Hello everyone

I need help with getting my husband to agree to do a sleep study.  He has suffered for years from exhaustion and for years is always saying, I must not have slept good last night.  I have migrated to the other bedroom, there is know reason for two of us not getting any rest.  When I try and talk to him about it, he always says,  if the Dr. knows I have it, he can just give me the machine, I dont need to go to the sleep clinic (fear of the unknown I would say).  After reading confessions from people on this web-site I know he has every symptom that has been mentioned, I can assure you of that.  Can someone please steer my in the right direction as to the steps to take so we can get some peaceful nights of sleep and start enjoying our retirement

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I doubt any doctor would prescribe a CPAP machine without a sleep test, though he may have to "refer" you to a sleep doctor or clinic.  Most HMOs require a PCP to refer the patient.  Your only hope here is to start with your doctor if you can get him there.  He's the key man.  

Your husband has to understand the dangers in having obstructive sleep apnea and denial is not a river in Eqypt.  I'm pretty sure his hesitancy is due to the thoughts of being diagnosed and having to use the sleep mask.  It was that way for a lot of us.  If you can impress upon him the possibility of stroke, heart attack, chronic fatigue, falling asleep at the wheel to mention a few possibilities, consider that cessation of breath for long periods of time while asleep is playing havoc with your whole body.  We are talking lack of oxygen to the heart and brain.  Maybe if he read a few articles on apnea that you can download from the net, he may get with the program.  He's not being fair to himself or you.  Maybe others on this forum can suggest better ways to get through to him.  Good luck!


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ResMed S8 Elite, F&P Flexifit 406, Optilife
AHI 54/hr, Pressure 8, desat. 73

I know I sound "cruel and unsympathetic" with this comment, but after a while of trying to talk someone into getting the test, there comes a time to BLUNTLY tell them that if they won't go, then they need to get a good life insurance policy on themself, because you are going to need it soon!
     Sleep Apnea is nothing to play around with, it hurts its victim, it damages their bodies, it will kill them if it is not treated.

     As for the CPAP without the test...
         NO WAY!!!! It has to be individually adjusted to the patient's needs. Even the new APAPs need to have a titration study, so they can set the limits on it, if you want it to work at its optimum.
    
     To the comment about the sleep study itself...
          My only regret is that I waited so long to get it done. I tried some other methods before I get my sleep study done.
If I had known then how bad I actually was, I definately would have done it sooner.  There is the other reason to get the study. Documentation of the severity. I knew what I had, but when I got my test scores, IT SCARED ME!!! I turned out to be OVER twice the severe level.
     My advise to him is this: GO DO IT! It does not hurt, It feels kind of weird knowing someone is watching you, but it is SO IMPORTANT! Do it today!


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painless

Sleep Apnea is a Killer! Get it Tested!
Get it Treated! Use the Treatment!

Sleepless in katy texas. new to group.  I feel like a zombie. unable to pass pre employment exams.
Is there any support groups in my area? Iam a the end of my rope.  I wish for a good nite sleep but now have fears
of not waking up. My wife is varied worried. Is this a disabilty? I have seen meny doctors but they want to keep me on
meny BP and stoke meds. Iam now almost 50. Had sleep problems since 19. Iam open to any ideas. recomendations.
Where do I start.   Thanks zombie dude

ZombieDude, start w/your family doctor and INSIST that he refer you to a GOOD sleep specialist. Tell him of all your symptoms and point out that high blood pressure and stroke risk are two of the major results of long term sleep apnea.

Do a websearch on A.W.A.K.E. to see if they have an apnea support group near you. Call your local hospital(s) and ask if they know of any apnea support groups in your area. Both of our local hospitals have their own sleep clinics. Not that that makes them any better (or worse) than independent sleep clinics. But they are more likely to have knowledge of any apnea support groups in the area.

Pip, Resmed has come out w/a new gadget called ApneaLink and there are several trials going on around the country being conducted FREE. Its an at-home, no mask, apparatus that can alert the medical professionals to whether there is risk of sleep apnea. If you find one he just has to go in for a quick interview, take home the ApneaLink and wear it overnight then take it back. Those offering ApneaLink then notify your family doctor of the results.

ApneaLink has been developed by Resmed, one of the leading CPAP therapy manufacturers. Its is more efficient than just an overnight oximetry. However, if you can't get him to even do this much you can try pushing his family doctor for AT LEAST an overnight oximetry. If he has significant 02 desaturations that can be indicative of sleep apnea and may put a burr under his doctor's "arse" to convince your husband he needs to have a good sleep evaluation study.

I just got the "coupon" from our local hospital for my husband to make an appointment and go in and pick up an ApneaLink. Now, I just have to break the news to my hubby that he IS going in and doing at least that much!!!

The other thing I've done is talked to my sleep doctor about my husband and his symptoms etc. and we agreed that I could make an appointment for my husband and try to "bully" him into keeping it but my sleep doctor will understand and not have a hissy if my husband refuses to keep the appointment. I haven't gone so far as to do that - YET. We'll try the ApneaLink route first. I hope!

Hey! I've got 43 years invested in this bullheaded Frenchman. I'm not about to waste my investment by losing him to a stroke or heart attack or whatever w/o a fight!!! Besides, I don't have him insured as high as I would like.     He's priceless.    (I can't believe I said that!)


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
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