26-year Old Man Dies During Sleep Study

Ummm... Could we perhaps take a time out? It's way to easy to misconstrue intent on a forum. (Been there, done that! ) Let's just focus on the purpose of the forum and admit that both of you want to do the same thing ... help others who are sharing some of the same struggles and victories. That's the important thing that brings us together. Both of your do a good job of helping fellow members hunting for answers.

JohnBFisher wrote:Ummm... Could we perhaps take a time out? It's way to easy to misconstrue intent on a forum. (Been there, done that! ) Let's just focus on the purpose of the forum and admit that both of you want to do the same thing ... help others who are sharing some of the same struggles and victories. That's the important thing that brings us together. Both of your do a good job of helping fellow members hunting for answers.

John, I would love to do so. I've apologized to him before, an apology he ignored, and he attacked and constantly corrected my alleged "misinformation." I offered a truce several times, and he never would stop with his nitpicking. I'd be happy if Link and I had no relationship whatsoever on this board--that means, no response to each other's posts, and no caustic comments. However, he'd never agree to it--I HAVE OFFERED THAT repeatedly.

None of us know the circumstances of this young mans death. There is no disagreement that it is tragic. To speculate on how or why or if anything could have been done is on its face is just a guess. This could of been some as simple as a esopageal varices that ruptured, if it was it would not matter who was there or not unless there were a surgeon present and the appropriate equipment, you can bleed out in a matter of minutes with one of those. Like I said its a guess, probably a bad one since none of us know what happened.

rjjayrt wrote:None of us know the circumstances of this young mans death.

I take it that a bunch of folks didn't read the AJC article that I linked to.

1) He died of a heart attack, specifically a coronary
2) It took between 7 and 10 minutes for the ER staff to get to him
3) He had woken up and sat on the bed, waiving at the staff 7 times
4) He collapsed off the bed onto the floor, his relative (who watched the video) stated that he was probably dead by the time he hit the floor
5) The sleep staff was in his room within a couple of minutes of him hitting the floor

How much more detail do you need to then say that we "don't know the circumstances" It was an unfortunate tragedy that had nothing to do with him being at a sleep center.

BTW: There's nothing in the AJC article about blood, my guess is that when he collapsed he hit his head on the floor.

I had a sleep study this past August, the sleep technician had the Cpap machine turned extremely too high, where i coulnt get comfortable & i could barely breathe. I tried to wave my arms towards the camera but she never came in. When she finally did i advised her the air level was too high & it was drying my eyes. She adjusted this. When i returened to see the Doctor who reviewed my test results, noticed the air pressure was way too high & told me he needs to speak to the Sleep tech before he discusses my Sleep results. I requested a copy but i was told No, not untill he investigates what happened. I later found out by another employee there that the Sleep tech was fired. And lucky no one filed a lawsuit. But the employee did not give me any other information. Should i have sought legal help? What are my rights?

Also in my experience at the sleep clinic, continued information from my previous post. The Sleep technician seemed inexperienced, The mask that i was wearing was very uncomfortable I had leaky air escaping from the sides, the area that was over the bridge of my nose was tight & painful. In which it made a red inprint on the top of my nose. When the Sleep tech came in again I advised her that the mask is hurting my nose. She changed the mask to a better fit. I also told her the the cords and wires seemed like they were not placed on me correctly, because they kept tangeling, and some of the chords kept comming loose- making a loud beeping noise. I barely got 1 hour of sleep. Need to say i was dissapointed in my 2nd sleep appointment, I was actually ready to just get up and go home. I spoke to another Sleep techninican at the clinic who performed my very 1st original sleep exam previous to the 2nd horrible sleep cpap exam, and she noted that she does not know why the Sleep Technician would use that type of mask it was too big, and She does not understand why the air pressure was at the highest level, i should have been set at a low level.
Because of this horrible 2nd sleep c-pap exam, I have not used my c-pap machine at home, I am uncomfortable with using it because of my horrible experience at the clinic.

Skygirl, please start a new post, list your machine and mask info, and your specific probs with each...or did you get so freaked by your poor titration experience, you haven't started sleep with your equipment? If we know the equipment you have, we can make some realistic suggestions. Do you have a copy of your sleep study results? You are legally entitled to a copy. Welcome aboard! Great info and folks here.

Skygirl,

As a sleep tech I am very angry at the experience that you had. I am a true believer that a good sleep tech can help in a persons continued use of CPAP. Your statement of not wanting to use yours proves my point! If we make the experience uncomfortable, let the mask leak into your eyes, then I understand not wanting to use it. I tried to get all the techs on my shift to take their time and explain everything in detail, answer questions, make them comfortable, let them get used to the mask and pressure before actually strapping it on. all these things can help a person to understand the CPAP machine, the benefits, and hopefully make the person eager to wear it!

