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ERRORS MADE BY SLEEP STUDY LAB

I finally received a copy of my sleep study tests from my PCP and have discovered that they are wrong about something I consider to be important. That is, they claim I fell asleep quickly and that I slept for a lengthy period of time. I know for a fact that they are wrong. I tried calling the phone number on the test results, but I was told that my PCP would have to speak directly with the doctor who interpreted the data.

Since I know they are wrong about that, I can't help but wonder if they're wrong about other things they've claimed to have happened. My PCP is suggesting that I take another sleep study test. I'm thinking perhaps I should try a different lab. Has anyone had this sort of problem? I'm scheduled to be fitted for a CPAP on Wednesday, Feb. 18. My initial sleep study was last May. At the end of October, I had a second sleep study. This time, I was attached to a CPAP machine. I barely slept at all that night. I'd love to know how they can claim I slept for 8 hours or so.

I just read elsewhere that a person had a home sleep study done. How does one arrange that? I think it would be much better to do it at home.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 6, 2009 at 12:58am

absolutely agree that at this point it's probably a better use of time/energy to get a data capable machine and then interpret the data carefully to find out exactly what's going on.

j n k said:

Speaking only for myself here (as always), but if the name and date is right on the PSG, I would be happy if it resulted in a prescription for a machine. Once I got a data-capable machine, I would be tweaking from there anyway. If I didn't FEEL better after a few weeks or months of good numbers on the machine, THEN I would be asking for another study to see what was wrong, maybe, but for now I would concentrate on getting a full-data machine, getting a mask that worked for me, and getting my therapy going.

jeff

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Permalink Reply by Judy on April 6, 2009 at 10:04am

When you have serious doubts about the accuracy of your titration study is the time to be ready and willing to fight as hard as necessary to get not just a fully data capapble CPAP but rather a fully data capable APAP (auto PAP). The APAPs are the SAME HCPCS code as a bare bone compliance data only capable CPAP and most all insurances pay by HCPCS code not by brand and model, tho many local DME suppliers will try to tell you "your insurance won't pay for an APAP". The local DME supplier just doesn't enjoy as great a profit margin on the APAPs since they get paid by HCPCS code rather than by brand and model.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on April 6, 2009 at 4:58pm

Watching your clock was probably the reason you did not sleep very well. Other than the fact that you should not have slept before your study. Clock watching is a type of behavior insomnia. Not to take anything away from what you said. Some labs are better than others. I would also recomend that you have a study done in a lab.

Mabelcat said:

I do not have any advice to give you on at home sleep tests.I wanted to tell you though that I had the same thing happen to me when having a sleep test.I have extreme fatigue that controls my life.I had a sleep exam two years ago and had slept 12 hours before having the test so I was unable to fall alseep at the sleep lab.I dozed off for 11min I watched the clock the rest of the night.I was told by the sleep lab that I had slept 7 hours.I was so shocked and thought maybe sleep tests are just a scam.
My doctor believes I have sleep apnea and wants me to have another one but I paid 2500 dollars for the last one and cant pay that again especially for a test thats not very reliable.

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Permalink Reply by Butch Hernandez on April 6, 2009 at 8:50pm

Agreed, the "I didn't sleep at all" feeling is a strong indication of lack of deeper sleep. The brain is often unaware of Stage 1 sleep. For those of us that run studies, it is very easy to see the difference btx wake and S1 sleep. Most labs require us to document sleep onset in our charting. It is certainly on the report as well. From the time the test starts until we see sleep onset is measured and reported as "sleep latency". I guess my point is that it would be highly irresponsible to report sleep if there wasn't any. The EEG doesn't lie!