"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Getting A Sleep Study Done
Since I was in my late 20's or early 30's I have complained to the doctor about feeling fatigued and tired all the time. During this period I had 5 children (4 in 5 years and the last one was 3 years after number 4). The doctor kept saying it was because I had 5 kids I was chasing after all day, plus a part time job for most of the time. I often felt like I could sleep for days and could barely drag myself around. This was in the late 70's and early 80's. Not a lot was known about sleep apnea during this time.
I have always needed a lot sleep -- I average between 9 and 10 hours a night. If I get the "normal" 8 hours or fewer I do not function well the next day. I contributed some of my tiredness on the fact that I require a lot of sleep and always have.
For the last several years my husband has complained of my snoring and has often woke me up during the night shaking me telling me to breathe. To be honest, I didn't think much about it but chalked it up to his ornery side. When my granddaughter was in preschool she stayed with me lots of times (I work in the same school she was attending) and several times she woke me up scared telling me that I wasn't breathing. This went on for approximately a year -- with her waking me up probably 6 or 7 times during that period.
I broached the subject with my doctor and she agreed that I should have a sleep study done. She had never mentioned getting one done -- although I often complained of being sleepy, tired, waking with raging headaches, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms related to untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can lead to depression, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and a whole host of other complications.
It took approximately one month to get into our local sleep lab (associated with our local hospital). My doctor told me that she had scheduled a split study. This is where they collect data for part of the night and if you are diagnosed they do the titration study the same night. Imagine my disappointment when during the night I was not hooked up to a cpap. I asked the lab tech the next morning about it and was told she couldn't give me any answers that I would have to speak to the doctor about the test results. It was a big disappointment. On the way out of the sleep lab she chimed in with a "Well technically I shouldn't tell you this but we will be seeing you again in the near future."
After a week or so without a word from my doctor I called and she stated that she had gotten the test results that morning and was scheduling me another sleep study -- this time with a cpap. My titration study was done a week later.
My tests results came back that I have severe OSA. I was prescribed a "smart cpap with c-flex with a heated humidifier with a pressure range of 8 - 12 along with a Fisher and Paykel HC 431 full face mask."
That was the beginning of my journey with an apap.
I can only encourage you if you or a loved one have the symptoms of OSA -- Please talk to your doctor about arranging for a sleep study or other available means to diagnose if you have sleep apnea.
I have always needed a lot sleep -- I average between 9 and 10 hours a night. If I get the "normal" 8 hours or fewer I do not function well the next day. I contributed some of my tiredness on the fact that I require a lot of sleep and always have.
For the last several years my husband has complained of my snoring and has often woke me up during the night shaking me telling me to breathe. To be honest, I didn't think much about it but chalked it up to his ornery side. When my granddaughter was in preschool she stayed with me lots of times (I work in the same school she was attending) and several times she woke me up scared telling me that I wasn't breathing. This went on for approximately a year -- with her waking me up probably 6 or 7 times during that period.
I broached the subject with my doctor and she agreed that I should have a sleep study done. She had never mentioned getting one done -- although I often complained of being sleepy, tired, waking with raging headaches, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms related to untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can lead to depression, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and a whole host of other complications.
It took approximately one month to get into our local sleep lab (associated with our local hospital). My doctor told me that she had scheduled a split study. This is where they collect data for part of the night and if you are diagnosed they do the titration study the same night. Imagine my disappointment when during the night I was not hooked up to a cpap. I asked the lab tech the next morning about it and was told she couldn't give me any answers that I would have to speak to the doctor about the test results. It was a big disappointment. On the way out of the sleep lab she chimed in with a "Well technically I shouldn't tell you this but we will be seeing you again in the near future."
After a week or so without a word from my doctor I called and she stated that she had gotten the test results that morning and was scheduling me another sleep study -- this time with a cpap. My titration study was done a week later.
My tests results came back that I have severe OSA. I was prescribed a "smart cpap with c-flex with a heated humidifier with a pressure range of 8 - 12 along with a Fisher and Paykel HC 431 full face mask."
That was the beginning of my journey with an apap.
I can only encourage you if you or a loved one have the symptoms of OSA -- Please talk to your doctor about arranging for a sleep study or other available means to diagnose if you have sleep apnea.
