I go in for my follow-up sleep study tonight--for titration/etc.  (Finally!)

I was wondering, are there any questions I should ask the specialist?  Regarding anything, but specifically, masks, machines, etc?  Should I ask if I can try on a few different masks on first?  

Also, what happens after this?  I go to my doctor and ask her to write me a script for a machine?  Then more waiting, right?

BTW wish me good luck.

I'll wish you luck John! I've noticed that many people here had two nights of study. Mine was done all in one evening. Just a little more than 2 hours into the study and they came in and hooked me up. Needless to say, the rest of that night was very restfull and the next day I felt really good. I hope you do to.

While I felt that the tech fully explained everything and had me try on the mask before I went to sleep, I wasn't given a choice of different mask styles. If your sleep lab offers different styles then I would defintely ask to try them all. You should be able to start out with what makes you the most comfortable. Personally I didn't mind not being given a choice. I was so desperate just at the thought of having a good nights sleep they could have strapped a 50 pound sandbag to my face and I'd have given it a whirl if they said it would help. Now, when I went to the medical supplier to get my machine she had me try many different styles of masks and nasal pillows. I did not however have a say in the machine that I was given. She explained to me that that for the first 3 months my insurance will only rest the machine for me to use, they will not purchase it outright. She then said that way if I found it was too loud, too quite, didn't fit on my nightstand, whatever; I could bring it back in and try something else. I thought that was a great idea.

Anyway, to more directly answer your questions - for me it was a visit with my family doctor, 3 weeks later for the sleep study, appointment with the sleep doctor 2 weeks later (that was a Friday) and the following Monday the supplier called and gave me an appointment for that Wednesday morning. All in all it was about a 5 week ordeal. Not so bad, but honestly the 5 longest weeks of my life. I've read stories from others on here that took way longer. The hardest time was after the titration, because I now knew how good I could feel sleeping with CPAP, and I wanted my machine fast. Like everything else in life, it's a waiting game.


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John...I hope you have a good night and can feel some relief with the CPAP.  For those who have a good night, adjustment to therapy comes easier.

Ask to see all masks that they have...keep in mind that they will probably not have 'every' mask availabel on the market but will most likely have a sample or 2 of style.  ie Full Face, Nasal etc.

The Dr will do the scripting...but you may want to mention that you would like the tech to note in your records that you want the mask script to be "Patient's Choice" and you want the machine to be "fully data capable".

Yes, you will have to wait some more.  But keeping on top of it and trying to hurry things alond diplomatically often helps.  Ask the tech if there is any way they can put a *rush* on getting the results etc.

Other than that......"Break a Leg" John!

I don't think they would put a rush on anything.  Took forever just to get the results from my first study.  I will be so sad if it is going to be another month to get the machine.  I just want to expedite this as much as possible so I can get a job and work again.  I'm hoping that the headaches I have been having will go away when I start to get a good night's rest.  Anyone else out there who was having headaches and they went away when they treated their OSA?

Ok, well I'm on my way.  Thanks you all.

my hedaches went away with PAP!  Good Night John...sleep as snug as a bug in a rug!

It was very hard to fall asleep with the wires on and the mask on.  I couldn't find a comfortable position to sleep in with the wires on.  The mask was difficult too--I started with the nose mask, and eventually she came in with one that covered my mouth too.  My nose started running while I was on the CPAP.  It was unusual for me because my nose never runs.  I kept having to blow it.  I found it odd that once she gave me the mouth/nose mask, I was able to breathe through my nose better and stopped breathing through my mouth.  Either way, I slept for about an hour, I'm guessing anyway, which must have been enough time for the Resp. Therapist to figure out what my number is (10, is that low/high?).  I was hoping that once the CPAP was on me I would fall right to sleep and stay asleep but unfortunately that didn't happen.  I kept waking up. It was probably the wires, or the uncomfortable bed I was in (different from the one last time).  Also, the machine made a humming noise when I inhaled, it really distracted me from falling back asleep.

Anyway, did anyone else have problems falling asleep during titration but when they got the CPAP eventually started getting good sleep?  How does 10 measure up to everyone else?

Giggle. Did anyone else have problems falling asleep the night of their titration??? Trouble? HA! I only slept 42 minutes out of 6 hours bedtime!! They brought me back in for a second night's titration - and I only slept 98 minutes out of 6 hours bedtime. But between the two titrations it gave them the 2 hours titration time needed to qualify for insurance reimbursement of CPAP.

VERY few people experience an "overnight miracle" when they first encounter CPAP therapy and mask. And I sure wasn't one of those few!!

10 cms is a pretty average pressure need.

I was one of the "difficult" ones. My first 30+ nights on CPAP therapy were the WORST SLEEP of my life!! Bar none. But it gradually got better after that. A good share of the problem was finding the right mask for me. Masks are such an individual thing. It just takes patience and determination and finding the right mask. Once you find the right mask a good night's sleep becomes a piece of cake.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Ahhhh...those delightful sleep studies!!!!  Tangled wires, tangled hair, pulling hair, uncomfortable bed, having to wear clothes to bed, restrictive belt....less fun for females, strange surroundings, smells of the techs coffee penetrating the building, cheap sheets, did I mention pulling hair tangled in the wires and all stuck with glue?


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BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

I managed 2 hours of sleep during my titration. I'm a stomach sleeper so I couln't even roll over. I finally fell asleep on my right side. It's definitely a stressful experience.  I call the Doctor today to try to get my Rx. I've been shopping for a Cpap....so many to choose from.

