Hi all... this is my first posting.

I just had my Sleep Study last night.   I was referred to a ENT Specialist by my primary doctor because of a chronic dry mouth problem when sleeping.  The ENT Specialist said I had a deviated septum (he explained it as a narrow sinus on the right side of my nose).  He also suggested that I have a sleep study to check for sleep apnea and due to the fact that I snore loudly.  

Now, I have NEVER heard myself snoring.  I'm usually sleeping when it happens :) , but I have been told by my wife and others that I snore really really loud.  I expected to be told that I snore loud and maybe discover that my nose is a little blocked when I sleep, but I got far more than I bargained for.

The technician explained that I would be having a split study.  It was difficult to sleep with all the stuff connected, but I finally managed to fall asleep. At about 2AM I was woke up and told that I needed to use the CPAP.  He told me that "I really needed this".  He said something about most people have about a 6, but I had a 22...I think he was talking about the drop in my Oxygen Saturation levels.  He also told me that I was snoring really loud.  I asked him how loud? He said that I rated in the top 10 of all the patients he has ever seen.  He said it was a rumbling type of snore that he suspected was due to an obstruction in my throat.  He described it as the kind of snoring that makes the walls shake.  

He put a mask on me that covered my nose and told me not to breath through my mouth.  I tried this for awhile, but was extremely uncomfortable.  I felt like I was suffocating.  After being persistent, he switched me to a "Swift" nasal pillow.  He said that it might work better after I indicated that I get claustrophobic sometimes.  It was still uncomfortable and difficult to get use to but much better than before.  I eventually got comfortable and fell asleep again.  

When I woke the next morning I could tell that the air pressure was a lot higher than I remembered.  I asked him about it and he said it was higher (said it was set at 12 and that wasn't too bad).  He said that before the CPAP, I wasn't getting any REM sleep at all.  He explained that most people go into REM sleep for about 10 to 15 minutes, but when a person has been deprived of REM sleep for some time, they will stay there longer.  He said that I was in REM for 1.5 hours.  He also said that my saturation dropped really low several times (61, 62, 59).  He showed me the recordings and how I would stop breathing like every 30 seconds and then my heart would speed up and I would take this massive breath in.  Needless to say, I was shocked by all of this. He also showed me the recordings with the CPAP and how everything had leveled out under those conditions.  He also said that I didn't snore when on the CPAP.

The technician was clear that he wasn't a doctor.  Nonetheless, I was really appreciative that he was so helpful, showing me my data, and answering my questions.  He kinda indicated that they normally don't do this because it is kind frowned upon, but he wanted me to know what I was dealing with.  I suspect that doctors want to be the ones to analyze the data and fill you in.

My dilemma now is that I have 2 weeks before I see my doctor and I'm worried about sleeping now.  I'm worried that I might stop breathing for good or have some other complication.  I tried to call the doctor to see if I could get my appt. moved up or something, but the office had already closed for the weekend. Also, I was told that it would take about 7 days to get the report.

From what I have seen on this site, my saturation levels seem really low and the frequency of events seems to be high.  I wasn't expecting any of this...should I be concerned?  

~Room Shaker~

I'm sure that there is a position to sleep in that you know you get a better nights sleep, do what it takes to stay in that position.

Try and take some comfort in the idea that you didn't get apnea yesterday, but that you have had it for a long time and now that you learned some new disturbing information, you are just in the "Oh My God" phase. If your sleep doctors had found anything that was life threatening, the lab would have told your doctor and you would be in the proper care.

No news is good news for 2 weeks.


_________________
Everything, but green

Room Shaker wrote:

Hi all... this is my first posting.

I just had my Sleep Study last night.   I was referred to a ENT Specialist by my primary doctor because of a chronic dry mouth problem when sleeping.  The ENT Specialist said I had a deviated septum (he explained it as a narrow sinus on the right side of my nose).  He also suggested that I have a sleep study to check for sleep apnea and due to the fact that I snore loudly.  

Now, I have NEVER heard myself snoring.  I'm usually sleeping when it happens :) , but I have been told by my wife and others that I snore really really loud.  I expected to be told that I snore loud and maybe discover that my nose is a little blocked when I sleep, but I got far more than I bargained for.

