not early, grab a bite at home, and allow for lots and lots of time so you might even get there early. It'll help put you in the proper frame of mind for this.
BTW, I find it humorous in an ironic way that in a private email you sent me last week you were questioning how early the sleep lab wanted you to arrive, that you never go to bed that early. Little did you know!
When it comes to sleep positions, if you can sleep on your back then do it. But the most important thing is to sleep, so if you have to roll onto your side, do it no matter what the RT says! BTW, the best (least obstructive) position is generally to sleep on your left side.
I'd suggest you start mentally preparing yourself for a titration study; a night with a mask on. At a minimum resign yourself to the possibility. Ideally embrace the thought, knowing how much help it can be. Imagine what it would be like to sleep an entire night (with a mask on) keeping your O2 saturation up and your airway open. Imagine no more apneic events causing disturbances for you. Imagine no more snores distrubing you or Stacy! Imagine having enough energy to enjoy and help with the baby when it arrives!!!
Attitude is everything. Being willing to put up with the treatment isn't good enough. You have to want the treatment because you know it is what will restore your quality of life. You need to actually look forward to wearing a mask every night for the rest of your life. Then you will succeed.
Tom, I know things are difficult now. You're pretty much at the bottom with depression and exhaustion. I know because I was there not so very long ago. Remember those emails from me this summer? But both of us also know that there is something better and we're both pretty sure what you have to do to get there. When you're down as far as you can go, everything else is "up" from there. So even becoming a hosehead will be better than where you are now.
Hang in there bro'. And give Stacy my love too. And an extra hug for the "package on board".
Frustrating, I know, when all you want are answers.
As you've now learned, anxiety is your enemy. This is doubly true when a mask gets strapped on!
My suggestion for when (not if!) you have your titration is to not plan on anything else that night. Don't go out for dinner, just leave work on time if not early, grab a bite at home, and allow for lots and lots of time so you might even get there early. It'll help put you in the proper frame of mind for this.
BTW, I find it humorous in an ironic way that in a private email you sent me last week you were questioning how early the sleep lab wanted you to arrive, that you never go to bed that early. Little did you know!
When it comes to sleep positions, if you can sleep on your back then do it. But the most important thing is to sleep, so if you have to roll onto your side, do it no matter what the RT says! BTW, the best (least obstructive) position is generally to sleep on your left side.
I'd suggest you start mentally preparing yourself for a titration study; a night with a mask on. At a minimum resign yourself to the possibility. Ideally embrace the thought, knowing how much help it can be. Imagine what it would be like to sleep an entire night (with a mask on) keeping your O2 saturation up and your airway open. Imagine no more apneic events causing disturbances for you. Imagine no more snores distrubing you or Stacy! Imagine having enough energy to enjoy and help with the baby when it arrives!!!
Attitude is everything. Being willing to put up with the treatment isn't good enough. You have to want the treatment because you know it is what will restore your quality of life. You need to actually look forward to wearing a mask every night for the rest of your life. Then you will succeed.
Tom, I know things are difficult now. You're pretty much at the bottom with depression and exhaustion. I know because I was there not so very long ago. Remember those emails from me this summer? But both of us also know that there is something better and we're both pretty sure what you have to do to get there. When you're down as far as you can go, everything else is "up" from there. So even becoming a hosehead will be better than where you are now.
Hang in there bro'. And give Stacy my love too. And an extra hug for the "package on board".
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers
Hi, Tom and welcome to the wonderful world of OSA!
What you describe is about the average for first night's sleep study. Strange room, hooked up to wires, told to sleep in an unnatural position, strange sounds coming in from hall, adreneline rush from running late, tossing, turning, thinking of all the nights before where your head hit the pillow and it was off to sleep-land except for this one night of course, feeling like you didn't get any sleep at all....well, we've all been through it.
Next, just about the time you think nothing will come of all this misery, you get the call for a second night's study where they wire you up again, and to add insult to injury, they strap this alien looking and feeling thing onto your face and cheerfully say "Have a good sleep." For about 50% of us, though, that night is the beginning of something truly wonderful! We actually fall asleep and wake up feeling like we've had the best night's sleep in YEARS!!! Then we want to take the XPAP and mask home with us and start with it immediately, but get told "Sorry, we have to send the results to your Sleep Doctor for interpretation." Ok. how long does that take? Up to 3 weeks! Yikes! Then, if the Sleep Doctor sends the results to your regular Doctor, that could take another week. Then you get to see your regular Doctor, get a prescription and go to the DME. "What do you mean, DME, that it could take 2 to 3 weeks to get to me???? I want to feel better and I know that XPAP does it and I want it NOW!!" But there will come a time when you'll get your XPAP (and hopefully by now you've read enough on this board to INSIST on an APAP with heated humidifier and software to read the output of the APAP), get it set up and start using it. The first few nights will be strange, but (again for about 50% of us) soon you'll be sleeping much better and feeling better than you have in years. And thus the adventure starts. "Gosh, I think I need another mask now." "Gee, I wonder what this tweak will do?" "Hmmmm, I wonder if I can afford a new......."
