Questions I need to ask at my sleep study.

My first sleep study showed I have OSA and I need another to set up my CPAP. What things should I ask about and will I have any options? Do they just use a mask and CPAP to get a baseline or can I request the nasal mask or pillow. I am interested in the variable pressure machines and the ones that have computer monitoring. Will I have better luck finding a sleep disorder specialist or will my Internal Med doctor be sufficient. The only other factor that I can think of is that I am on Medicare and I am already getting alot of info from the forum. Thanks in advance for your input. Don

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Don, if you haven't had your second sleep study yet you can do the following:

See what they have to offer for the night in masks. If you know you are a mouth breather then stay with the full face versions, otherwise you have a choice of nasal mask, nasal pillows or nasal prongs. See if they will allow you to sample some of the different styles.

At the sleep lab I went to you didn't have to sleep until 10:30pm and you were hooked up by 9:30pm. If this is similar to you, then during this 1 hour period of time run the machine using the different masks to see which you prefer. It should take no more than 15 minutes each to find a winner. Use that one during your sleep. Most sleep techs/therapists are open and willing to answer questions so feel free to ask. The ones that will be more knowledgeable will be the ones with OSA that is being treated using xPAP therapy. The sleep techs will be knowledgeable about the machines they use but likely know nothing about other machines. In the morning some techs will even tell you the pressure you were titrated at and how long you actually slept. Once you are finished your study come back to this forum, read up on things you want to know about by using the search function and post for stuff you can't find. Good luck with the sleep study .

I would also make sure I knew what type of machine I was hooked up to at the sleep center (with cflex or not etc) and whether or not there was humidity (passover or heated) so I could figure out what I would need/want at home. If the tech doesn't offer information in the morning ask. What settings were reached, how long did you sleep. I was allowed to try a couple options of ff mask and nasal systems before lights out. Even though I am a mouth breather, I asked to try the nasal system just to be sure I couldn't use it. They sent it home anyway with me (probably since it was in my nose!) but since I have it I can mess around with it at home and see if maybe sometime I could learn to use it. I tried at least 3 ff masks. Be selective. The tech swore I was a small, but the thing was sitting on the bridge of my nose and not sealing under my mouth. It was pretty obvious to me from the feel that I was NOT a small. So tech doesn't always know best. The more info you can come away from your study with the better. Not always easy when they wake you up at 5am to leave (I never will understand that one). As for auto machines. Ask your doctor to prescribe one. Do this before he submits paperwork to the insurance if that has to be done for preapproval. You can always try. My insurance co wanted a letter describing why I needed one. There are some good posts on this forum detailing why an auto is better for some people and in my case weight flux and sleep position were used. Good luck

Hi Don,

You mentioned you are on Medicare. It's never too soon to start thinking ahead, past the last stage of your sleep study, as you are doing. Check out this site:

http://www.cpapforseniors.com/

That's a division of cpap.com, the good supply store that sponsors this message board. cpapforseniors can handle Medicare paperwork and might be a better place to get your equipment than from a local DME. Just depends on how much a local DME is willing to do for you in the way of "extra service."

After your sleep study is finished and the doctor has prescribed a pressure for you, be SURE to get a copy of the prescription. Don't let yourself get locked into getting your equipment (mask and machine) from a local DME (durable medical equipment - the home health care stores) UNTIL you've given cpapforseniors a phone call.

You might find that you'll have a much wider choice of equipment buying online than from the local DME.

Using a local store sounds good in theory - "get to try on different masks", "replacement machine if yours needs repairs", "the personal touch", etc., but those advantages evaporate quickly if you are unlucky enough to get a clueless, uncooperative, won't-return-calls DME.

The right mask is going to be the biggest key of all to getting good, comfortable treatment. That's the one area in which a local DME can shine over buying online. Or not. Ask the local home health care stores a LOT of questions without committing yourself to accepting even one piece of equipment from them.

Ask the local DME what their policy is about letting you try out masks overnight at home. How many times will they let you bring masks back to exchange for another if you don't like a mask after trying to sleep with it one night?

Unless the local DME has a VERY generous exchange policy on masks during your first month, personally I'd skip the local DME and buy online.

Thank you all for your helpful advice. I am a little freaked out about all of this. Back in Sept my shrink didn't think sleeping 10 hours a night and still needing naps during the day was a sign of depression. She called it as sleep deprivation and urged me to see my medical doctor. It took 6 weeks to get an appoint and he literally "blew me away" when I asked for a sleep study. He did order it 4 months later at the follow up. Another month until the study. Two days before the study they wanted to cancel and make me wait 6 more weeks but I called back and went to another location.
I thought my doc had ordered a split study but they did not try me on the CPAP that night. I waited another 3 weeks and finally was called by the office nurse that I had 253 "events" and my oxygen sat had dropped to 76%. It sure is good that I am not in a life threatening situation (sorry sarcasm slip). Now I am waiting until Monday until the doctor is in.
Thanks for letting me unload. I figure I should be all set about August. Thanks again. Don

I had my second sleep study last night. It took several phone calls but it was finally ordered. They said come in tonight or wait until May. I did not have a tech who wanted to give me any information (very old guard) Everything I asked was referred to my doctor.
I brought a snack and a CD of some New Age music since I don't like to take my meds on an empty stomach but the first nasal mask made me feel that I couldn't exhale. They switched to a Risponics Comfort Gel nasal mask and I did much better. He did make it too tight and I had red welts on the bridge and sides of my nose in the morning.
I did wake up during the test and realize that I was breathing easy and relaxed. I think that I will make it. I just have to wait and jump through a few more hoops until I can get my script and Medicare approval for the equipment.
Thanks to everybody for your support. Don

path2others, sounds like you're going to be just fine.........somewhere down the road there will probably be a speed bump or two.......we all gotta hit 'em.......but just keep on truckin'.........and getting better with every good sleep you have!