The technician explained that I would be having a split study.  It was difficult to sleep with all the stuff connected, but I finally managed to fall asleep. At about 2AM I was woke up and told that I needed to use the CPAP.  He told me that "I really needed this".  He said something about most people have about a 6, but I had a 22...I think he was talking about the drop in my Oxygen Saturation levels.  He also told me that I was snoring really loud.  I asked him how loud? He said that I rated in the top 10 of all the patients he has ever seen.  He said it was a rumbling type of snore that he suspected was due to an obstruction in my throat.  He described it as the kind of snoring that makes the walls shake.  

He put a mask on me that covered my nose and told me not to breath through my mouth.  I tried this for awhile, but was extremely uncomfortable.  I felt like I was suffocating.  After being persistent, he switched me to a "Swift" nasal pillow.  He said that it might work better after I indicated that I get claustrophobic sometimes.  It was still uncomfortable and difficult to get use to but much better than before.  I eventually got comfortable and fell asleep again.  

When I woke the next morning I could tell that the air pressure was a lot higher than I remembered.  I asked him about it and he said it was higher (said it was set at 12 and that wasn't too bad).  He said that before the CPAP, I wasn't getting any REM sleep at all.  He explained that most people go into REM sleep for about 10 to 15 minutes, but when a person has been deprived of REM sleep for some time, they will stay there longer.  He said that I was in REM for 1.5 hours.  He also said that my saturation dropped really low several times (61, 62, 59).  He showed me the recordings and how I would stop breathing like every 30 seconds and then my heart would speed up and I would take this massive breath in.  Needless to say, I was shocked by all of this. He also showed me the recordings with the CPAP and how everything had leveled out under those conditions.  He also said that I didn't snore when on the CPAP.

The technician was clear that he wasn't a doctor.  Nonetheless, I was really appreciative that he was so helpful, showing me my data, and answering my questions.  He kinda indicated that they normally don't do this because it is kind frowned upon, but he wanted me to know what I was dealing with.  I suspect that doctors want to be the ones to analyze the data and fill you in.

My dilemma now is that I have 2 weeks before I see my doctor and I'm worried about sleeping now.  I'm worried that I might stop breathing for good or have some other complication.  I tried to call the doctor to see if I could get my appt. moved up or something, but the office had already closed for the weekend. Also, I was told that it would take about 7 days to get the report.

From what I have seen on this site, my saturation levels seem really low and the frequency of events seems to be high.  I wasn't expecting any of this...should I be concerned?  

~Room Shaker~

Hi,

Bit of a shock, isn't it.

The blood oxygen saturation levels at below 70%, not good. This also creates pressure on your heart. It is typical of OSA.
It is very unlikely that you will just stop breathing. Your brain will not permit it.

If I was you, I'd contact the sleep clinic and get them to fast track your results to your doctor. I'd plague your doctor's office for an early appointment. Squeekiest wheel gets the most oil.

While the tech isn't a doctor, it is unlikely that any doctor will question their findings.

Some contributors here have suggested in the past that to hire out an auto adjusting PAP machine in the interim is a good idea. As you have already had a sleep study I can't find fault with that advice, but your first telephone call should be to the sleep clinic...........judicious questions might get more information and make a decision that little bit easier.

Keep us up to date.

Daniel


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

(Anon)

Thanks for all the advice.  I called my doctor and was able to get my appointment changed to this Thursday.  I'm hoping that I get my CPAP shortly after that.  

Quote:

I'm sure that there is a position to sleep in that you know you get a better nights sleep, do what it takes to stay in that position.

You're right.  When I did the Sleep Study, the tech told me that I sleep better on my Left side.  I'll try that.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if using the CPAP during the sleep study has made it worst.  I have been extremely tired lately.  At first, I thought that it might just be because I was more aware of my situation, but now I'm wondering if the few hours of REM sleep I got during the Study have left my body yearning for more.  I seem more tired than ever.  

Does anyone know if there could be some truth to this?

Once you have had a good nights sleep your body knows what it has been missing.  It will desire more of the good sleep until it peeks out.  It took me two weeks to settle in on using the cpap.  I am now able to stay up a little later each night and not be tired in the morning.  I have been using the cpap since April of 2005.  I hope this answers your question.