Tom, hang in there. Read the posts, have a few laughs from the board, vent when you need to and most of all, be patient. This therapy WORKS!!!
Good luck in your journey. :
What you describe is about the average for first night's sleep study. Strange room, hooked up to wires, told to sleep in an unnatural position, strange sounds coming in from hall, adreneline rush from running late, tossing, turning, thinking of all the nights before where your head hit the pillow and it was off to sleep-land except for this one night of course, feeling like you didn't get any sleep at all....well, we've all been through it.
Next, just about the time you think nothing will come of all this misery, you get the call for a second night's study where they wire you up again, and to add insult to injury, they strap this alien looking and feeling thing onto your face and cheerfully say "Have a good sleep." For about 50% of us, though, that night is the beginning of something truly wonderful! We actually fall asleep and wake up feeling like we've had the best night's sleep in YEARS!!! Then we want to take the XPAP and mask home with us and start with it immediately, but get told "Sorry, we have to send the results to your Sleep Doctor for interpretation." Ok. how long does that take? Up to 3 weeks! Yikes! Then, if the Sleep Doctor sends the results to your regular Doctor, that could take another week. Then you get to see your regular Doctor, get a prescription and go to the DME. "What do you mean, DME, that it could take 2 to 3 weeks to get to me???? I want to feel better and I know that XPAP does it and I want it NOW!!" But there will come a time when you'll get your XPAP (and hopefully by now you've read enough on this board to INSIST on an APAP with heated humidifier and software to read the output of the APAP), get it set up and start using it. The first few nights will be strange, but (again for about 50% of us) soon you'll be sleeping much better and feeling better than you have in years. And thus the adventure starts. "Gosh, I think I need another mask now." "Gee, I wonder what this tweak will do?" "Hmmmm, I wonder if I can afford a new......."
Tom, hang in there. Read the posts, have a few laughs from the board, vent when you need to and most of all, be patient. This therapy WORKS!!!
Good luck in your journey. :
_________________
| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP, 8-14 cm H2O. |
This therapy WORKS!!!
Lone Rider
First of all 'Lone Rider' you are definitely not alone in this. Keep on this site and you will see just how many people are the exact same as you. All different ages and sizes.
I had my 3rd sleep study this past Friday night. The first study was a year and a half ago when they said I had sleep apnea, the second was after using my CPAP for 2 months and they said after having 29 apnea events an hour that I am down to less then 5.
I had this 3rd study because although my apnea is under control, and my morning headaches have gone I still have something that is making me extremely tired (not sure if it's a movement disorder or not going through the proper stages of sleep or a return of chronic fatigue syndrome which I had back 15 years ago) Up until 2 years ago I slept very sound and had lots of energy, worked hard, have 2 children and same as you I felt very depressed that I started to have this sleep problem, could not work properly and generally had no energy to do all the fun things I like to do.
I talked with my GP about possibly having a secondary sleep disorder so I decided to go to a different sleep specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital for a second opinion in downtown Toronto. I still had anxiety and could not go to sleep and I think this is very normal. I relaxed and stayed home until it was time to go, but on the way down around 10:00 I too started to think I hope I sleep O.K., I hope they find out what it is, I wonder if I will sleep the way I always do at home so they can really see how I sleep........and there you go, it took me 2 hours to fall asleep and then finally I did but I tossed and turned back and forth. Anyway at 6:45 the tech came in and said time to go and that I did sleep enough for them to get a good study but also did not answer much about how I slept. Just said in 2 weeks when I have my appointment with the sleep specialist I will get the results.
Walked out dead tired in the dark of the morning to drive myself home and went to bed for 2 hours. Put my CPAP on and had a much better sleep.
Keep at it, think of all of us out here doing the same as you and starting to feel a lot better. All your questions will be answered by many people on this forum who want to help you. I myself have learned so much from this forum.
One other thing. I was asked to bring my CPAP for my study so that the first half of the night I would sleep without it and the second half with it.
When I took it out of the case the sleep tech said "oh, what is this machine? a bi-pap?, no I said it is an autopap? oh, I don't know what that is, so we'll just use what I have here (straight CPAP) Just so you know this forum here is more up-to-date on the latest machines, masks, etc. then some of the sleep technicians so just keep browsing this site and you'll be amazed at what you learn!!
Lisa
First of all 'Lone Rider' you are definitely not alone in this. Keep on this site and you will see just how many people are the exact same as you. All different ages and sizes.
