The purpose of this topic is to define the terms in your sleep study and to explain what normal ranges usually are.  As one example, we are here to explain what AHI/RDI is and to define the ranges of apnea severity.  None of us are here to interpret your study for you and/or suggest treatment and I know I have been guilty of that.  However, none of us are professionals in the area of sleep medicine.

Even if we were professionals in sleep medicine, to interpret sleep studies and guess at appropriate treatment without knowing a patient's medical history is unethical and putting you, our forum members and guests, health at risk.

I feel it is OK to say, for example, “your AHI is 60 which means you have severe apnea”, or “you are having centrals apneas, what did your doctor say about addressing those?  Did they refer you to a neurologist?”

We rarely see the whole report and there is much to see and much to integrate to accurately interpret a sleep study and identify all of the disorders it may expose.  I feel that the responses in this topic sometimes border on putting our members and guests at risk and we will fight to the end to ensure that you folks are accurately and properly treated.

Be educated in the language of OSA and understand it, but develop a strong partnership with an accredited sleep doctor so that you will have the best treatment, and therefore health, possible.  To find doctors accredited in sleep medicine, contact the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

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