Sleep Lab tech here...

My pressure is lucky 13. Is that "really high"? I thought it was somewhere in the middle. They also told me that I wake 90 times an hour -- which sounds pretty dire. I'm down 70 pounds today and hope to lose 75-85 more. I'm definitely a slow loser. I lost 25 in the two months before surgery and have lost 45 since. So, I think I'll be losing for quite a while -- through next spring anyway. I'm having knee replacement surgery on September 13 and the hope is that my weight loss will speed up after that. I am exercising quite a bit, but the bum knee keeps me quite sedentary, so post surgery I will be walking and, hopefully biking.

Hi Shannon, Thanks for all your great info. I have a couple questions. I had a sleep study done 7/18 which I'm told revealed mild-moderate sleep apnea. However, this is only a preliminary report and I can't see the specialist until Sept 30th. When I received the actual written prelim report it was a check-off sheet. The mild sleep apnea was checked then it was checked that I have snoring w/o sleep apnea and next to it was written in:moderate. It was also checked that no tx recommendations were give until aftercare appt w/specialist. The person who initially called me had no details about my test. I wonder exactly what this means and if I should be concerned..and if this will help at all w/insurance approval for WLS (the reason I had the sleep study to begin with)..Thanks for any help you can provide. Lisa

Lisa, Those definitions can be soo vague and vary from hospital to hospital. You could be mild OSA but have a HUGE desat just not a lot of apneas or you could barely desat but not breathe constantly and be Severe OSA The moderate could refer to your snoring?? I am not aware of any of our local places that make you come back in and see the doctor...besides IF you need treatment they would have to have you come back in and get titrated for the equipment. Seems a bit odd to me ...and to make you wait almost 3 more months. ??? IF you have problems that seems a LONG way to go before everything. We tell me 2 weeks to get the equipment after the titration study (or split) I would call back and see if they can't get you in sooner....OR at least find out if you need to have another study done. Of course...my surgeon got my report and said that no tx was necessary since I was pre-op and I was "just sleep hypopnea".....That may be all they need to get approval if you are waiting on that. See if that information is good enough for your surgeon to use and then follow up with the specialist later. How much longer do you have before your info gets submitted to the Insurance company? Find out if that will hold you up etc...maybe your surgeon's office could get you in with the specialist sooner IF that is required for approval...do you follow me?!

Thanks for the quick response Shannon. I sent that "prelim" report in a week ago w/the rest of my documentation to the insurance company. My surgeon told me to go ahead and send it in. I had the sleep study done in Indianapolis at the Midwest Sleep Institute. They told me they are 3 mos out on visits to see the specialist. I hope the prelim results were enough for WLS approval. I'm sure if Aetna needs more info they can contact them, right? It just seems odd that no treatment was recommended...although they knew I was having it for WLS approval..maybe the thought is it would be corrected that way? Anyway..thanks for your info Lisa

Wow thank you for being so forthcoming with information. I've been on my autopap machine for going on 3 weeks now. I was told by the tech that I have a severe case 155 times an hour I stop breathing. Both the tech and the home health guys repeatively said OMG your case is one of the worst I've ever seen...great thanks guys for making me feel so good. My question is can these studies be wrong? I know I have apena, but I don't think it's that bad. I felt like I didn't sleep at all during my study. I haven't met with my Sleep Dr yet (on the 25th). Since I've been on my machine, I feel more tired than without it. I feel I wake up more times to adjust where my mask is on my face, move the hose etc. I'm used to sleeping on my stomach, now all I can do is sleep on my side. Then all of a sudden I'll get air blowing in my eye. What can I do. I try to sleep with it all night, and most nights I do, but some times I just get so frustrated that I want to throw it across the room...........any advice for me? Oh and my nosal passage always seems to be stuffy. I use some nasal spray every night just to be able to breath via the mask. Thanks! Tracie

Tracie, wow...that is a lot!! soo....what is your sleep #?! Did they include HEAT and HUMIDITY to you CPAP??? That should help with dry nasal passages. BUT like anything else...it all takes time. My co-workers tell people that it usually takes 2 weeks to get used to it...but I see you have been at it for 3. A lot of people say they don't sleep during their study but they do...brain waves don't lie... at least I don't think they do! I had a guy the other night that I think might have slept a total of 1 hour in bits and pcs because the entire night during his titration he was moving, tugging at the mask, sitting up, and his brain waves appeared to be ALPHA which is wake....but when I asked him how he felt the next morning he said REFRESHED!!! NOT sure how he normally sleeps but geesh!!! SO either I am a complete idiot..which remains to be argued fully!! OR he is totally crazy. I would tell the doctor what is going on and your commitment to using the equipment etc...Which mask do you have? what size do you feel it is too big? too small? doesn't fit well etc... Are you able to sleep on your stomach at all?? maybe your head sideways hanging off of the pillow so the mask doesn't scrunch too bad into your face? MAYBE you could try the nasal prongs (we like the SWIFT) if your pressure isn't extremely high and that would be off the bridge of your nose and free up some space for your face to lay on your stomach more and you can switch which side the hose comes off of... Please don't give up and let them find something that does work for you if indeed you are that severe. Best Wishes and keep me posted.

Thanks for the quick response. My sleep number is a range of 5-20.....lately when I wake up it's between 10 & 14. I think my mask is a select comfort?? Ironically last night was one of those horrible nights. Tonight I'm going to try to tighten the straps. It has this little forehead rest that supposed to be on my forehead..(duh) but it wasn't tight when I woke up. But when I first put it on to go to sleep it fits right. Oh and I do have the heat and humity, but it bothers me when it's too warm. right now I have it set to 1, I wanted to move up to 2 when I actually sleeping good......but that hasn't really happened yet.

Hi Shannon, I have not had a study done yet, but my husband tells me I snore really really bad! I take Ambien every night or I DON'T Sleep at all period! Is that a problem when you go to have the study? will they allow me to take my meds? I worry that I'll go to get it done and never go to sleep! Also how much is it to get done? Will INS. pay for it? sorry for all the ???'s And thank you for all the advice!!!! Kathy

Kathy, Do you still snore even when you take the Ambien? They prefer you don't take sleep aids ...is there a reason why you think you don't sleep? Is your mind constantly ON and thinking? it might be better to take the Ambien ....at least you will sleep and they can see if you are having apneas. i would ask and explain to them what is going on. As far as I know insurance covers studies. I haven't heard of any that were denied assuming you went thru the proper channels and had your doctor write a script/referral It runs approx 2-3K for a study last I heard. i have never seen a bill!! if you still snore with the ambien...then you will probably show signs of sleep disordered breathing. People still take their mind altering anti depressants and they can affect sleep when they have studies....and it is better that you do sleep. but be honest and tell them you are taking it so they can consider that information when they score the study/make recommendations good luck!

Shannon, You are a god send. I have my sleep study testing next week. I am really new to all this and now I can go in without a worry. Thank you.