After your sleep study, were you diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?

[Minnesota!]

I'm confident that wearing a mask while I sleep is going to alter my life. You say DH is using one, but have you ever worn it?

I tried it out when he first got it, yes.

 

[wombat_5606]

Again, this is because most doctors won't order a sleep study unless a person is exhibiting symptoms of sleep apnea or needs a pre-op. So, since the tests are being ordered on people who are exhibiting signs, your results are going to skew to having Sleep Apnea.

Your results would be much different if you walked into a random room and had everyone have a sleep study whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms. IF random people who never showed any symptoms were then told they needed a CPAP, then you could entertain a conspiracy theory.

Your question would have better results if you asked if any doctors randomly ordered sleep tests when a patient had no symptoms of sleep apnea and then diagnosed them with sleep apnea.

I'm not really trying for a better result, though. What you want to know, isn't the same as what I want to know.

I'm not trying to find out if people with no symptoms were sent for a study and then had it. What I'm wondering is if someone had symptoms, went and had the test and then ended up having sleep apnea.

My experience up to now is that everyone who went for a sleep study, for whatever reason, had apnea.

It's been interesting to me that there were some that were tested, that didn't have it.

What's been more interesting are the posts telling what CPAP has done or not done for them.

 

[Shellsbutt]

I sure can see where people think it IS a conspiracy. DW and DD have done the studies, they don't have Sleep Apnea.
My Doctor had me have a brain CT scan, EKG, echocardiogram, and wear a heart monitor for 24 hours while keeping a diary of my "activities". Sleep study was next, but all those tests (and talking to my wife who says she has never heard me stop breathing, but does say the only way she can tell if I AM breathing while asleep is by looking to see if the covers are moving!) convinced him that wasn't needed.
But I am waiting to see a dermatologist to make sure I don't have any skin cancer issues (just to be sure because I am 62).
My Doctor's standard response when the test comes back negative "at least we have a base line now".......and I have an empty bank account with my $6,000 deductible health insurance

Yep, gotta love health insurance. My deductible is 4,000 and I finally exceeded it this year when I went to the emergency room with severe stomach pains. I thought it was my gallbladder (my mom had hers out last year). Abdominal ultrasound, cat scan, blood work, etc. I always get amused when I go to the doctor and the receptionist says "Oh, it looks like you're working toward your deductible." My mom just had a sleep study done a few weeks ago and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. She's supposed to pick up something, not a cpap machine, that just goes in your nose? Anyway, Medicare covers it but I can't see her using it. I just told her she's old and you don't sleep that much at that age, lol.

 

[wombat_5606]

Snoring is a major indicator of sleep apnea. The snoring must be bothering you or your partner in order to mention it to the doctor. Snoring can be life threatening.

I was asked if I snore. Sure, it bothers others, WHEN, I snore which might be 1 night out of 21-30. Unless I quit breathing at night, I just don't see how it can be life threatening enough to treat me for apnea every night, absent any other symptoms.

 

[wombat_5606]

Sorry, this was a duplicate post.

 

[Music City Mama]

I will be doing an at-home sleep study in 2 weeks (I told the sleep medicine specialist that I'd rather not do the overnight in the lab kind).

I went to the specialist because I'm suffering from chronic insomnia. She looked in my mouth and said I had "small airway". OK, first time anyone has told me that, but whatever. She asked if I snored and I said that I don't and not only can my husband attest to that, but my kids, too, since we're usually in the same room when we travel.

She still wants me to do it, though, to "rule out anything medical". Fine. Like you, OP, I think what does she care if this costs me a few hundred dollars? Another reason I want to do the at-home (less expensive). So, we'll see.... From what I've read, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but if you have sleep apnea, you definitely will snore, so I'm thinking I'll test negative.

My DH does snore and has not been sent for a sleep study, but I've NEVER heard him stop breathing, gasp for breath, cough, etc. in the middle of the night. Also, he is well rested so I don't think he has sleep apnea despite his snoring.

 

[wombat_5606]

DH and I have both had multiple sleep studies over the years as we have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

So, even when you have been diagnosed with apnea, they still do sleep studies? That was one of my questions. I had read that if you lost weight, you could no longer have it. So, it stands to reason that sleep studies would need to be done occasionally to see if there are any changes.

