Overnight Sleep Study Questions

It seems that nowadays--is it just me--that medical related things get messed up more often than not. Following my Sleep Study, I had a follow-up appointment with the Sleep doc, who ordered a CPAP device. The company that provides the devices called me to let me know that the order that came in was for supplies (hose, mask, etc.) but not for CPAP. Had to call the office and put on long hold before talking with anyone. Hopefully this is sorted out so I can give a fair trial to CPAP.

@tim1028
You are so right. I find that is the case all over the place. It’s sad that we have to remind, redo, return because of carelessness.
When you are not feel well, you sure don’t want to be on hold for an hour listening to scratchy music!

No. I think Resmed A-10 or A-11 with SD Card used in conjunction with OSCAR free open source program you download to analyze your data to fine tune your machine is the #1 way to go. Also visit http://www.apneaboard.com to learn everything you ever want to learn about sleep apnea treatment and machines. I've used the site many times and view the nights data #and type of apneas, flow limits, etc. Small example of this morning data.
ResMed
AirSense 10 AutoSet
PAP Mode: APAP
Min 14.8 Max 20.0 (cmH2O)

Hours used
5/28/2023
21:21:31
06:53:32
09:32:01
AHI 0.86
Cheyne Stokes Respiration
0.00%
Large Leak
0.18%
Clear Airway 6
0.63
Obstructive 1
0.10
Unclassified Apnea
0.00
Hypopnea
0.10
RERA
0.00

Statistics
Channel
Min
Med
95%
99.5%
Pressure
14.80
14.88
15.40
16.04
EPAP
11.80
11.88
12.40
13.04
Minute Vent.
1.50
7.25
10.13
18.88
Resp. Rate
4.20
14.40
19.00
25.00
Flow Limit.
0.00
0.00
0.07 KEEP UNDER 1.0
0.22
Leak Rate
0.00
0.00
0.00
18.00
Snore
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Insp. Time
0.14
2.24
3.00
3.84
Exp. Time
0.04
1.80
2.32
2.98
Tidal Volume
60.00
500.00
760.00
1189.29

Total time in apnea
00:01:50
Time over leak redline
0.181%
Hope this helps .

Resmed also has free reports in place. It's called myAir on there website.

SusanEllen, Yes, bring your own pillow and blankets. I should have done that. Make sure you adjust the room temperature to what you're used to. I would also try to arrange your sleep time with the sleep tech so that it matches your normal sleep time as closely as possible. I'm a night owl, so they let me go to sleep later, about 11 pm, which helped. I also brought a book and some music on CD to relax to, which helped me relax until they wired me up for the study. I was actually able to sleep, but not as well, of course, as in my usual sleep environment. I was allowed to take a sleep drug (zolpidem 5 mg) which helped me get to sleep.

It looks like a CPAP may be in my future because while my sleep apnea is mild I have symptoms excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

@tim1028 Hi Tim, I did the sleep study. My diagnosis is idiopathic hypersomnia.
IH is basically a a neurological condition with unknown causes that makes someone over tired. Sleep, no matter how much you get is not restorative.
Treatment appears to be medication.
I go to my neurologist on the 30th for treatment plan.

Thanks for your follow-up post, SusanEllen. One of the frustrations of this wonderful Mayo Connect forum(s) is that many folks don't post follow-ups so we are left wondering how they're doing.

I haven't heard of idiopathic hypersomnia, but I'm happy to read in your post that a treatment medication may help. All the best on that. Let us know after your appointment on the 30th how that goes for you.

Regarding my progress, I got fitted with a CPAP mask yesterday, and was instructed how to set up my machine and wear the mask. Last night went well for a first night. I woke up more than usual because of the newness of wearing a mask, but otherwise got a decent night's sleep, with incidents of apnea less than 5 per hour, which is where they want it.

After a couple of months using a CPAP, I'm still slowly adjusting to this object on my face. I had to switch from the full-face mask (I'm a mouth breather) with nasal pillow to a full-face mask that covers the nose because the nasal pillow kept shifting every time I moved, even when I had it sufficiently snugged up. The new mask, a ResMed F20, works better.

And because I move around a lot during my sleep, this was causing issues with the CPAP moving as well. I did some research and bought a 15 lb weighted blanket, which has helped reduce my nighttime movements and improve sleep. I have a follow-up appointment with the sleep doctor next week, so we'll see what he thinks about my progess.