Howdy!

I had my first sleep study about 2 weeks ago.  During that study I was able to get asleep quickly, but awoke after a few hours to use the rest room.  After returning from the restroom, I had difficulty returning to sleep (all of the wires and sensors irritated me).  Finally, after an hour of reading I was able to return to sleep and complete the inital study.

Well, last night I had my second study for the titration (I guess this is where they identify the best pressure to use).  Anyways, I had no problem with the wires and sensors.  However, when I first placed the nose mask on it felt kind of restrictive.  They asked me to breath in and out through my nose only, and I complied. I adapted to it and started to fall alseep.  Over the next two and half hours they would increase the presure and I would wake up for a couple of seconds then fall back asleep.  At the 2 1/2 hour point, a pressure change woke me up (and I had to use the restroom).  Upon returning from the restroom, I tried to contniue with the mask but was agitated and could not return to sleep.  I asked to remove the mask for awhile so that I could relax and try to sleep.  The tech said OK, he would awake me in an hour and try to reapply the mask.  One hour passes and I cant fall asleep.  I tried to place the mask on again and relax, but I am unable to fall asleep.  The problem was not the mask, but the pressure of the air.... When breathing in I was OK, but seemed to have to fight to exhale.  I could not continue with the mask and just slept for the remainder without the mask.

I feel like a failure for not being able to complete the study.  I feel like if I could adjust to the feeling and flow of air at home, I could handle the study.  I want to get the machine so that my wfie won't kill me for snoring.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?

DRG

drg wrote:

Howdy!

I had my first sleep study about 2 weeks ago.  During that study I was able to get asleep quickly, but awoke after a few hours to use the rest room.  After returning from the restroom, I had difficulty returning to sleep (all of the wires and sensors irritated me).  Finally, after an hour of reading I was able to return to sleep and complete the inital study.

Well, last night I had my second study for the titration (I guess this is where they identify the best pressure to use).  Anyways, I had no problem with the wires and sensors.  However, when I first placed the nose mask on it felt kind of restrictive.  They asked me to breath in and out through my nose only, and I complied. I adapted to it and started to fall alseep.  Over the next two and half hours they would increase the presure and I would wake up for a couple of seconds then fall back asleep.  At the 2 1/2 hour point, a pressure change woke me up (and I had to use the restroom).  Upon returning from the restroom, I tried to contniue with the mask but was agitated and could not return to sleep.  I asked to remove the mask for awhile so that I could relax and try to sleep.  The tech said OK, he would awake me in an hour and try to reapply the mask.  One hour passes and I cant fall asleep.  I tried to place the mask on again and relax, but I am unable to fall asleep.  The problem was not the mask, but the pressure of the air.... When breathing in I was OK, but seemed to have to fight to exhale.  I could not continue with the mask and just slept for the remainder without the mask.

I feel like a failure for not being able to complete the study.  I feel like if I could adjust to the feeling and flow of air at home, I could handle the study.  I want to get the machine so that my wfie won't kill me for snoring.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?

DRG

Hi,

Don't worry. With OSA, we all feel like failures from time to time.........but we are not.

Your experience is not unusual. It can be difficult initially to exhale against the air pressure, as the whole process is not really normal. The feeling of failure increases the agitation which doesn't help when you are trying to sleep. You were kind of lucky with the RT that they allowed you to sleep without the mask.............some of the ones I know.........well I'll leave it up to your imagination  

Now, what are you going to do ?

I suggest that you contact your sleep doctor and explain what happened. He may want another titration study, in which case he might give you something to keep you calm. You might suggest the use of a BiPAP (BiLevel) machine or an auto adjusting machine which would be far less stressful. In fact the auto adjusting machine could be used at home, which might be more favourable for you. Maybe a full face mask might be easier.

Try and put the last test behind you and consider the more positive options. Be positive and let your doctor know that you are. Positive attitude will be reflected in your doctors actions.

Best of luck and keep posting.

Daniel.


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

(Anon)

Thanks for the encouraging words....

I am committed to making this work.  I will visit with the doctor when he returns from vacation :)

I would prefer the ability to get comfortable with the process at home before returning for another study.

DRG

drg wrote:

Thanks for the encouraging words....

I am committed to making this work.  I will visit with the doctor when he returns from vacation :)

I would prefer the ability to get comfortable with the process at home before returning for another study.

DRG

The use of an auto adjusting machine with a data card would allow for you to complete the equivalent of a titration study at home. Usually data collected over a week or so is more than adequate (in fact one night is usually enough, but extra nights allow for hiicups).

Daniel.


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

(Anon)

I absolutely love this board!  And this post is one of the reasons why.  I thought I was the only one who had problems with the titrating study.  This very same thing happened to me!  I just could not complete the titrating study.  After reading many posts and learning so much more about sleep apnea, CPAP, etc., I will be talking with my sleep MD next week about trying to titrate at home.  

Thanks so much for all the great info you guys share on this board!      

Kim
 

I was prescribed a REMStar Auto with C-Flex and I am doing great!  I picked it up 1 week ago and I am now sleeping the whole night.  The C-Flex really helps!

DRG

Update:

Last night I had a successfull BiPAP titration.  I wrote more on the "SLEEP APNEA HELP" fourm under a sililarly named topic "Can't complete titrating sleep study".

Thanks for all the help and encouragement!

DRG

drg wrote:

Update:

Last night I had a successfull BiPAP titration.  I wrote more on the "SLEEP APNEA HELP" fourm under a sililarly named topic "Can't complete titrating sleep study".

Thanks for all the help and encouragement!

DRG

That is great to hear drg.
I hope you take to the treatment quickly.


_________________
-Ben

Okay guys, since I still have not completed the titrating study and don't have my machine yet, what is a C-flex?

Kim

c-flex is technology by RemStar that "learns" your breathing patterns and trys to make the exhalation pressure a bit lower to make it easier to breath out.


_________________
-Ben

Kim,

If at all possible, ask the doc to let you get used to the mask at home using an APAP for a week or so.  Once I did that, doing the titration was a piece of cake.

DRG

DRG,  I called the lab to find out about APAP, and they said they have never heard of patients getting machines before a titration study.    

I am going to make an appointment with the sleep specialist outside of the lab and find out from him.  Meanwhile, I have a cousin who has had a machine for a couple of years that he refuses to use, so I am using his to try and get used to it.  Unfortunately, it was set at the DME office and I can't change the settings.  He doesn't remember what his setting was, but it feels lower than the setting I was up to the night I tried the titration study (and couldn't complete it).  I am up to 3 hours at night (amazing since I could bare stand a few minutes during the study attempt).

I will let you guys know when I met with the MD this week.
 
Kim

Kim,

Hang in there... Each day I used it I got more comfortable.  It took a few days, but then I started waking up earlier and more refreshed.  Now, I no longer dread going to bed.... The machine is your friend!
DRG