 

[Tootsie62]

I had an ENT tell me I needed a sleep study, so before I could schedule one, I got a call and they asked a ton of questions, one being, "do I dream", I do and very vividly, so they told me I didn't need a sleep study and that I didn't have sleep apnea. So I guess if you dream, you're fine.

 

[DuskKodesh]

Hubs had one and was diagnosed but I was 100% certain before they ordered the test. He would go through fits of stopped breathing while he was asleep. The first one scared the crap out of me and he didn't even recall it a moment later when I shook him awake. He has a Cpap now and sleeps like a baby.

 

[wombat_5606]

She looked in my mouth and said I had "small airway". OK, first time anyone has told me that, but whatever.

I was told this too.

Also, another thing that is bothering me about my study is that the Dr. said he wanted me to start out on my back.
So I did and then ended up sleeping like that for the entire night.

First, I never sleep on my back. I have severe back pain, so I'm a side sleeper. Also, I think sleeping on your back, skews the results somewhat because everything is going to relax to the back of your throat, further blocking your breathing. I can't wait to get my results.

 

[wombat_5606]

Hubs had one and was diagnosed but I was 100% certain before they ordered the test. He would go through fits of stopped breathing while he was asleep. The first one scared the crap out of me and he didn't even recall it a moment later when I shook him awake. He has a Cpap now and sleeps like a baby.

Yes, he definitely sounds like he needs one! I hope he and you have a long life together.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I actually just recently did sleep study testing through Kaiser Permanente. For reference, I am a 27 year old female, on paper very healthy with no medical history. I finally, after too many months of protesting to my boyfriend that there was nothing wrong with me, went to visit my doctor to talk about my sleeping problems - night sweats, night terrors, sleep talking, snoring, and falling asleep in public places during the day and even while in conversation with people. My general practitioner referred me to the sleep clinic, and I was set up with a take-home test that tests for sleep apnea. (I didn't think I had sleep apnea, but apparently that is the first thing they want to potentially rule out.) The home test was negative. My GP referred me to a sleep specialist at the clinic. When meeting, the sleep specialist explained that the home test wasn't really designed for someone like me - I'm very petite and pretty young and not the typical patient who they test for sleep apnea. He referred me to a sleep clinic to do overnight and daytime sleep testing. He also warned me that in an extreme case, my drivers license could be taken away from me. I had to evaluate the risk and determine if the testing was worth it. I decided that ultimately, if I was going to endanger others, I would want to know and wouldn't want to drive.

I checked into the overnight clinic at 9 PM, and I had a private room to sleep in that night. I was hooked up to a bunch of wires on a box that I'd be carrying around with me for the next 16 hours.
The technician explained that one of the things they'd be watching in the night test is for apnea - if I had apnea, they would come into my room and give me CPAP, and I would not stay the next day for additional testing. I did snore on my back and woke up twice to the technician adjusting the plastic piece over my nostrils. I had very vivid dreams, but the testing showed that I actually slept very well overnight - 90% efficiency. I did not have sleep apnea and was not disqualified for the additional daytime testing. For the daytime test, they had me take 30 minute naps every 1.5-2 hours for 4 total naps. It was pretty stressful just laying there and trying to sleep on command for 30 minutes - I thought I didn't sleep at all. It turns out that I slept about 6 minutes each time. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia. It's similar to Narcolepsy, except I don't suddenly lose muscle control, and I don't fall into REM sleep. (Also, I get to keep my driver's license - but I should be very aware and cautious while driving and stop driving as soon as I feel sleepy.) As for treatment.... that's what we're working on now (trying medication). And still haven't gotten to the bottom of the night sweats, night terrors, and sleep talking... working on that, too. The diagnosis was a little scary - on one end, I'm kind of sad that there's something wrong with me- I'm so young... does this mean I will be on medication for the rest of my life? But then on the other side, it's kind of nice to know that I'm not just making things up. I'm not just a rude person who falls asleep while someone is talking because I'm bored. And I am young... if I get on top of this now, maybe I can get a handle on it and it won't be such a problem later in life.

 

[arminnie]

I have had several sleep studies. The first one was 26 years ago. I religiously used CPAP for a year with no improvement.

I then had major surgery where my tongue was moved. Had subsequent studies to confirm that it was successful. When I had some other health problems involving fatigue over the past 20 years I’ve had other sleep studies which showed that I did not have apnea.