I had my 3rd sleep study this past Friday night. The first study was a year and a half ago when they said I had sleep apnea, the second was after using my CPAP for 2 months and they said after having 29 apnea events an hour that I am down to less then 5.
I had this 3rd study because although my apnea is under control, and my morning headaches have gone I still have something that is making me extremely tired (not sure if it's a movement disorder or not going through the proper stages of sleep or a return of chronic fatigue syndrome which I had back 15 years ago) Up until 2 years ago I slept very sound and had lots of energy, worked hard, have 2 children and same as you I felt very depressed that I started to have this sleep problem, could not work properly and generally had no energy to do all the fun things I like to do.
I talked with my GP about possibly having a secondary sleep disorder so I decided to go to a different sleep specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital for a second opinion in downtown Toronto. I still had anxiety and could not go to sleep and I think this is very normal. I relaxed and stayed home until it was time to go, but on the way down around 10:00 I too started to think I hope I sleep O.K., I hope they find out what it is, I wonder if I will sleep the way I always do at home so they can really see how I sleep........and there you go, it took me 2 hours to fall asleep and then finally I did but I tossed and turned back and forth. Anyway at 6:45 the tech came in and said time to go and that I did sleep enough for them to get a good study but also did not answer much about how I slept. Just said in 2 weeks when I have my appointment with the sleep specialist I will get the results.
Walked out dead tired in the dark of the morning to drive myself home and went to bed for 2 hours. Put my CPAP on and had a much better sleep.
Keep at it, think of all of us out here doing the same as you and starting to feel a lot better. All your questions will be answered by many people on this forum who want to help you. I myself have learned so much from this forum.
One other thing. I was asked to bring my CPAP for my study so that the first half of the night I would sleep without it and the second half with it.
When I took it out of the case the sleep tech said "oh, what is this machine? a bi-pap?, no I said it is an autopap? oh, I don't know what that is, so we'll just use what I have here (straight CPAP) Just so you know this forum here is more up-to-date on the latest machines, masks, etc. then some of the sleep technicians so just keep browsing this site and you'll be amazed at what you learn!!
Lisa
Honestly, I don't think the treatment will be much of a problem. I am just really anxious about the diagnoses.WAFlowers wrote: As you've now learned, anxiety is your enemy. This is doubly true when a mask gets strapped on!
Definately!WAFlowers wrote: My suggestion for when (not if!) you have your titration is to not plan on anything else that night. Don't go out for dinner, just leave work on time if not early, grab a bite at home, and allow for lots and lots of time so you might even get there early. It'll help put you in the proper frame of mind for this.
There is a lot in my life that I do not want to miss.WAFlowers wrote: Imagine no more snores distrubing you or Stacy! Imagine having enough energy to enjoy and help with the baby when it arrives!!!
I don't know if I am quite as low as you, but I definately need to figure out how to lift the fog (for lack of a better term). I used to be able to picture so much in my mind, and I feel like I am now less than half of what I was. For those fellow geeks out there one of my profs in school was doing his best to push my into post grad studies for parallel processing and such. I want my strange mind back!WAFlowers wrote: Attitude is everything. Being willing to put up with the treatment isn't good enough. You have to want the treatment because you know it is what will restore your quality of life. You need to actually look forward to wearing a mask every night for the rest of your life. Then you will succeed.
Tom, I know things are difficult now. You're pretty much at the bottom with depression and exhaustion. I know because I was there not so very long ago. Remember those emails from me this summer? But both of us also know that there is something better and we're both pretty sure what you have to do to get there. When you're down as far as you can go, everything else is "up" from there. So even becoming a hosehead will be better than where you are now.
Will do!WAFlowers wrote: Hang in there bro'. And give Stacy my love too. And an extra hug for the "package on board".
I feel like we are in a ten steps meetingTXKajun wrote:Hi, Tom and welcome to the wonderful world of OSA!
Thanks, it is nice to see I am not alone. For some reason I pictured getting hooked up to the sensors, falling asleep as I usually do, getting woken up either at 6:30 or sometime in the morning to try on a mask.TXKajun wrote: What you describe is about the average for first night's sleep study. Strange room, hooked up to wires, told to sleep in an unnatural position, strange sounds coming in from hall, adreneline rush from running late, tossing, turning, thinking of all the nights before where your head hit the pillow and it was off to sleep-land except for this one night of course, feeling like you didn't get any sleep at all....well, we've all been through it.
My GP was the one who referred me to the sleep clinic, he is pretty good. The tech was supprised that I did not see the attending sleep doc. So I don't know where things will go. But my GP is one of the good ones. I am sure he will write a Rx as soon as possible.TXKajun wrote: Next, just about the time you think nothing will come of all this misery, you get the call for a second night's study where they wire you up again, and to add insult to injury, they strap this alien looking and feeling thing onto your face and cheerfully say "Have a good sleep." For about 50% of us, though,
... snip...
