How often for a Sleep Study?
How often should I be required to have a sleep study? I had one in June 2009 for diagnostic purposes. My GP is referring me to a new Pulmonary doctor who may require a new sleep study. My pressure is 13-18 and lately since getting the S9 Autoset I've noticed my average pressure is around 13.1 - 13.5. Since my GP is not a sleep specialist and I suppose she could not encourage me to change the pressure downward, she is sending me to a new doctor for evaluation. Any comments??
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
Your autoset is a very basic sleep study. Print out some graphs and data and take to the sleep doc. As long as you are feeling rested, your AHI is below five, and you are satisfied with your treatment, I don't see why the new doc would want another sleep study.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
05-31-2012, 01:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-31-2012, 01:41 PM by BabyDoc.)
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
I would agree with Paula 02. There is no reason to go to a sleep lab if you are feeling fine and your AHI is less than 5. If your pressure range is 13 to 18 and you are comfortable with that, I would doubt there would be any reason to lower the lower pressure setting. On the other hand, if you have to use ramp or EPR every night in order to get comfortable with that rather high 13.0 cm lower limit setting, the lower limit probably could be safely lowered. Many of us would do that ourselves without a pulmonologist or a formal sleep study, as long as the AHI was less than 5.
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
If your AutoSet pressure range is set for 13-18 and you're consistently getting pressure averages in the low 13's... I'd be willing to bet good money that your low-end pressure is set too high.
Might be worth it to do an experiment and set the range between 11-16 roughly and see if that changes things - (noting your AHI and average pressure over the course of a few nights). And remember not to change any other variable during a test period.
My guess is that your average AHI and average delivered pressure would be lowered as a result.
SuperSleeper
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05-31-2012, 03:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-31-2012, 04:49 PM by BabyDoc.)
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
I wouldn't set the maximum pressure lower at this point, based on the average or medium pressure readings, alone. Even if the maximum pressure is set too high, it isn't going to deliver pressure that high, unless you actually need it. There may be events during the night where you are in deeper REM sleep and actually could benefit from that higher pressure setting, even though for most events you won't need it that high. If you look at the Maximum pressures over several nights, you will better see what your maximum setting could be. Still, I wouldn't worry about that Maximum setting, since your machine shouldn't fire higher than what you need. It's better for the maximum pressure to be set high and not use it, than to be set too low and not have it available should you need it.
Again, as far as the low pressure setting being too high, it really isn't too high, unless you aren't comfortable with that pressure, or you are having frequent central apneas. In that case your AHI will be probably high. If pressures are rarely going beyond 13.0, you are essentially operating in CPAP mode with a CPAP of 13.0. You are then missing out, perhaps, on the big comfort advantage of an autoset machine, which operates at lower, more comfortable pressures when you don't need it, but increases pressures to higher levels only when you do need it. Having said that, you don't won't your lower pressure to be too far below your average pressure needs for an event; otherwise, you machine may not be able to respond quickly enough. I agree that you could lower to 11.0 and see what happens to your AHI over several nights. Lower it even lower if you aren't still comfortable with that pressure unless you see a worsening of the AHI.
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
To answer your "How often for a sleep study?" my sleep clinic recommends every 2 years or sooner if you are having major problems. The Doctor should know!
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
I agreed with my GP to see a new sleep doctor because it has been a year since I was seen by that doctor. I don't know if Medicare requires a yearly visit or not. In order to get supplies, I have to have a prescription and my GP isn't comfortable doing that. I've already explained to her if the new sleep doctor isn't a pleasant person, then I will not go there more than once.
I downloaded the clinicians manual for my machine, and I do have a reader for the little card in the back of my S9 machine. I also tried downloading the software for the card from the forum. I must have done something wrong because it doesn't work for me. I am technically challenged big time so it is probably the operator and not the software.
Thank you all for your input, very much appreciated.
05-31-2012, 05:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-31-2012, 05:03 PM by BabyDoc.)
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
Be sure to bring the SD card from your machine to your first visit and ask your new sleep physician look at the information on it. He should be able to check it, even if you can't.
That will tell you if he is nice or not. Since it sounds like you aren't experiencing a problem other than needing a prescription for supplies, he won't be nice if he demands you go through another sleep study unless your card's data shows a need. Good luck!
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
(05-31-2012, 04:04 PM)GrammaBear Wrote: I downloaded the clinicians manual for my machine, and I do have a reader for the little card in the back of my S9 machine. I also tried downloading the software for the card from the forum. I must have done something wrong because it doesn't work for me. Which software ResScan or SleepyHead, whats the problem may be someone can help.
Whats the average leak?
RE: How often for a Sleep Study?
(05-31-2012, 05:06 PM)zonk Wrote: (05-31-2012, 04:04 PM)GrammaBear Wrote: I downloaded the clinicians manual for my machine, and I do have a reader for the little card in the back of my S9 machine. I also tried downloading the software for the card from the forum. I must have done something wrong because it doesn't work for me. Which software ResScan or SleepyHead, whats the problem may be someone can help.
Whats the average leak?
I believe it was the SleepyHead software. I did get an onscreen message that indicated there was an updated version available. When I tried downloading that one, I got another message that said "download failed" but it didn't say why. My computer is just one year old and running Windows 7 - and as far as I know everything seems to be working ok.
Sorry for my ignorance, but I don't think I know how to learn the average leak. My AHI goes anywhere from .4 to 1.5.
I sure do wish I was computer literate. I have two grown sons that can do most anything they want with a computer. However they live 3 hours away from my house and have lives of their own.
My GP asked me today if I feel rested when I get up in the morning and I told her No, because I am so tired most of the time. I can fall asleep sitting up if I am in a comfortable chair. Maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age.
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