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Permalink Reply by Rooster on October 1, 2010 at 4:30pm

Here are some questions you should eventually know the answers to.

Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

4. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

5. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

6. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

7. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

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Permalink Reply by candice on October 5, 2010 at 3:13pm

thank you thank you thank you thank you !

I am printing this to take to my doctors follow -up next thursday.

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Permalink Reply by Corinne on October 6, 2010 at 2:14pm

Thanks Rooster for the list! I am getting my sleep study done in November so this is wonderful to have.



Rooster said:

Here are some questions you should eventually know the answers to.

Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

4. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

5. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

6. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

7. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paige on October 7, 2010 at 10:05pm

Why the central apnea question? I really wonder about those things. Is it "normal" to have them?

Rooster said:

Here are some questions you should eventually know the answers to. Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

4. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

5. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

6. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

7. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on October 7, 2010 at 10:10pm

Most people have a few for varius reasons. Centrals are a sign that something else may be very wrong. They are also not always included in the AHI given in you report.

Paige said:

Why the central apnea question? I really wonder about those things. Is it "normal" to have them?

Rooster said:

Here are some questions you should eventually know the answers to. Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

4. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

5. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

6. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

7. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paige on October 7, 2010 at 10:41pm

So if someone had say 3 central apneas, 2 mixed apneas... How would they know if something else was "very wrong"?

Rock Hinkle said:

Most people have a few for varius reasons. Centrals are a sign that something else may be very wrong. They are also not always included in the AHI given in you report.

Paige said:

Why the central apnea question? I really wonder about those things. Is it "normal" to have them?

Rooster said:

Here are some questions you should eventually know the answers to. Questions to ask about your PSG and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

4. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

5. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

6. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

7. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for a humidifier with the machine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on October 8, 2010 at 9:59am

Central Apneas mean your brain is not telling your body to breathe. As you can imagine if your were having very many of them or solely central apneas you would need a different kind of machine capable of providing a set number of breaths per hour. They do make those machines which look very much like a CPAP and deliver non invasive ventilation. I understand it is not unusual to have a small number of central apneas, but that these usually dissappear after using CPAP for a short time. The concern would be that this becomes not only a breathing issue, but a neurological one and a very serious issue. I would not worry with a limited number of central apneas, such as three.
Professionals or anyone with more knowledge correct me if I'm wrong.


Paige said:

So if someone had say 3 central apneas, 2 mixed apneas... How would they know if something else was "very wrong"?

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