Views: 74
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sherri on
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I am in my mid-forties, and after a year of complaining to my asthma doctor about fatigue and constant sleepiness, we did a Stardust home sleep study which indicated that I have sleep apnea. We then did two sleep sessions at the sleep clinic, and I was subsequently diagnosed, over a year ago, with sleep apnea. I tried the CPAP but found it terribly uncomfortable. So I got a dental device, but when I told the doctor it didn't work we did another sleep study with it, indicating that it was not helping at all. So, now we're back to the CPAP. There is a newer, more comfortable mask that makes it more tolerable. Unfortunately, after over 3 weeks on the CPAP I feel even worse than before. I am sleeping, but still wake up with headaches and am miserably sleepy 24/7. I'm totally at a loss as to what may help, and why the CPAP isn't helping. Any ideas? I can't remember what it feels like to be rested. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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Unfortunately you are not alone in finding it difficult to adjust to cpap therapy. That is the reason so many give up and don't stick with it.
Which mask are you using? Is it a full face mask, nasal mask, nasal pillow, nasal prong?
What pressure are you at?
What machine are you using?
Are you using the ramp feature?
Are you using the humidifer?
Is your machine capable of exhale relief? What is set at it if it is?
Are you having leaks?
Are you using it all night? Partial nights? If partial -- about how long?
If you can provide me with some details I would be happy to see if I have any suggestions that might help you. It does take time for one to get acclimated to sleeping with the machine and mask. Once you become used to it -- you will not want to sleep without!!
I am wondering though if your leak rate isn't high since you are still having headaches and are still so sleepy. If you can give me some details lets see if we can't come up with a solution.
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I'm using the full face mask with the gel lining,
My pressure is 9, I do use the ramp feature.
I'm using the Respironics REMstar Auto M Series. The humidifier was ordered, don't have it yet.
The C-Flex is set at 3.
I use ithe CPAP usually from 11p to about 4a, sometimes longer. I may be having leaks, my husband says that in the middle of the night it gets really loud, like air is escaping. Actually, I woke up last night hearing it, but couldn't find air leaking from anywhere around the mask.
Any advice you have would be so appreciated! I don't mind an adjustment period at all, I just want to feel better. :) Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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If you or your husband think you're leaking, you probably are. it's such a common problem --- i still deal with it from time to time myself. your machine records leak and other therapy data onto its smart card. if you can buy the software and the card reader, you can read the results yourself whenever you'd like. alternatively, your doctor or DME should be able to read the card for you, but then you have to wait for an appointment. that's my $0.02, but i bet others have some ideas too...
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Although you are using a full face mask they can still leak most of your therapy out.
When you picked up the mask did they try it on you?
Did they have you lay down with it?
Does it seem to fit snug without being overly tight?
How long have you had this mask?
Have you tried anything to stop the leaks?
One thing you might try is getting some Macks Silicone ear plugs. These can be found at WalMart, Walgreens, and other retail outlets. Take a piece of the Macks ear plug and roll out into a long snake like roll. You will have to experiment a little with it cause you don't want to thick nor thin. Place this around the edge of your mask. When you place the mask on your face the silicone will provide an extra barrier to help seal any leaks. You can remove the Macks and reuse it the next morning. You should get several days worth of use out of it. If it leaves some stickiness on your face this can be removed by washing the area with soap and water.
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great post about Macks. you might consider setting this off as its own discussion topic if you'd like. probably a lot of people would benefit from this.
sleepycarol said:Although you are using a full face mask they can still leak most of your therapy out.
When you picked up the mask did they try it on you?
Did they have you lay down with it?
Does it seem to fit snug without being overly tight?
How long have you had this mask?
Have you tried anything to stop the leaks?
One thing you might try is getting some Macks Silicone ear plugs. These can be found at WalMart, Walgreens, and other retail outlets. Take a piece of the Macks ear plug and roll out into a long snake like roll. You will have to experiment a little with it cause you don't want to thick nor thin. Place this around the edge of your mask. When you place the mask on your face the silicone will provide an extra barrier to help seal any leaks. You can remove the Macks and reuse it the next morning. You should get several days worth of use out of it. If it leaves some stickiness on your face this can be removed by washing the area with soap and water.
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Hi. Yes, they did try the mask on me and adjusted the fit, but did not have me lay down with it (good point!) It seems to fit comfortably. I've had the mask approx. 3 weeks. Other than moving the mask around on my face to try to re-seal, I haven't tried anything else. But will go to Walmart today to get the Macks-sounds like a great idea. I'll use it tonight and let you know how it works. Thanks to you and to Mike for sharing your knowledge and experiences to help me. I'll keep you updated!
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Since you have had the mask for less than 30 days you might try seeing if they will exchange it.
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No but if you are having trouble with it and are not getting a good seal another mask may work better for you -- different size, different brand,
The mask is usually the hardest part of the equipment to get right. There is a wide variety of masks out there and not everyone can use the same mask. What works for one will not work for another.
Try the Macks and if it doesn't work I would see about trying a different mask.
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