I am SO HAPPY I had that surgery. I have not had to deal with CPAP over the past 25 years. There are surgical solutions but there are probably less then 10 sleep centers in the US that are qualified to perform them. Stanford being the gold standard.

 

[sam_gordon]

I was asked if I snore. Sure, it bothers others, WHEN, I snore which might be 1 night out of 21-30. Unless I quit breathing at night, I just don't see how it can be life threatening enough to treat me for apnea every night, absent any other symptoms.

The sleep study will tell you if you've stopped breathing. And how do you know if you're snoring? You're asleep and presumably whoever is in the same room with you would also be asleep.

I also do not sleep on my back, which is why I think I have problems still with the CPAP.

I do think it's ironic that you complain about costs, but suggest surgery as an alternative to the CPAP. My doctor has recommended a different mask for me, but I'm still paying off the first one and the machine (was told by the company at first that I only had to pay $150, then it was $800, then it was $500. I got the machine in March and according to the company that supplied my machine they billed an insurance company that I didn't join until May. I really don't like this company).

 

[wombat_5606]

The sleep study will tell you if you've stopped breathing. And how do you know if you're snoring? You're asleep and presumably whoever is in the same room with you would also be asleep.

I also do not sleep on my back, which is why I think I have problems still with the CPAP.

I do think it's ironic that you complain about costs, but suggest surgery as an alternative to the CPAP. My doctor has recommended a different mask for me, but I'm still paying off the first one and the machine (was told by the company at first that I only had to pay $150, then it was $800, then it was $500. I got the machine in March and according to the company that supplied my machine they billed an insurance company that I didn't join until May. I really don't like this company).

I know I'm snoring because I go to sleep before anyone else. So, when my DH comes to bed he hears it and when I travel with my daughters, they say the same. Evidently sometimes it is so loud, it can wake them up.

I'm not complaining about the costs. I'm complaining about the Dr's insistence that I start with the sleep study without considering alternatives and now I have to go to the extra expense to get the alternatives covered.

My husband and I just don't do anything without researching things ourselves. One time I had a dental issue. My usual dentist sent me to a endodontist. Now, that guy could have just performed a root canal and that would have been that. I asked a ton of questions and so he sent me to a periodontist. The treatment he wanted to do was around $6,000. I asked him a ton of questions and did some research. My decision at the time was to do the dental care he advised I would need to do for the rest of my life even after his dental treatment. I then told him that if things didn't get better of if they worsened, I would be back for his treatment plan. I would be in exactly in the same place. Well, I'm about 6-7 years later and I have no trouble at all. Situation hasn't changed one bit. So, I like how I approach things.

 

[wombat_5606]

I actually just recently did sleep study testing through Kaiser Permanente. For reference, I am a 27 year old female, on paper very healthy with no medical history. I finally, after too many months of protesting to my boyfriend that there was nothing wrong with me, went to visit my doctor to talk about my sleeping problems - night sweats, night terrors, sleep talking, snoring, and falling asleep in public places during the day and even while in conversation with people. My general practitioner referred me to the sleep clinic, and I was set up with a take-home test that tests for sleep apnea. (I didn't think I had sleep apnea, but apparently that is the first thing they want to potentially rule out.) The home test was negative. My GP referred me to a sleep specialist at the clinic. When meeting, the sleep specialist explained that the home test wasn't really designed for someone like me - I'm very petite and pretty young and not the typical patient who they test for sleep apnea. He referred me to a sleep clinic to do overnight and daytime sleep testing. He also warned me that in an extreme case, my drivers license could be taken away from me. I had to evaluate the risk and determine if the testing was worth it. I decided that ultimately, if I was going to endanger others, I would want to know and wouldn't want to drive.

