Has Anyone Participated In A Sleep Study (Or Know Someone Who Has)?

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

SF VIP
Location
New Jersey
A couple of my doctors mentioned me participating in a sleep study for possible sleep apnea detection. The latest...my cardiologist (this week). At first I declined, but now I'm thinking maybe I should. Too bad it won't be like the one in NYC that was paying $5,000 several years ago. Honorary Son #3 said his late aunt did one and he thinks it could be a good thing.

My main problem, other than trying to sleep in a strange location being monitored by strangers, would be that I can't sleep in beds anymore. I wake up feeling like somebody beat me up on the side I laid on. Also, I can't sleep on my back either. For at least 10 years, I've been sleeping comfortably in my recliner.

If you've done a sleep study or know someone who has, please let me know what the experience was like. Was it concluded that you (or the other person) has sleep apnea?
 
My DD did and she has sleep apnea. She doesn’t mind wearing the mask. Her husband refuses to wear his.

They also diagnosed her with severe insomnia. She has sleeping meds for that now.

As I understand it, they hook you up to monitors. They’re not in the room with you.

I think I have sleep apnea. The thought of a mask panics me.
 
I have done 4. First time was a home test many yrs ago. Second and third was in sleep clinic and I ended up not being able to sleep. Insurance forced the clinic. After the second failed attempt I got to do the home one again.

At the clinic I had a wig of heavy wires glued to my head making it so uncomfortable there was no way I was sleeping. Every time I had to use the bathroom they had to unhook me.

If I sat up or moved around too much they kept asking me what the problem was on a speaker in the room. The lady was worse than the man. I finally told her at home I didn't have people nagging me in the middle of the night.

I have sleep apnea but the equipment is so uncomfortable that I can't sleep with that either.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
If you've done a sleep study or know someone who has, please let me know what the experience was like. Was it concluded that you (or the other person) has sleep apnea?
Click to expand...
I've never had one. Everyone I know who has, got a sleep apnea diagnosis, which tells me all I need to know. My wife had a sleep study early on in to her final illness (ALS) and of course was prescribed a machine (not a CPAP in her case, but similar). It was very frustrating to her because of dry mouth (then teeth issues) and being constantly awakened by noises from the machine, and discomfort from the mask. She finally ditched it all and slept upright in her recliner.
 
My sister was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had tests. She was sent a CPAP machine with mask to use at home. I haven't asked her recently but, I know she found it uncomfortable. I suspect that she doesn't use it or, if she does, not often. I am curious now so, will have to ask her!
 
my spouse did one about a year ago. He did not need to go anywhere to sleep He picked up a suitcase type thing with instructions to place lead on chest and such and slept at home did two nights took machine back and they called with results.

The doctor said he had one of the worst sleep apneas he has seen recorded.
Masks are uncomfortable and he has tried several different types, but breathing is important even in sleep and he has finally felt rested and healthier than he has in years. his snoring is gone and the noise from machine is very minimal in my experience.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I've never had one. Everyone I know who has, got a sleep apnea diagnosis, which tells me all I need to know. My wife had a sleep study early on in to her final illness (ALS) and of course was prescribed a machine (not a CPAP in her case, but similar). It was very frustrating to her because of dry mouth (then teeth issues) and being constantly awakened by noises from the machine, and discomfort from the mask. She finally ditched it all and slept upright in her recliner.
Click to expand...
In my case I stopped breathing 14 times an hour each night. My father stopped breathing like 40 some times an hour. They usually don't send everyone for sleep tests. It's usually for specific symptoms which is why they all have that diagnosis.

They are making the machines much quieter now. I have a ResMed AirSense 11 that is super quiet. The problem is the masks do not fit right and the dry mouth and it stuffs my nose up having all that air forced in. Frankly I think they should make custom masks to fit each person differently instead of this everyone is either a small, medium or large mask.
 
MarciKS said:
In my case I stopped breathing 14 times an hour each night. My father stopped breathing like 40 some times an hour. They usually don't send everyone for sleep tests. It's usually for specific symptoms which is why they all have that diagnosis.

They are making the machines much quieter now. I have a ResMed AirSense 11 that is super quiet. The problem is the masks do not fit right and the dry mouth and it stuffs my nose up having all that air forced in. Frankly I think they should make custom masks to fit each person differently instead of this everyone is either a small, medium or large mask.
Click to expand...
Yep.
I knew my husband would have a dx of sleep apnea, and the sleep test (done at home) confirmed it.
I don't hear his machine at all, and he does not get dry mouth as it has a reservoir for distilled water.
He had his choice of several masks, some over the nose and some not.
 
That Lady in PA said:
Yep.
I knew my husband would have a dx of sleep apnea, and the sleep test (done at home) confirmed it.
I don't hear his machine at all, and he does not get dry mouth as it has a reservoir for distilled water.
He had his choice of several masks, some over the nose and some not.
Click to expand...
See the humidifier reservoir doesn't do anything to help me much. If I turn it up enough to fix the dry mouth it's too humid for me then I end up with oxygen hunger. And I still get stuffed up. The heater makes it even worse.
 
I had one done when I was quite overweight. Said I had it, sent me home with the unit and mask.
I gave it a try for about a week and said no more. Awhile later I was able to begin losing weight
and in my case, it's not been mentioned since. In my case I attributed to obesity problems at the time.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
A couple of my doctors mentioned me participating in a sleep study for possible sleep apnea detection. The latest...my cardiologist (this week). At first I declined, but now I'm thinking maybe I should. Too bad it won't be like the one in NYC that was paying $5,000 several years ago. Honorary Son #3 said his late aunt did one and he thinks it could be a good thing.