I hope it was all the wires that prevented me from sleeping and not the mask.  Either way, I'm not sure what the next step is.  I think the sleep lab sends the follow up report from the titration to the referring physician.  And then he writes me a script.  Hope it doesn't take too long, I can't wait to start sleeping with the CPAP.

I managed to sleep 5 hours, 49 minutes during my sleep evaluation - but only 42 minutes out of 6 hours bedtime the night of my titration so they brought me back in for a second night's titration. I only slept 98 minutes out of 6 hours bedtime. *sigh* But the two nights combined qualified me for CPAP reimbursement via my insurance.

Why on earth at that point they didn't just script a temporary loaner autoPAP is beyond me!! But they didn't. I was adamant that I "would" have a fully data capable xPAP or I wouldn't accept ANY equipment at all. I told my titration sleep tech that and I wrote it right on the paperwork we fill out at the sleep lab the night of our studies.

After 3 months of struggling and a couple of pressure changes they did finally script a loaner autoPAP. Each pressure change helped, and the home auto titration helped but I finally requested an overnight oximetry along w/the xPAP and once that was done 2L of 02 supplementation was added w/the xPAP therapy. (I have COPD). The 02 helped. But after 19 months of CPAP therapy I still wasn't doing as well as I thought I should be.

So they brought me in for a bi-level titration and that resulted in my being given the new Resmed VPAP Auto which is a bi-level in the S8 body using the Humidaire 3i humidifier w/the new EasyBreathe technology and THAT has brought me the most relief!!!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

As far as what's next after your titration night - it varies from sleep lab to sleep lab.

You "might" just get a phone call from a local DME supplier telling you that you've been scripted CPAP therapy and when can you come in to get your equipment or when can you schedule you an appointment to deliver it or even that you will be receving equipment via UPS or DHL, etc.

You might get a phone call from the sleep lab that you qualify for CPAP and asking you which local DME supplier you want to get your equipment from.

You might get a call from your referring doctor that he's received the results of your titration study and you do qualify for CPAP and "maybe" he'll have you schedule an appointment to discuss your results, or "maybe" they'll just wanna know what local DME supplier to call your equipment order in to.

You might get a phone call from the sleep lab to make an appointment for you to see the sleep doctor to go over your results (the better sleep labs).

The better sleep labs score your data the day after your study. They have a sleep doctor on staff who goes over the scored report and dictates his interpretation and recommendations w/in 2-3 days. They have a transcriptionist on staff who transcribes those dictated results w/in 1-2 days and give them to the doctor to note any necessary corrections or to sign (designating his approval and its accuracy). The patient is then scheduled w/an appointment to see the sleep doctor or at the very least an on staff person capable of going over the report and recommendations w/you, answer your questions and discuss what equipment will be ordered for you and ask what local DME supplier you want to use. The order (script) is then FAXed to the local DME supplier. If they have the equipment on hand they contact you to make an appointment, if they don't they order the equipment in and when it arrives calls you to make an appointment. Some will even call you to tell you the equipment has been ordered and they will contact you when it arrives.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

What "I" recommend is that you get on the phone, call your insurance company and ask what local DME suppliers they are contracted with. Hopefully, you have the option of more than one.

It doesn't hurt to ask just what your DME CPAP benefits are: copays? deductables? rental or outright purchase? if rental, for what period of time before purchase?

You should also be exploring the various CPAP devices and their capabilities. Since you were interested enough to find this forum I can almost GUARANTEE you are NOT going to be satisfied w/a bare bone, compliance data only, xPAP. Sooner or later, most likely sooner, you are going to want a fully data capable xPAP - and if that occurs after you've had a less than desirable one more than 30 days you'll most likely have a battle on your hands to exchange it for a fully data capable xPAP.

You'll see a lot of discussion on the value of autoPAPs. The autos are usually more difficult to get your sleep doctor to order or your local DME supplier to provide. It doesn't hurt to suggest that you would like one, but don't get hung up w/"auto fever". A fully data capable xPAP is THE important issue. Don't accept anything less.

After all, if you have any problems w/your CPAP therapy w/o that data from a fully data capable xPAP even the sleep doctor can only go by guess and by gosh what the problem might be and what might be done to correct it. Who needs by guess and by gosh therapy? You didn't go thru a sleep evaluation and a titration to get by guess and by gosh therapy and another expensive titration study so soon isn't particularly appealing either. So refuse anything less than a fully data capable xPAP. Even an autoPAP you do NOT want if it isn't fully data capable.

Pay particular attention to the FULL model name as the manufactures tend to utilize similar names. For instance: the Respironics M Series Plus w/C-Flex is NOT fully data capable, even w/a smart card it is just compliance data capable ONLY. So don't let its having a smart card fool you. The Respironics M Series Pro w/C-Flex IS fully data capable.

The Resmed S8 Compact and the Resmed S8 Escape are NOT fully data capable. The Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR "is" fully data capable. (I prefer the Resmeds to the Respironics).

And, by the way, the more masks and mask styles you can try at your sleep lab AND at your local DME supplier's the better. I'd ask my sleep doctor to write my script as: "Full face, nasal cushion or nasal pillows mask of patient's choice". If you have or had good luck w/the mask used during your titration be sure that you know its name and size. Once you've been set w/the proper pressure for you the MASK becomes the KEY to CPAP therapy success.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Wow.  Thank you so much for your posts, CrohnieToo!  Lots of information that will help me out.