I hope you get the answers your looking for. As someone stated, you have a right to every sleep test, technicians notes, doctors notes, etc. Please don't give up!!

Here is a video interview with the young man's family

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestof ... cnn?hpt=T2

What a sweet looking boy! Boy the mystery really deepens with this boy's death. I wish that Emory would disclose what his heart was doing on the monitors just prior to him taking the sensors off. Was he in atrial fibrulation or some sort of tachycardia? Obviously he wasn't feeling well when he took the sensors off. Maybe this event would have happened at home if he had slept at home that night--however being in the setting he was in, he should have received help much, much sooner. 40 minutes of trying to get someone's attention before he finally took the sensors off!! That was when someone finally came to the room--presumably because an alarm went off when he took the sensors off.

The technicians running these tests should be trained to observe cardiac events on the heart monitor and call for assistance from the hospital!

Heart-wrenching stuff here. He was clearly deeply loved and is now missed terribly.

Jen

Tielman wrote:

rjjayrt wrote:None of us know the circumstances of this young mans death.

I take it that a bunch of folks didn't read the AJC article that I linked to.

1) He died of a heart attack, specifically a coronary
2) It took between 7 and 10 minutes for the ER staff to get to him
3) He had woken up and sat on the bed, waiving at the staff 7 times
4) He collapsed off the bed onto the floor, his relative (who watched the video) stated that he was probably dead by the time he hit the floor
5) The sleep staff was in his room within a couple of minutes of him hitting the floor

How much more detail do you need to then say that we "don't know the circumstances" It was an unfortunate tragedy that had nothing to do with him being at a sleep center.

BTW: There's nothing in the AJC article about blood, my guess is that when he collapsed he hit his head on the floor.

I read the article, and could find none of the things you mention above in it. It was just a short general article. I wonder if the article was shortened some time after you posted the link.

Well, it says he died of "sudden cardiac death" meaning without warning, abruptly. His Uncle stated that his nephew took of his sensors after returning from the restroom. The Technologist was not able to monitor if he removed the sensors, so how can he/she be liable? He did not go into cardiac arrest while he was waving, and did not express any chest pain when the technologist entered the room. He had to use the restroom. His Uncle watched the video, and tells what happended. He has a prior cardiac hx, morbidly obese, and my guess sleep apnea. Thats the reason for his death, not the lab.
As far as sleep studies go, they are very safe. Just make sure you go to an accreditted lab. Ask if they have Registered Sleep Technologists on staff. You are responsible for your health and care, demand the best, and do not accept anything less. I am a Registered Sleep Technologist, and feel torn with this story. I have alot of empathy for the family, and I too would have some questions. I'm sure we do not know the whole story, but from what I have heard, I do not blame the lab. We have 2 patients to monitor each night, and if we are in the other pts room we cannot see someone waving. We do have audio so we can also hear the patient.

I also wanted to add that as a Registered Sleep Technologist we are trained to recognize abnormal heart rhythms, and we are required to document those rhythms. That is why patients should make sure they are going to a reputable lab that has EXPERIENCED technologist on staff.

One question to socknitster: What do you mean by you use 3m paper tape, and you no longer wear a chin strap??

I think she means she now tapes her mouth shut because the chinstrap wasn't doing the job.

I know when techs or docs even THINK about that it sets your hair on fire, but it's a rather common practice out here in the "wild". Before I found my Hybrid, I did it. (My sleep doc looked like she'd bitten into a used persimmon when I told her. So I quit. Quit telling her, that is...)

But it's effective when other means have failed. And no one has ever posted that they died from it...

Thanks LinkC--yes that is the case. I would dearly LOVE to use a full face mask, but I have a severe overbite. Unfortunately overbite is a documented CAUSE of sleep apnea yet the mask manufacturers do not make full face masks to fit faces such as mine! So, I had to find SOME WAY to make my therapy work. Since I haven't vomited more than a couple of times since I was 12 years old, I don't think I'm at risk for vomiting in my sleep and asphyxiating in my own vomit. Which is the ridiculous reason given for why we shouldn't do this. That said, lets not change the topic of the thread to mouth taping, ok? IF you are concerned about it, there are only about 2 gazillion threads about it here. Go educate yourselves on what those of us desperate to have our xpap treatment work will do to make it work. By the way, I have tried the hybrid and virtually every other full face mask on the market at my own extreme expense, even the lesser known ones like the Hans Rudolph.