My main problem, other than trying to sleep in a strange location being monitored by strangers, would be that I can't sleep in beds anymore. I wake up feeling like somebody beat me up on the side I laid on. Also, I can't sleep on my back either. For at least 10 years, I've been sleeping comfortably in my recliner.

If you've done a sleep study or know someone who has, please let me know what the experience was like. Was it concluded that you (or the other person) has sleep apnea?
Click to expand...
I just completed an at home sleep study this past Monday. The process is (at least where I live) is to do an at home study and if it's inconclusive, they have you come in for an overnight study.
I got my results yesterday and according to them, I have severe sleep apnea. I have to go in June to spend the night. They will titrate a machine to where it needs to be so that I get the necessary breaths I need to take in order to sleep without having future medical issues. They will then order a machine for me. (A pulmonologist ordered the test because I have a slightly enlarged pulmonary artery). I will do as they say, but I'm not sure if I will comply with using a sleep apnea machine, but I will give it my best shot.
 
IrishEyes said:
I had one done when I was quite overweight. Said I had it, sent me home with the unit and mask.
I gave it a try for about a week and said no more. Awhile later I was able to begin losing weight
and in my case, it's not been mentioned since. In my case I attributed to obesity problems at the time.
Click to expand...
My in-home sleep study said I had severe apnea. I am overweight. I will try the machine, but this might be what I need to seriously change my diet. I'm not too excited about being strapped to a machine while I try to sleep.
 
TeePee said:
I just completed an at home sleep study this past Monday. The process is (at least where I live) is to do an at home study and if it's inconclusive, they have you come in for an overnight study.
I got my results yesterday and according to them, I have severe sleep apnea. I have to go in June to spend the night. They will titrate a machine to where it needs to be so that I get the necessary breaths I need to take in order to sleep without having future medical issues. They will then order a machine for me. (A pulmonologist ordered the test because I have a slightly enlarged pulmonary artery). I will do as they say, but I'm not sure if I will comply with using a sleep apnea machine, but I will give it my best shot.
Click to expand...
if you get the machine through insurance you have to use it 4 hrs a night or they won't pay on it. i bought mine outright so it doesn't matter. it was $350 cuz it was out of network. otherwise it would've been less. i get my equipment for it off amazon. don't need a prescription that way.
 
@OneEyedDiva imo, you're best served by doing an in home study. Based on what you said about your sleep habits an in-clinic, overnight sleep study will be always remembered as one of the worst nights you have ever been through. The full blown studies aren't completely necessary as they once were, since the most recent equipment (~10years) automatically fine tunes to the users needs on it's own.

The at-home test is relatively easy, using the cpap consistently is the hard part. Lots of frustration, and testing of various styles and sizes of masks to get it to be tolerable.
 
IrishEyes said:
I had one done when I was quite overweight. Said I had it, sent me home with the unit and mask.
I gave it a try for about a week and said no more. Awhile later I was able to begin losing weight
and in my case, it's not been mentioned since. In my case I attributed to obesity problems at the time.
Click to expand...
I asked the technician if I lost weight if there's a chance, I would not need the machine. He was ambivalent about it and said maybe. I'm not sure mine is weight related, however I am overweight. Years ago, a roommate of mine came home. She said she stared at me sleeping for a couple of minutes and I barely took breaths. She thought I was dead, I was breathing so shallow. That was 50 years ago and I'm still here. I will be open minded and try the machine but if I know me, I won't be able to adapt to it. The thought of having something on my face while sleeping makes uncomfortable thinking about it.
 
againstthegrain said:
@OneEyedDiva imo, you're best served by doing an in home study. Based on what you said about your sleep habits an in-clinic, overnight sleep study will be always remembered as one of the worst nights you have ever been through. The full blown studies aren't completely necessary as they once were, since the most recent equipment (~10years) automatically fine tunes to the users needs on it's own.

The at-home test is relatively easy, using the cpap consistently is the hard part. Lots of frustration, and testing of various styles and sizes of masks to get it to be tolerable.
Click to expand...
Some insurances won't always let you choose which to do. Mine made me go into the clinic twice. When I was unable to sleep in the clinic that is when they agreed to let me do the home test.
 
That Lady in PA said:
Maybe the fact that sleep apnea is a major cause of a-fib will make you more compliant.
Click to expand...
I'm open to trying it objectively, but I always like a Plan B. My husband couldn't tolerate a cpap so his pulmonologist put him on 02 at night and that seemed to have helped him. I've never been diagnosed with a-fib, but that doesn't mean I can't get it.
 
TeePee said:
I'm open to trying it objectively, but I always like a Plan B. My husband couldn't tolerate a cpap so his pulmonologist put him on 02 at night and that seemed to have helped him. I've never been diagnosed with a-fib, but that doesn't mean I can't get it.
Click to expand...
i do better with the oxygen but it costs me a little over $200 a month for the machine.
 
I don’t have a mask. I have only plastic tiny nose only like what is used for oxygen. Very comfortable. Don’t know I’m wearing anything. Which I haven’t for six months.

It’s on my long list of things to do to put new tubes on machine and clean water well
 
Yes, I did one in 2009, result was "moderate to severe sleep apnea". I got a CPAP but couldn't tolerate it.

Then I did another one last month, first an in-home test and then an overnight one
This time it was "severe obstructive sleep apnea".

They've prescribed me a CPAP. I'll probably try again, but not until I get back from vacation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top