I checked into the overnight clinic at 9 PM, and I had a private room to sleep in that night. I was hooked up to a bunch of wires on a box that I'd be carrying around with me for the next 16 hours.
The technician explained that one of the things they'd be watching in the night test is for apnea - if I had apnea, they would come into my room and give me CPAP, and I would not stay the next day for additional testing. I did snore on my back and woke up twice to the technician adjusting the plastic piece over my nostrils. I had very vivid dreams, but the testing showed that I actually slept very well overnight - 90% efficiency. I did not have sleep apnea and was not disqualified for the additional daytime testing. For the daytime test, they had me take 30 minute naps every 1.5-2 hours for 4 total naps. It was pretty stressful just laying there and trying to sleep on command for 30 minutes - I thought I didn't sleep at all. It turns out that I slept about 6 minutes each time. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia. It's similar to Narcolepsy, except I don't suddenly lose muscle control, and I don't fall into REM sleep. (Also, I get to keep my driver's license - but I should be very aware and cautious while driving and stop driving as soon as I feel sleepy.) As for treatment.... that's what we're working on now (trying medication). And still haven't gotten to the bottom of the night sweats, night terrors, and sleep talking... working on that, too. The diagnosis was a little scary - on one end, I'm kind of sad that there's something wrong with me- I'm so young... does this mean I will be on medication for the rest of my life? But then on the other side, it's kind of nice to know that I'm not just making things up. I'm not just a rude person who falls asleep while someone is talking because I'm bored. And I am young... if I get on top of this now, maybe I can get a handle on it and it won't be such a problem later in life.

Wow, just wow! I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Yes, at your age, too. I've never heard of your diagnosis, so I'm now off to Google.

 

[wombat_5606]

I have had several sleep studies. The first one was 26 years ago. I religiously used CPAP for a year with no improvement.

I then had major surgery where my tongue was moved. Had subsequent studies to confirm that it was successful. When I had some other health problems involving fatigue over the past 20 years I’ve had other sleep studies which showed that I did not have apnea.

I am SO HAPPY I had that surgery. I have not had to deal with CPAP over the past 25 years. There are surgical solutions but there are probably less then 10 sleep centers in the US that are qualified to perform them. Stanford being the gold standard.

Thanks for posting. I can only imagine the surgery wasn't pleasant but I'm glad you are happy with the results.

 

[sam_gordon]

I know I'm snoring because I go to sleep before anyone else. So, when my DH comes to bed he hears it and when I travel with my daughters, they say the same. Evidently sometimes it is so loud, it can wake them up.

I'm not complaining about the costs. I'm complaining about the Dr's insistence that I start with the sleep study without considering alternatives and now I have to go to the extra expense to get the alternatives covered.

My husband and I just don't do anything without researching things ourselves. One time I had a dental issue. My usual dentist sent me to a endodontist. Now, that guy could have just performed a root canal and that would have been that. I asked a ton of questions and so he sent me to a periodontist. The treatment he wanted to do was around $6,000. I asked him a ton of questions and did some research. My decision at the time was to do the dental care he advised I would need to do for the rest of my life even after his dental treatment. I then told him that if things didn't get better of if they worsened, I would be back for his treatment plan. I would be in exactly in the same place. Well, I'm about 6-7 years later and I have no trouble at all. Situation hasn't changed one bit. So, I like how I approach things.

But the sleep study is a diagnostic tool. To me, it's the equivalent of having nausea, fever, cough, body aches, and a headache, and not wanting to get a flu test done... "let's see what else we can do". Again, I'm not 100% behind CPAPs, and wouldn't use the one prescribed to me if it didn't help DW sleep.

Do I think my life is truly in danger if I don't use the CPAP? Absolutely not. Did the CPAP "change my life"? Absolutely not.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My issue is that my only symptom is snoring. So, the first and only diagnostic recommended is a sleep study. Why not recommend any other alternative that might not be so life altering or so long term?

Have you tried Breathe Right Strips?

How is it life altering? You are, literally, just wearing a mask when you sleep.

It has definitely changed DH's life - mostly for the better, obviously, as it keeps him breathing , but there are negatives. Besides the obvious discomfort of having something on your face, it's kind of a pain to travel with (which he has to do for work). Also, you can't just get up to go the bathroom - you have to unhook and rehook everything - and that creates the danger of waking up "too much" and not being able to get back to sleep. It leaves marks on his face, we have to buy distilled water for it, there's a danger of infection if you don't clean it properly...

All of this is worth it in his case, but it's certainly not a gadget I'd use if I didn't need it!

 

[wombat_5606]

But the sleep study is a diagnostic tool.

Right. I'm just saying for someone with my set of symptoms, I think and ENT might have been the more sensible way to start than an expensive sleep study.