Newbie- See Doc Tuesday, Help I got my sleep study results

[saja713]

Hi all!
I just got my Home sleep study results, and I'm a little confused on where to go from here.

Family members had mentioned that I quit breathing, so I had two oximetry tests, which showed my oxygen levels lowered to 80%.
My sleep study doctor said "You snore like a beast" and my snoring keeps waking me up. I told him I wasn't really surprised, although the canula irritated my nostrils badly (I'm a stomach sleeper)I've been a snorer since I was a kid and that I'm a little surprised I didn't have an apneatic episodes, despite being hooked up to all those wires, I actually had a really good nights sleep(which is very rare). I didn't wake up panicy at all that night or in the morning, I didnt have dry mouth or headache. And he said I did have 7 an hour and I had UARS, but that that was normal and that I required no treatment. He also stated that my snoring could be helped by losing weight (I am 25 lbs overweight, i also started gaining weight in the last 8 years), but I've been snoring since forever, even when I weighed 95 lbs. And that my sleep study results would not change if he recorded my normal night of sleep.
I'm really frustrated and a bit depressed because after 8 years of being out of energy I thought I would get answers. The sleep doctor was most unhelpful in listening to me when trying to discuss my oximeter test, he didnt even suggest nasal strips or sleeping on side(like I said i've been snoring for ages, I've tried the nasal strips they do not work for me, and I dont sleep on my back, or I wake up. I snore on my stomach and sleeping on my side.

I see my regular doctor Tuesday for a follow up from my sleep study, my question is could another sleep study show different results, or is there anything I could suggest to my doctor as a different avenue of treatment. Thank you all!

[DariaVader]

what did the oximeter test say? do you have the actual sleep study results? If the AHI is higher during REM or if there are lots of RERA (UARS) those can be considered clinically significant, especially when combined with symptoms or other conditions...

[saja713]

I don't know what my oximetry test show, just the doctor telling me that my oxygen levels went down to 80%.
I dont have the results from my sleep study, but when the sleep doc showed me the results, the graph area that showed waking events, i was waking very freguently, it seems the results showed I was waking every second. I know thats unlikely but the gray waking areas were more then the sleeping white areas.
I'm hoping to get a complete copy Tuesday.

[vsheline]

my question is could another sleep study show different results

Hi saja713, welcome to Apnea Board.

I think the answer is yes, another sleep study could show significantly different results.

Our degree of sleep apnea varies widely from night to night.

During an overnight sleep study we are usually asked to sleep at least part of the time on our back, because this is the sleep position which is usually worst for obstructive sleep apnea and we do not want to miss the worst case.

If you have excessive daytime sleepiness and believe you may benefit from CPAP therapy but your regular doctor does not yet agree, I would suggest seeking a second opinion by changing your sleep doctor and having a new sleep test in a completely different facility, as long as these would also be in your insurance network.

Take care,
--- Vaughn

[DariaVader]

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services criteria for the positive diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea,[32] a positive test for OSA is established if either of the following criteria using the AHI or the RDI is met:

AHI or RDI greater than or equal to 15 events per hour, or
AHI or RDI greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 14 events per hour with documented symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS); impaired cognition; mood disorders; insomnia; or documented hypertension, ischemic heart disease, or history of stroke
The AASM has developed its own criteria, as listed in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual, Second Edition.[4] At least 1 of the following criteria must apply for OSA to be diagnosed:

The patient reports daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, fatigue, insomnia, and/or unintentional sleep episodes during wakefulness. The patient awakens with breath holding, gasping, or choking. The patient’s bed partner reports loud snoring, breathing interruptions, or both during the patient’s sleep.
Polysomnography (PSG) shows more than 5 scoreable respiratory events (eg, apneas, hypopneas, RERAs) per hour of sleep and/or evidence of respiratory effort during all or a portion of each respiratory event.
PSG shows more than 15 scorable respiratory events (eg, apneas, hypopneas, RERAs) per hour of sleep and/or evidence of respiratory effort during all or a portion of each respiratory event.
Another current sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, medication use, or substance use does not better account for the patient’s condition.

[Tez62]

Welcome saja713, I'm sure your going to but make sure you follow up with your regular Dr for a start.
Ask them what your AHI was from the sleep study, anything above 5 is sleep apnea.
You said your sleep study showed 7 per hour, that is classed as mild sleep apnea.
5 - is mild, 15 - 30 moderate and 30+ servere.

Your symptoms sound like some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, the stomach sleeping, snoring, dry mouth and headaches are just a few.

I would probably have another sleep study but go to a sleep specialist that you can work with and trust.

This is your body and your life so do whatever you have to till you get the right results.

Let us know how you go after Tuesday and good luck

[saja713]

Thank you all for your replies, I will follow up from my doctor. I'm lucky that I have a regular doctor that listens to me, after years of this.

I definately going to push for some kind of treatment as I'm at risk of losing my job because of this.
I've been falling asleep at work and so far I havent made any mistakes like I do at home, but I'm so scared of that happening.

[trish6hundred]

Hi saja713,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's good to hear that at least one of your docs listens to you. Hopefully you can get another sleep study to find out for sure what is going on with your sleep.
Good luck to you with your next Dr. apointment.

[me50]

I would wait to see what your doc says b/c you shouldn't need another sleep study to diagnose you with OSA but the optimal pressure needs to be worked out. IF you get an auto machine, you and your doc can do that yourself if you need to.

Make sure you tell your doc and emphasize with your doc that you are falling asleep at work and that so far, you have not fallen asleep driving that you know of but you could if you go untreated. Not only that, you are at risk of medical conditions if you don't already have them, and some of them means you COULD wake up dead. Be VERY proactive and don't take no for an answer. You said your doc listens and if that is the case, he/she will probably write a script for you.

That being said, make sure you ask your doc to write a script for an autoset (nothing below an S9 for Resmed; I am not sure what is the current models for other brands but someone will post it), humidifier, climate line tube, your choice of mask (don't let them shove you in a full face mask to make their life easier) and have the doc write dispense as written.

Hope this helps

[vsheline]

I am not sure what is the current models for other brands but someone will post it

Here are member Archangle's recommendations on what machine to get or accept:

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ne_Choices

The ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her and the Philips Respironics Remstar Auto with heated tube are both great machines and both report RERA events, which no other ResMed AirSense 10 device reports.

With the AirSense AutoSet For Her model, one has the choice to use either the standard AutoSet algorithm (therapy mode) or the new gentler AutoSet For Her therapy mode.