Claustrophobic-Failed to complete second sleep study..what now?

Hi everyone! Has anyone gone through this? My DH went on Friday night to have the second part of the sleep study, hooked up to the cpap machine. Like me, he too is claustrophobic; unlike me, he couldn't handle any of the masks they tried and was not able to complete the test. Our surgeon, requests that any patient with sleep apnea gets tested and subsequently set up with the cpap machine. Also, he requires that cpap patients bring their machines to the hospital when going in for surgery. I wonder what's going to happen now?? We are planning on calling the pulmonologist (who sent him in for the sleep study) and discuss my DH's options at this point. I mean, it is a fact that he has sleep apnea. The problem is, he can't handle the masks. What can be done? While my hubby has a way to go before he's cleared for surgery, we are planning his surgery for the third week of December, right before the Christmas break (he's a school teacher). We knew, from my own experience, that the pulmonology/sleep study part of the process takes the longest so we're trying to get it done and out of the way before he moves on to the other consultations. Any comments, suggestions, or ideas will be greatly appreciate. Thanks for reading this post. Hope everyone's Labor Day weekend has been great! God Bless! Dolly

Here's some information on the NasalAir. It is wonderful and is grat for people with clausterphobia. It actually looks like an oxygen canula. You can check it out at cpapdepot.com. If your husband has apnea it must be getting treated before surgery. I had to bring my cpap to the hospital with me, and I'm glad I did. I had a lot of trouble with the apnea while trying to come out of anesthesia. That's why a lot of docs who suspect apnea have their patients treated before surgery. Good luck, and let me know if the info is helpful Take care, Debra 239/193/125 NasalAire® II CPAP Mask NasalAire® is a new and innovative interface device designed for maximum efficiency and comfort for patients requiring positive ventilation therapy. Its sleek design allows the user freedom to speak, eat, drink, and wear eyeglasses without removing the device. When the device is worn by the patient, the under nose reservoir is positioned across the patient's upper lip with the nasal inserts positioned in patient's nares. The tubing drapes easily over the patient's ears in the manner of standard nasal cannula, thus stabilizing the under nose reservoir with the "Y" coupling positioned in front of patient, eliminating the need for uncomfortable straps and headgear. ADVANTAGES: ? No headgear required ? Can be worn for any duration without discomfort ? Reduction in humidification ? Helps compensate for deviated nasal septum ? User can sleep in any position ? Imposes no uncomfortable pressure points on the face ? Easy to put on and take off ? Does not chill the nose ? Promotes unprecedented patient compliance ? Minimum number of parts ? Easy to assemble and clean

Hi Debra! How are you feeling? Hope you're feeling better and that you had a nice Labor Day weekend! The NasalAire is the one I have. I'm claustrophobic too and have had no problems with it. I tried the other masks and couldn't handle them, but the nasal, it's okay for me. So...I tried to get my hubby to use it for a little while today (you know, as a trial) and see how he felt. Let me tell ya, it took me longer to adjust it on his face than it took him to take it off and throw it across the room Dunno what we're gonna do about this... sigh... He needs the surgery a lot more than I did. We must find a solution to this problem. I hope our pulmonologist has a few answers/suggestions for us. Thanks! Dolly

Hi Dolly, Hugs! Hope things work out and that he finds something that will help him through the test... I can imagine that it must be difficult dealing with it all! Hope to see you next week and the support group in yonkers! Marla

Hey Marla! Thanks, hun! How are you doing? Hope to see you too at the meeting. Have a wonderful day! Dolly

I can fully relate to your hubby... I passed all my pulmonary requirements with no SLEEP test done. AS things seemed fine for me. HOWEVER, in the hospitol that machine that was hooked up to me would sound off every time i went to sleep. SO they had my pulmonary guy come down to visit me and so that i would sleep they tried to put a CPAP machine on me and i freaked out. I felt like i was suffocating and wouldnt comply. SO i just didnt sleep in the hospitol cause every time i dozed i guess i wasnt breathing and all the alarms would go off and the nurses had to come in and i id wake. GOOD LUCK with finding a solution. LISA

Hi Lisa! Geez, you had a rough time at the hosp and very little sleep, I take. I hope when DH talks to the doc this afternoon, he'll give him some options. Hubby needs this surgery a lot more than I did. Have a wonderful day, hun! God bless. Dolly

Hi Dolly, Sorry to hear that Joe is having this problem. You're right, maybe the pulmonologist has some kind of solution. Not to change the subject, but are you still interested in exercising together. I sent you an e-mail last week. Did you receive it? Joanne

Hey there, dear ! Yeah, I have both my fingers and toes crossed in hopes the pulmonologist will find a solution I did get your email and your phone message...did you get mine? I decided to wait til after the holiday weekend--you said you'd be busy Did you have a nice weekend?! I sure hope so. I'll give ya a call tonight. Have a wonderful day! Dolly

Hey Cookie, Sorry to hear about Joe having trouble. I don't have any experience with sleep studies so I have NO words of wisdom ... just comfort & support. Are you guys coming to White Plains tomorrow night? What about the Walk? Let me know, Hugs*Kisses Mary