Advice for sleep apnea testing

[INEEDTOSLEEP]

Hi! Hoping I can get some feedback/advice here:

I am a 48 year old man. I am a personal trainer who is in excellent condition, and health is my priority. But I have had sleep issues for many years. Mainly, I wake up constantly throughout the night, which just kills me. 

As far as I am aware, I do not snore, and have never been told I do. I am not aware of waking up gasping or out of breath or anything like that. My Apple Watch indicates that I am getting virtually no deep sleep and that I am waking up constantly, but does not report any irregularities with my heart rate or breathing. But as I said, I wake up constantly. I usually have a pretty dry mouth. And generally feel exhausted with occasional headaches. 

My father, mother, and brother all have sleep apnea, so I have often wondered if that is what I am dealing with. A few years ago, I went to a dentist who had me do a Type 3 at home test. I was told I didn't have sleep apnea, but I remain unconvinced that it was accurate. Both my brother and father did at home tests which came back "negative" but when they the did an onsite type 1 test, the were diagnosed with sleep apnea. 

The issues for me are 1) my insurance sucks and as far as I can tell, going to a clinic won't be covered and 2) at minimum it would take months to even get seen, if I am lucky.

This led me to look for at home type 2 tests, which are apparently the same as type 1. I could only find one guy that supplies such a thing. It would cost $900, but seems worth it if I can actually get an accurate diagnosis. I would post a link but it won't let me. But his name is Jason at AXG Sleep Diagnostics. 


According to the site it is a comprehensive type 2 diagnostic home sleep study which records 7 channels as well as body position data. This DOES meet FAA requirements and includes:

• EEG
  
  
• EOG
  
  
• ECG/heart rate
  
  
• EMG
  
  
• Airflow
  
  
• Respiratory effort
  
  
• Oxygen saturation
  
  
• Body position
  

Does anyone have any advice or thoughts?

Does anyone have experience with doing a type 2 test at home or is familiar with the company in the link above?

Thank you very much.

[srlevine1]

First, I would consult your physician and request a complete physical workup (including blood, cardiac, endocrine, and pulmonary tests) to rule out any underlying conditions. At the same time, I would request a sleep test referral based on "medical necessity."

Second, I would contact your insurance company and request a pre-procedure authorization for the test. If denied, I would ask your doctor for assistance in appealing any denial.

Third, I would ask the sleep lab if they offer a cash discount (for those without insurance).

Fourth, I would consider a workaround if it's a matter of money. You can purchase a used, refurbished, low-hour ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet device and a mask from a reputable vendor and use the system to document and self-titrate a solution. By downloading the OSCAR software and posting a few charts to the forum, you can receive suggestions for setting changes and possibly a cursory analysis and recommendation for further action. You can also present your doctor with the OSCAR results for additional analysis and recommendations. I have seen used devices for $300 to $400.

Fifth, if you can get a prescription, you may be able to borrow a machine from your local "medical closet." Try a Google search for "Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet" to see if one exists in your area.

Sixth, I am sure other forum members will provide additional guidance.

And, as a final thought... whatever the cost of resolving your issue, what price do you place on your health, peace of mind, and well-being, amortized over the remaining years of your life?

As for Jason Sazama, he is a YouTube content creator, and I would check his professional qualifications and recommendations like any other medical professional.

Best of luck on your journey to better sleep.

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

Double-check on your insurance before committing to any particular path. If you do need to self-fund it, Jason is quite knowledgeable. 

I have used Jason myself. His YouTube videos are designed to be entertaining and informative. In-person he is quite serious about his job.

[INEEDTOSLEEP]

Thank you for your advice.