My sleep apnea has gotten worse over the last several months, turned my pressure up from 10 to 12 and still not sleeping well, still tired during the days.  I went to the sleep doctor and he won’t do anything until I do 2 sleep studies and a follow up visit……he wouldn’t tell me anything at all.  

I’ve had my CPAP for about 4 years now….my machine has never been serviced before.  Have never done any maintenance or change anything on my CPAP, expect for the pressure settings a few weeks ago.

Is it possible that my machine is not working correctly?

Any suggestions on why my sleep apnea has worsened in the last few months?

Suggestions and feedback would greatly be appreciated.


kyle

You can take your CPAP in to the DME supplier and ask that the calibrate the pressure to be sure it is still providing the set pressure as it should.

I would agree that after 4 years of CPAP therapy and symptoms returning it wouldn't be a bad idea at all to have another titration study. I fail to see the need for the sleep evaluation and then titration. If CPAP therapy eliminates any other sleep disorder, great, and if not, the titration will reveal any additional problems as well as a sleep evaluation would. Unless this sleep doctor is willing to explain his reasoning why BOTH a sleep evaluation AND a titration is needed and that reasoning made sense to me I'd find another sleep lab w/a better sleep doctor. I don't think I would be agreeable to a split night study. No one has a more vested interest in their health and their therapy than you do. You have a RIGHT to be informed of WHY a procedure or test is needed AND what might be gained from that test or procedure. Any doctor not willing to provide that information should be DUMPED and a new one found.

Good luck!


_________________
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.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo,
I had sometime similar come up.  My doc wanted to verify my pressure from my titration six or seven years ago.  (I never complied with my treatment.)  He suggested a split sleep study as opposed to a two nighter.  He had no doubt that I still had sa, but he did it for insurance reasons I think.  He indicated that insurance probably would not cover another titration without some justification.  I don't know if that was the real reason, but I didn't argue.

You never really know from one insurance company to another. Your doctor may well have been right. But I would think that the fact that you were NOT compliant w/CPAP therapy after the study and titration several years previous might well have had a bearing on your situation as well.


_________________
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.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Crohnie,
I should have mention that as another reason why he ordered the split study.  My doc did wanted to know if my pressure had changed over the years, and since I had not been using the cpap he didn't know how things were going at the old pressure.  Surprisingly to me, the pressure had not changed.