My MD is setting me up for a sleep study at home, I'm concerned that home studies may not be as good as ones done at a sleep lab. I just want the best diagnosis possible.

swellens wrote:

My MD is setting me up for a sleep study at home, I'm concerned that home studies may not be as good as ones done at a sleep lab. I just want the best diagnosis possible.

I would push for a full scale sleep lab study, especially if you have the insurance.
A home study is OK where there is an incredibly long wait for a sleep lab study and symptoms are severe enough to warrant being set up early.
But IMHO, it should not replace a full sleep lab study.  The sleep lab study tests for many things, a full range of tests that a home study cannot give.
Push for the sleep lab study.  Even if you do go with the home study, I feel it ought to be followed up with a full sleep lab study.

Here's a link to an article about sleep lab studies vs home studies.  It gives good reasons why a sleep lab study is the more comprehensive approach.  
Take a look.

Click here for link


Let us know how things go.


Linda

Did your doctor say the home study was being done instead of a sleep clinic study, or is he/she perhaps just using the home study as a screening method to determine if a full sleep clinic study is needed?


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--Frank (FJC)

They told me that the home study is my sleep study and and if it is determined that I need a cpap machine the MD that works for the sleep clinic will use my study data, weight, and hight, along with some sort of chart to select my pressure.  This all sounds a little thin to me. I want a good study, but I also want to get this all over with so I can NOT feel tired anymore.

swellens wrote:

They told me that the home study is my sleep study and and if it is determined that I need a cpap machine the MD that works for the sleep clinic will use my study data, weight, and hight, along with some sort of chart to select my pressure.  This all sounds a little thin to me. I want a good study, but I also want to get this all over with so I can NOT feel tired anymore.

Hi,

What he is really saying is that he is going to use the old fashioned method to titrate you. Pencil, paper and calculator. The other two methods involved either a separate titration study in the sleep lab or the use of an auto titrating PAP machine. A study (about 6 months ago) indicated that the results should be similar.

Given a choice I would go for the full overnight study as it will show up a lot of additional information, such as brain activity, eye movement, air volumes and of course an ongoing heart monitor (there are other things as well). The home study is limited (but cheaper) and would normally be followed up with an auto adjusting PAP machine to determine the correct pressure.

Daniel


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

(Anon)

Not only does an overnight study show parameters of apnea in detail, it also brings to light other sleep disorders as well.  Hence, my Restless Leg Syndrome(RLS)/Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMS) was diagnosed along with my OSA.

Vicki


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