I had my first sleep study last night.  I feel like I barely slept at all.  I kept waking up, I had strange shallow-level dreams, I kept having to go pee.  The tech said that I didn't have any Apnea episodes the entire night - but hubby insists they happen quite frequently.

Is it possible that I could have sleep apnea and they just didn't detect it?

Hubby says it happens when I am sleeping really deep - which I didn't do at all last night at the study.

I'm really upset because I feel like I "blew it".  My insurance paid 100 % for my sleep study last night, is it likely they would pay for another one?

Has anyone else had this experience?

Hi Biscuit,

When I had my sleep study, I was told by the tech that I did not have sleep apnea. About 3 weeks later, my results came in and it turns out I do have sleep apnea. Please do not rely on what the tech tells you because as I have learned from this forum, the tech only sees the general results. The sleep doctors are the ones who analyze the data. Also, I received a questionaire in the mail about a week after my study. It asked questions about my experience and if I felt I slept well. I answered honestly and sent it back.

Good luck,
Sara

In a few days, call the sleep center and ask for a complete copy of your test results.  You can then have a better idea what really happened while you were asleep!

My study night was horrible too - I didn't think I slept at all, but apparently did for 2 hours and it was enough for them to say I had apnea. I think sleep study nights tend to be wretched experiences for folks.


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Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
Fran Lebowitz

Your experience is similar to mine.  I experience drowsiness and other symptoms of sleep apnea in spite of getting 8 or 9 hours of sleep every night and my report says that they did not record any sleep apnea during my choppy 2 1/2 hours of sleep.  However, my report did come back with very little stage 3 sleep and no stage 4 deep sleep at all, so they are recommending a repeat sleep study with sleeping pills.  See my post "What not to do at your sleep study!"

Hope we'll get better soon!

By the way, if your apnea is caused by a narrow airway in your nose, "Breathe Right Nasal Strips" may give you some relief while you await treatment from your doctor.

Best wishes!

to 'the man'

so did they say the significance of not having 3-4 stage sleep?  my son took his usual sleep med but still had no stage 3 & 4 and the report said nothing about it.  The sleep specialist keeps changing the appt date....it will be june 2 before we get in (2 1/2 months post the study).  I wish I could get an answer re: whether that alone would account for his extreme daytime fatigue.  (His AHI was only 1.2!)  The only cause of lack/reduced stage 3 & 4 that I've found on-line is alot of apnea during those stages----obviously not the cause for my son.  anybody have ideas?

also--the sleep lab director said they don't really score that part if it's difficult, they just make sure the person has rem and nonrem.  so i don't really know if the reported no deep sleep is true or not.

I'm wanting to repeat the study too-----somewhere else if possible, but insurance only pays for 2 in a 5 yr period so not sure if i should---am thinking yes and to schedule the MSLT along w/it (it was recommended in the study report but insurance will count it as the 2nd study so if i do it by itself we won't be able to get another overnight study).  

I thought we'd get some answers thru this....but have only got more questions.

I know how you feel.  I had my first sleep study last night and had the same problem.  I never felt like I fell asleep.  The tech finally came in at 4:30 and told me to just go home because she'd have to wake me at 5 anyway.  She said that even though I never fell into a deep sleep I still snored, but didn't mention if I had any apnea episodes.  I didn't even think to ask her.  My husband says I definitely do.

At home I have trouble keeping myself awake every day, so I have never have problems falling asleep.  I felt like a big old failure driving home.  Such a waste.

Just to clarify.  Obstructive sleep apnea is not caused by obstructions in the nose or sinuses, it is always caused by obstructions in the throat.  Another way to think of it is that if it was caused by nose issues, you would instinctively open your mouth to breath and there would be no apneas, but that is never the case.  Anything that opens up nasal cavities will help with CPAP compliance but not with apneas.  Here is a video showing how apnea occurs:

http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=7

While waiting to be treatment, try to sleep sitting up a much as possible.  This keeps gravity from collapsing your throat.  Some people prop themselves up with pillows, others sleep in a recliner.  Since, for many people, apnea is worse on their back, try to sleep on your side as much as possible.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.