I had a sleep study the beginning on October.  Today I was told by the sleep center (not my general practice doctor) that I have to go back for an additional sleep test with oxygen.  Then wait two weeks for the results and then see a sleep doctor on November 14th.  Then I guess I will get my equipment.  I don't know what my original results read, since my own doctor has never called with the results.  I balloned up to 207 this year (40 pds in a year) and have been working on getting the weight off since June (18 pds so far).  I thought the tiredness was being caused by my deviated septum. In May I had sinus surgery which seemed to help for a couple of weeks, but it did not last.  I went back to the ENT several times due to thinking my tiredness was being caused by my sinuses.  Of course that wasn't the problem.  My daughter is the one that scared me into requesting a sleep study.  She said I wasn't breathing right in the middle of the night.  I knew I always snored, but attributed it to my weight.  I am only 34 and I scared to sleep at night.  My husband says I have had this most likely for some time and I should be happy that we finally know why I am always tired and feel terrible.  I think he is right, but I hate waiting....

Hi Kat and a Warm Welcome!

I know it is scary, but you most likely will be fine until you begin your apnea treatment.  Your husband is absolutely correct and you will feel so much better once you are being treated.  It will be easier to lose weight after treatment.  Apnea causes weight gain, due to less activity because of the fatigue, subconsciously eating more to try and boost your metabolism (before I was treated, I was eating spoonfuls of sugar and couldn't figure out why) and some other factors.

To speed things up, call the sleep lab and the doc and get on their waiting/cancelation list and maybe an opportunity will pop up right away.

Vicki


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

Absolutely do what Vicki said - call the sleep center and tell them that you've already been diagnosed, want to get in as soon as possible, and will take any cancellation.   My second sleep study night was weeks away, and I called and said that on a Friday - and they immediately said, "How about this Sunday?"  No guarantees, but it seems like a lot of people get anxious and cancel their appointments.

Definitely keep a positive attitude - think of your diagnosis as light at the end of the tunnel!  As your husband said, now you know why you feel that way, so it's just a matter of staying positive, getting prescribed your pressure, and getting the equipment.  No one is excited to have to wear a mask every night, but the first good night where you feel FANTASTIC the next day will make it all worthwhile.

Keep posting and let us know how it goes!


_________________
--Frank (FJC)

Well I am in the same boat Kat.  I had my first test and was diagnosed with Sever sleep apnea (48 times an hour) plus my oxygen levels around 80.

I havd my second study this week (titration) with the PAP machine nad i am now waiting until Nov 4th for my final results and next step.

I have been seeing DR's for years for various problems.  GERD, Anxiety, cant loose weight, tiredness, hard to breathe, chest pains.

Now that I had the sleep study done and they finally after years and yers of searching they found this.  Since the second study with the PAP all night I can breathe great so far all week.  I can't wait to find out of the machine worked for my sleep.  

BTW - Congrats on the 18lbs lost.

I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. The sleep study showed my oxygen dropped to 70% at times during the night. At first I was on a concentrator machine with oxygen set at 2. This was hard to get used to but I eventually did somewhat better for about 6 hrs a night. However I am going to Fl for the winter & couldn't take such a huge heavy machine with me. My insurance doesn't allow me to have a machine ordered down there. So I thought I would try the CPAP machine which is much smaller. I had to have another sleep study with the CPAP on to determine the setting which is 9. I slept only 1 1/2 hrs all nite with this on. Now I have one here at home with the same triangular mask & I can't sleep with it at all. It keeps both my husband & I awake all nite so we get no sleep. I am getting very discouraged as these drs seem to think I really need it even tho' I don't have any of the usual symptoms. I am not sleepy during the day or go to sleep driving. I see the dr again on Mon. Any suggestions??

CPAP isn't a substitute for O2.  It can be used with with O2 and sometimes will bring the O2 desats up high enough so supplemental oxygen isn't required.  BUT only a test with at minimum a recording pulse oximeter could determine that.  The bigger question here is why do the doctors think that you need it?  What were the results of your sleep study?