My GP is pretty worried about my hypertension, and if all goes well, treatment for OSA (again, if I do have it, still not 100%, just 98%) should be a great step forward.
I find that I snack at work to help me stay awake, I did not make the correlation until last week, but one of my over all health issues is I need to loose about 50 lbs. I am hoping that I will be able to break the nap/workout battle at the end of work, loose the snacking and get into the gym 2 to 4 times a week.
Thanks for all of the words of wisdom, hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have more answers, and if OSA is confirmed (which I believe will be the case), a GoodNight 420E will be on its way.TXKajun wrote: Tom, hang in there. Read the posts, have a few laughs from the board, vent when you need to and most of all, be patient. This therapy WORKS!!!
Good luck in your journey. :
It would be really great if I could get going in it before Oct 20th, I am the best man at a wedding in Vegas, since Stacy won't be going I am going to ride up there and spend a couple of days riding around CA, NV. Being able to sleep better will definately make the trip a bit more enjoyable
thanks again!
cheers,
Tom
And when LoneRider says he will "ride" to someplace, he means long-distance solo motorcycling. I seem to recall you doing at least one SaddleSore (that is 1000 miles in 24 hours).LoneRider wrote:It would be really great if I could get going in it before Oct 20th, I am the best man at a wedding in Vegas, since Stacy won't be going I am going to ride up there and spend a couple of days riding around CA, NV. Being able to sleep better will definately make the trip a bit more enjoyable
A few times he rode from Dallas TX to Clearwater FL and back to visit with me!
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers
stunned1 wrote:Lone Rider
First of all 'Lone Rider' you are definitely not alone in this. Keep on this site and you will see just how many people are the exact same as you. All different ages and sizes.
Thanks, this is definitely putting me as ease. I really did not get a sense from the tech that my troubles where normal.
BTW, WAFlowers is from the Toronto area (IIRC), I was born in Hamilton and was raised in London.
Anyway, sounds like you've had your frustrations, but at the same time I enjoy seeing people get through them holding their heads up.
stunned1 wrote:
One other thing. I was asked to bring my CPAP for my study so that the first half of the night I would sleep without it and the second half with it.
When I took it out of the case the sleep tech said "oh, what is this machine? a bi-pap?, no I said it is an autopap? oh, I don't know what that is, so we'll just use what I have here (straight CPAP) Just so you know this forum here is more up-to-date on the latest machines, masks, etc. then some of the sleep technicians so just keep browsing this site and you'll be amazed at what you learn!!
definitely, as I mentioned, I am defiantly going to try the 420E first. It looks to be the smallest and lightest APAP, which is good for road trips, and I can't imagine not have an Auto CPAP that can record the treatments. If all goes well, I will loose weight, and hopefully be able to reduce the pressure over time. Can't find the post, but someone read a study suggesting that the soft pallet can rebound, and allow for lower pressures.
Anyway, it just makes complete sense to me to get an APAP. But that's just me.
cheers,
Tom
I've never actually gone through the paper work to get a SS1000, but I have probably done over 10 - 900+ mile days on motorcycles, and probably another 15 over 700. Doing 900 miles in a day is only a 50mph average over 18hoursWAFlowers wrote:And when LoneRider says he will "ride" to someplace, he means long-distance solo motorcycling. I seem to recall you doing at least one SaddleSore (that is 1000 miles in 24 hours).LoneRider wrote:It would be really great if I could get going in it before Oct 20th, I am the best man at a wedding in Vegas, since Stacy won't be going I am going to ride up there and spend a couple of days riding around CA, NV. Being able to sleep better will definately make the trip a bit more enjoyable
A few times he rode from Dallas TX to Clearwater FL and back to visit with me!
Sadly, with my weight and current sleeping habbits, this trip won't be seeing 900 mile days, probalby only 600 to 800
cheers,
Tom
OK, now I'm the stunned one (pun very much intended). What a small world! Is there any chance I know you? I'll PM you and we can compare addresses.
Yeah, I live in Florida now. Before that we lived in the Ottawa area for 13 years. Before that was Europe (The Netherlands). And before that was Toronto. So it has been a while.
But my parents still live in the same house they bought back in '64 (I think it was). It was new then, and we were the first ones to move into the new development. I remember when there was just ruts in sand and holes in the ground. Now there are mature trees! .
Yeah, I live in Florida now. Before that we lived in the Ottawa area for 13 years. Before that was Europe (The Netherlands). And before that was Toronto. So it has been a while.
But my parents still live in the same house they bought back in '64 (I think it was). It was new then, and we were the first ones to move into the new development. I remember when there was just ruts in sand and holes in the ground. Now there are mature trees! .
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers
11 posts
• Page 1 of 1