You are all amazing.  I am a high school  guidance counselor and have been humbled by the power a support group can offer, but this website gives support a whole new meaning!  I have just been diagnosed with moderate OSA after my first sleep study.  It took 6 weeks to get to this point and have now learned that I have to have another study done for titration.  This is all just still sinking in and I have a couple of questions that I have not seen answered yet.  I had 36 events in an hour and my AHI was 53.7 during REM sleep and 9.1 during nonREM sleep.  I saw a new MD yesterday who explained things in a way that a child could understand.  I absolutely loved him, but I'm still confused about the stages of sleep and REM.  "Sleep staging" showed Stage 1 - 18.6 %, Stage 2 - 64.1%, Stage 3 - 0%, Stage 4 - 0%, and Stage REM 17.4%  The doc said there are 4 stages of sleep.  Where does REM Stage fit in?  What exactly is it?  

Also, after my next sleep study I need to go back to the doc.  Should I expect someone , (DEM), to actually come to my home as was shared by another member?   I'm so frustrated by this waiting, as others have shared, but I am looking forward to feeling normal again, (well, if I ever was before )  

I also noticed that the website mentions that sleep apnea occurs in mostly men and post-menapausal women.  I had a hysterectomy this past May and I believe my snoring has escalated significantly since then, (according to my husband and to my symptoms during my waking hours).  I have not seen anything about hormonal changes affecting SA.  Any thoughts?

Thank you all for your help.  I feel like I know you all already!

New Christina wrote:

"Sleep staging" showed Stage 1 - 18.6 %, Stage 2 - 64.1%, Stage 3 - 0%, Stage 4 - 0%, and Stage REM 17.4%  The doc said there are 4 stages of sleep.  Where does REM Stage fit in?  What exactly is it?

Hi Christina,
REM is it's own thing (stage if you want to refer to it in that way).  Stage 3/4 is were our bodies heal, repair, and rest so it's the most important stages.  A really good basic program on sleep can be found by the Sleep Foundation and it's called "The Doze Family", just google it.  It explains some of the basic info needed to know about sleep.  Does this help with that part of your question?


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Sher

New Christina wrote:

Also, after my next sleep study I need to go back to the doc.  Should I expect someone , (DEM), to actually come to my home as was shared by another member?   I'm so frustrated by this waiting, as others have shared, but I am looking forward to feeling normal again, (well, if I ever was before )  

Hi Christina!

My sleep lab/DME works a little differently. The sleep lab employs a respiratory therapist who takes care of getting all the equipment for patients. She took care of getting my bipap machine and mask and worked with me on settings and all. I never had anyone come to my home. Never really had any direct contact with the DME except when I called them regarding the billing. But that's another story.  

Welcome and good luck with your sleep study.

Welcome Christina!

Here is a direct link to the National Sleep Foundation's answer to your sleep stages question:

Stages of Sleep
 
NSF Library

OSA occurs all over the place in regards to gender, age and body type and many people have been misdiagnosed and suffered for years because they do not fit the overweight, middle-aged male stereotype.  However, I do know where the prevalence data came from (which might have some sampling errors leading to biased prevalence date) and it was from the following link.  Additionally, the answer to your question about the relationship of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, OSA, and estrogen is here.  This is the area of research of these investigators:

Prevalence of Sleep-disordered Breathing in Women:  Effects of Gender

Here is another article along the same lines by the same authors:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Daytime Sleepiness: Role of Insulin Resistance

Levels of stress related hormones are elevated in sleep apnea patients.  These hormones are also elevated in women with decreased estrogen levels as seen in menopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.  Women with these two conditions also have higher rates of OSA.   The data and results of A. Kales et. al. suggests that estrogen has a protective role in preventing OSA.

Here is how severity is rated in OSA.  Note that it is related to the number of events/hours.

5-15   events/hour     Mild
15-30 events/hour     Moderate
>30    events/hour     Severe

Post with any questions you have!  Also, you might consider registering, it is free and there are other forum perks you get when you are registered.

Vicki


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

Thank you all for your posts and have a wonderful Christmas.

I am already registered and thought there was another Christina on board.  So, I'm official!  (And embarassed).
Merry Christmas everyone!


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On a mission!

Christina,

I did the same. Already registered and then became "Suzy-Q" because I thought there was already a Suzy. It was me!

Merry, merry Christmas morn. I went 5 hours tonight on the CPAP, night three. Hurrah!

Suzy

p.s. MY middle name is Christina. So, you aren't the only one.