Horrible experience

NeverAgain wrote:The sleep test was terrible.... When they said the quality of my sleep would change dramatically, I thought that statement meant IMPROVE.... I've been convinced from the first test that it is all a gimmick. Each experience reinforces my belief.

You sound about the way I felt when given my diagnosis. I had a totally ROTTEN sleep test, because, among other things, they wanted me to go to sleep about three hours before my normal bedtime.

I was freaked, because I'm very claustrophobic and the idea of THINGS on my face was petrifying. Not to mention this was the second MAJOR health issue in a single year -- the other being cancer surgery.

I was fortunately directed to this Forum by a friend, and started reading and learning, and I was absolutely determined that if I had apnea, it would get treated, and treated properly, and no <expletives deleted> mask or machine was going to get the better of me.

I spent some weeks getting accustomed to sleeping with the d@mn thing, and finding the correct pressures for me. I was awake multiple times a night, and had to put myself back to sleep by counting breaths.

But I persevered, and now my sleep is regular and refreshing.

Except when my poor, elderly Sunny Lady Dachshund wakes me, coughing and wheezing because of her congestive heart failure. I wish they made a CPAP mask for a dog. I would find a vet who could help me set up my back-up machine for her.

That's exactly how I felt after my second nightime sleep study at Franklin Square Hospital here in Maryland. My problem was snoring and keeping my spouse awake, so the doctor did some lung and breathing tests, then referred me for sleep therapy. I tried my best to fall asleep during the first test with many wires attached to my head, legs and scalp. The second test was about the same except I was wearing a mask and again I could not fall asleep since the surroundings were so foreign to me. In the middle of the night I had to pee and called them on the intercom. What a sight that was walking down the hall to the bathroom fitted with all those wires.
Then just the other day I was fitted with my own mask at the therapy place (same hospital) and took the pump, hose etc. home. The first night was great and woke up feeling refreshed somewhat but wow, the second night was terrible when the mask began leaking and my wife pucnched me in the side. I had to remove the mask and tried again the next night and the mask felt OK for about 2 hours and started again to make noises. Now I feel so tired and frustrated the next day that I am lucky I am retired.
The reason these new CPAP machines have an SD memory card is to report the machines usage and possibly if it is helping me. I know there is a lot of Medicare fraud going on but at least they should investigate how to improve this medical device for us Medicare patients. When I saw the bill paid by my insurance comapny, I was shocked to see $1,825 for the first sleep therapy night, and dread to think what the second visit and equipment cost.
Anyway, here it is 4 PM and I have to take a nap since recently I have been so tired hoping my CPAP devivice would cure my problem. Thanks, for listening