LoL, sorry that was a typo, they did NOT use needles on me for the testing.

They did stick me with needles. No I did not get my machine until after the results and my PCP wrote a script for it so that my insurance would pay for it.

Yes!!! That was very helpful because I was not knowing what to expect. Now, they dont stick any needles in you or anything do they? And do they send you home with the mask that day or do they wait for your results?

My hubby says I snor less and seem to sleep more soundly, but that darn tiredness is still there. What is auto titration? Also, I have had my machine for about 4 weeks. I have the one with the humidifier and am still "renting" it at this point. I am still paying off my deductible before insurance picks up any of it. Does that mean that I can switch machines, since I am renting it? I am not using the humidifier. It does not seem to help and it is making the water droplets go down my face and then I wake up. The machine with the humidifier is $400 more than the regular machine and if I am not using it, then its a waste of money. Oh yeah, and I called my PCP the last night to tell him that I have been doing the excessive yawning and sighing all day everyday and he said I am low on oxygen. Apparently since my nose is always "stuffy" I am breathing out of my mouth and due to the fact that I am also a smoker, he said I am not getting enough oxygen through my mouth. So he prescribed a steriod nose spray to open my nasal passage and hope that will help. I hope my approval comes quickly b/c I am soooo sick of medicines and machines!

First of all, you are not stupid. There are no stupid questions. I work in a sleep lab and know first hand what to do. You will probably need another initial sleep study because of the length of time between the first one and wanting CPAP. What will happen is that your doc will refer you with a prescription for a sleep study. Since you already know that you have severe sleep apnea, tell the technician and they can probably do a "split-night" study on you. Meaning that you can have the second sleep study AND CPAP titration study all in the same night. If that is the case then after the study a doc will interpret the study and recommend a CPAP pressure for you that will work. All CPAP is air pressure keeping your airway open so you don't stop breathing at night. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The pressure maintains your airway so you sleep more soundly, your oxygen level doesn't drop and your snoring will cease. Trust me when I say CPAP can change your life. It's like any new treatment (ie: medicines) in that you should give yourself 2 - 4 good weeks of being on the system to feel the biggest difference. Once a doctor prescripes a pressure for you, simply take that prescription to a home care company/DME supplier and they will take care of setting you up. Set up is usually done as a two month rental initially through insurance. That is to make sure that you comply with treatment. If you do, then your home care company/DME will apply to your insurance company so you can purchase the machine. Then it will be yours. Keep in mind that you can replace you machine tubing and masks every 6 months or so. Check with your insurance about that. As for feeling all "stuffed up", etc. The reason you feel that way is because people who have sleep apnea usually do a great deal of mouth breathing. And as you mouth breath, your sinus cavity dries up. Hence the stuffiness. You might need some humidity with your system. Tell your sleep tech that you have "stuffiness" issues. And ask about heated or regular humidity. Hope I have helped...hope I wasn't too late! But this website is new to me! I hope to have gastric bypass surgery in April 2005. Donna