I am totally frustrated and disgusted with this mask. I am calling the Dr. tomorrow to let him know. I cannot deal with this. This damn thing causes me to hyperventalate and have panic attacks. I warned the Dr. that I am highly claustraphophic. I have fought so hard to get this surgery, and now I feel like this is going to prevent me from getting the bypass done.  I am so upset with the whole situation.

post thank guys doctor tuesday at 2 but still havent slept in almost 31 hours ha

Being a sleep tech myself I will give you a few pointers.


1. No technician should be telling you any results after your study. Granted it might seem like we don't know anything since we can't tell you, but we do know some things and can't tell you due to it might be wrong from what the doctor sees, the one with the license to diagnose you. So yes, we can't tell you anything due to possible lawsuits that could be drawn. So don't ask for info or beg for it cause we can't tell you and granted no matter how much you beg and plead and say you won't tell your doctor, we still can't, or atleast we shouldn't be.... :)


2. All sleep studies are done with wires(electrodes) that are connected to your head(for the stages of sleep you go into), chest(for your EKG-Heart), Legs(some places I don't know if they do these, but every lab I think should be doing the legs these days, but these are for leg movements, ie: PLMS-Periodic Leg Movement Syndrome and RLS-Restless Leg Syndrome), Oximeter(which is the thing on your finger, it reads Oxygen levels and heartrate), Snorogram(The thing on your neck, it reads off the apmlitude of your snoring on our monitors), the PFLOW(Which should be used now in every lab, but it is the plastic tubing going just into your nose, some of them look like Oxygen tubing, anyhow it catches your nasal flow, thermistor(Just like the pflow, except its a wire/copper thing that catches your thermal(heat) flow coming from your nose and mouth, helping us defer if you are breathing through your mouth or nose).


3. We can do a splitnight study on you, depending on your lab and criteria they follow. Basically we can't ALWAYS split you on the first night due to you maybe not meeting the criteria that the lab itself uses, or the fact that insurance companies won't pay for the study if you don't meet the criteria and we split you(make sense?) So anyhow, not splitting you doesn't necessarily mean you DON'T need a CPAP/BiPAP.


If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I don't know every answer and don't take everything I might suggest as a diagnose, always check with your doctor before doing anything. Also keep in mind as I tend to tell everyone, just because you lose weight, does not mean you are completely done having sleep apnea!!!! It's genetic for one, but also skinny people have sleep apnea as well, always always always check with your doctor cause in a few years down the road you have another study done, it might be hard for your insurance to pay for another machine and you'll be paying for it out of pocket...

WOW WEE -

I have been going bonkers here lately with the lack of sleep.  I have come home from the hospital with issues with my mouth coming open while sleeping. I keep waking up with the worlds driest dessert for a mouth.  So much so there is nothing to swallow.  My lack of sleep is really slowing down my recovery.

I'm one month post op and have lost 44 pounds. Thats more than 10% of my starting weight.  But I was this way before I came home from the hospital.  I called the respiratory therapist and they said, well try banding your head to keep your mouth from flopping open. UM< not working here.  Said once I get that figured out then maybe see about running an auto pap for a week or two to see where I need to set my levels. I guess I need to get an order for that.  I'm not doing a sleep study, I know I have apnea!!!   Last year i did a two week trial and found out I was at a 9 and raelly needed a 12.  Right now I backed it down to a 9 and I think I need lower. Hmm.. Might be best to test it out.


Glad I looked on this board

Mishelle

Hypertension and on Blood Pressure medication. I will appeal,  I just need to get my ducks in a row before I do it. I am trying to gather as much information as I can. Thanks for your input.