I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and the study showed that I had 59 AHI. The sleep lab that performed the in lab study might have been shady.
Sleep apnea symptoms that I have:
- I've been caught gasping for air when I sleep a year ago (and I remember doing it the night of the study)
ADD thats appears to be getting worse
Slightly high blood pressure
A recent anxiety attack
- Not tired (even after the study)
I don't snore
I'm not severely obese (250 pounds at 6'4'')
32 years old
Following up with an ENT, he suggested that I do a take home. I asked the lab about that and the founder responded with, IMO, an unprofessional response (copied pasted into here):
My ENT's thoughts were that I would be more relaxed during a take home, and that the 59 AHI was suspicious since I'm not tired. He also saw no serious indications of OSA besides the report.We do offer potable studies; however, they are a dramatically more blunt instrument, especially for the demographic of [healthy city], younger, healthier, less obese than the general population for which these machines wok best.
ALSO
you have had a PSG which does everything the portable kits do PLUS the in-lab test like you had ALSO records EEG (for sleep staging and arousal detection), muscle tone (both for REM detection and Periodic Limb Movement and Restless Leg Syndrome)
The PSG remains the gold standard for diagnosing OSA and the CPAP titration is the gold standard for OSA treatment.
A home study would provide less information than the tests you have undergone
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I am uncertain why your ENT suggested such a test when you already have the data, from a better testing instrument than your otolaryngologist suggested.
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Again, I am puzzled by your ENT's recommendation - so maybe you might want to call me and help clarify this (or any other part of the process) - my Cell is listed below my signature.
CPAP results:
Procedure:
The study was attended by a polysomnographic technologist and reviewed by a Diplomate of the
AASM sleep medicine specialist.
The follow biologic parameters were monitored during the recording: EEG, left and right
electrooculogram, submental and anterior, tibialis electromyogram, nasal/oral airflow, oxygen
saturation(SpO2), and respiratory effort.
Results:
Respiratory Parameters showed an overall apnea/hypopnea index was 59.1. REM apnea/hypopnea
index was 30. Supine respiratory disturbance index was 85.2. Baseline SpO2 was 91 with the lowest
recorded oxygen hemoglobin saturation at 85%. Average heart rate was 52.8 bpm. An EKG tracing
showed normal sinus rhythm. Sleep Efficiency was 68.5%. Sleep latency was 28.8 minutes. REM
latency was 254 minutes. Total sleep time was 291.5 minutes. Total recording time was 428 minutes.
Sleep architecture showed Stage N1, N2, N3 and REM sleep. The Arousal Index was 20.8 per hour of
sleep. PLM index was 0.
Interpretation:
Findings were consistent with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (327.23)
Sleep architecture revealed short sleep latency, normal REM latency, all 4 stages of sleep, and sleep
fragmentation.
My questions are:
1. Is it possible that sleep labs could churn out bad results?
2. Why am I not tired with a 59 AHI?
3. When they say ADD like symptoms are caused by Sleep Apnea, would that be equivalent to one pulling an all nighter and trying to focus the next day?
4. Is it possible to have OSA and not snore or have other classic symptoms?
5. I took Clonazepam the night of both sleep studies, which is a benzo, with the nurses approval. I hear this makes OSA worse. How much worse could it make it?
6. How long before I start to notice an impact mentally? I'm really hoping I can get the ADD in check.
I have two options:
1. I can get a take home test tonight (Friday) and get results in two weeks ($120)
2. I can get a auto pap next week, Friday, and use something like sleepyhead or MyAir or whatever to determine how many events I have. (rental $42/ month, 7 months then I can purchase it)
Thanks for taking your time to read this. I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm leaning towards just getting the CPAP next week and hoping that I didn't get scammed out. At the same time, my ADD's getting worse, and the meds aren't working, so I hope that this could be the answer to that.
Sleep study with no cpap Sleep study with cpap Attached are my results from the study and my ENT appointment.