Just got my polysonogram report today, and would like some advice on what these mean in layman's terms.
Low sleep efficiency of 77%> Sleep latency was prolonged tat 30 min and REM latency was prolonged at 323 minutes.  Sleep distrubution was abnormal with a lack of slow wave and reduced REM sleep.  Overall AHI was 10/hr.  REM/AHI was 30 /hr. NREM AHI was 10/hr.  Supine AHI was 12/hr.  THere were 58 total events, with 1 mixed apnea and 57 hpoponeas.  Mean oxygen sat was 97% during REM and NREM. Mild and intermittent snoring was noted.  ECG tracings revealed no ectopy.  PLM's not noted.
One of the recommendations is weight loss.  I am 5'4 1/2 " and weigh 135.  How much am I to lose??  I will be making my CPAP study appt soon, but would like to know what the above all means.  I do not drink caffeine at all (another recommendation) and do not nap, or stay up late, etc.  I cannot fall asleep without Benedryl, but the study never really focused on WHY I am not sleeping.  thanks in avance.

Hi there,

Well, you have sleep apnea.  Depending on how you look at it, you have mild sleep apnea.  But don't let that fool you, it's still apnea.  If you have symptoms, then you can benefit from cpap.  

The overall AHI of 10 per hour is in the mild range (mild is 5-15; moderate 15-30; severe is 30 or more per hour).  But another interesting number is your AHI during REM, the dream sleep.  It was 30, in the severe category.  Now, REM is a relatively small percentage of our overall sleep, that's why the overall AHI is lower.  But obviously something is going on.  Also apparently you had reduced REM sleep.  But you also have a lack of slow wave sleep, which are Phases 3 and 4.  This summary doesn't give numbers or percentages, but it is likely you're not getting any deep sleep except some REM dream sleep.  That's not good.  

What have been your symptoms?  So many sleep study summaries throw in that weight talk, because most with sleep apnea are overweight.  But not all are.  They likely erroneously threw in that sentence.  They typically throw in general recommendations like that, not specific to you, in this case.  

Definitely have the cpap titration study.  You'll have more information on just how well cpap improves things.  There's rarely an answer to why  you stop breathing.  It could be throat issues, perhaps enlarged tonsils, or the dimensions of the tongue may cause some blockage.  But for many, just the structure of the interior of the throat is enough to relax the tissues and close up and stop breathing.  Does the report say that the apneas and hypopneas are obstructive?  Usually they are.  That means it's anatomical.    Your oxygen levels didn't seem to go much lower than normal, although it doesn't say what the lowest oxygen level was.  

Good luck with the cpap study.


Linda


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Quote:

Just got my polysonogram report today, and would like some advice on what these mean in layman's terms.
Low sleep efficiency of 77%> Sleep latency was prolonged tat 30 min and REM latency was prolonged at 323 minutes.  Sleep distrubution was abnormal with a lack of slow wave and reduced REM sleep.

  

You didn't sleep very well. Don't read too much ino this as you were in a strange environment with uncomfortable wires attached etc. It would be better to be more efficient.........but this is fairly typical of a sleep study.
The prolonged latency to REM is fairly typical and indicates a disrupted sleep architecture. No Stages 3 & 4 of Non REM Sleep (Delta/Slow Wave), again is fairly typical and would contribute to EDS ( Excessive Daytime Sleepiness).

Quote:

Overall AHI was 10/hr.  REM/AHI was 30 /hr. NREM AHI was 10/hr.  Supine AHI was 12/hr.  THere were 58 total events, with 1 mixed apnea and 57 hpoponeas.  Mean oxygen sat was 97% during REM and NREM. Mild and intermittent snoring was noted.  ECG tracings revealed no ectopy.  PLM's not noted.

Averaged over sleep time, you stopped breathing (for 10 seconds or longer) 10 times per hour, or once every 6 minutes. This equates to mild apnoea. You were effected more during REM Sleep than Non REM Sleep, and slightly above average while sleeping on your back. The increase of events during REM Sleep, again, is fairly normal. Practically all your events were hypopnoeas (not full apnoeas, partial apnoeas (easiest description).......but just as troublesome. Your oxygen saturation levels were good......was there any mention of a 'low' figure ?
You snore.......not too bad though. Did they mention snoring in any specific position ? say while sleeping on your back ?
Your ECG readings seem OK.
No limb movements noted..........this is good.

Quote:

One of the recommendations is weight loss.  I am 5'4 1/2 " and weigh 135.  How much am I to lose??

Under 10 stones at 5'4" !!! Don't think that you need to lose too much.........you might fade away (LOL). A standard recommendation for mild apnoea is to lose weight.....in your case I doubt losing weight will help too much (IMHO). Mention it to your doctor.

 

Quote:

I will be making my CPAP study appt soon, but would like to know what the above all means.  I do not drink caffeine at all (another recommendation) and do not nap, or stay up late, etc.  I cannot fall asleep without Benedryl, but the study never really focused on WHY I am not sleeping.  thanks in avance.

Go ahead with the CPAP study, then arrange to see your sleep doctor for a full discussion.
Insomnia often goes hand in hand with Sleep Apnoea..........in that following a sleep study for Apnoea, Insomnia is discovered.

On the face of it, if you were overweight, weight loss and a tennis ball sititched into the back of your pyjamas might be the answer, but questions concerning the disrupted sleep architecture need to be answered by your doctor.

Best of luck.

Daniel.


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thanks both of you- yes, it appears that I do have mild apnea.....All the info I had was what they gave me so I am going to ask for the rest of the information. I have a call in right now to the office, and they will get back to me.  The whole reason I went in for the study was because of insomnia.....I had seen my doc about that and after blood tests galore, she had me in for the sleep study.  I was amazed when the tech said I had mild apnea the next morning!  Since I only slept for 1.5 hours, I wonder if it would be worse if I actually slept more.  I have had insomnia on and off since about 1996, but this was going on for 2.5 weeks of about 1.5 hours of sleep a night.  I have still no idea why I can't sleep.  I wish I could get THAT answered.
I need to get the CPAP tritration scheduled, but part of me feels I should wait only because I am newly pregnant with #5 and I am getting up A LOT to use the bathroom..... how annoying for the tech to keep unhooking me! LOL!  Oh well, needs to be done I guess!
Thanks for all the insight!

Part of the reason that you have trouble sleeping could be associated with the apnea..also the increased need to urinate at night...nocturia.  Granted the pregnancy adds to it also.


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The peeing at night just started last week- completely pregnancy related as before that I NEVER had to go!