"Mild" Sleep Apnea

I am new here. I had my sleep study in a center a week and a half ago. Getting results tomorrow but the receptionist did tell me I had "mild sleep apnea and lots of other medical stuff."

I have hypothyroidism, have congenital heart disease resulting in an aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic aneurysm graft at 30 years old, I am 39 now. (I have a human valve and only take aspirin daily) I never feel rested, I wake up tired. I am always thinking about a nap! Was hoping the hypothyroid meds would help, but have been on them since October and still fatigued all the time. As a homeschooling mom of 9, that is a bad thing!

My new cardiologist set up the sleep study at a center with a doc at the center. I know my legs, more in particular my feet, have to move rhythmically up and down for me to fall asleep. Though, that is since childhood. I have an occasional, like once every month or so, arrhythmias where my heart races. But nothing regular or often. it lasts seconds, then I cough and it is gone.

Do they usually rx a cpap for mild sleep apnea? I would like to try one and see if I can get my energy back. I rarely dream anymore, I used to dream a lot. I will know for sure tomorrow but was curious what everyone else's experiences were with being classified mild. I do know my hubby says I snore. Sometimes I even wake myself up snoring!

Thanks!

Depends on the actual times in an hour you experienced an apnea 'event' and/or home much your oxygen dropped. I have a friend who was sure she had sleep apnea, but the Dr said it was too mild to treat. Her oxygen didn't drop below 98% & her AHI was right at 5. There are other factors as well. My hubby has mild sleep apnea, but IS being treated, he stopped breathing around 15-20 times per hour & his oxygen dropped to 89% at certain times during the night.

Mild sleep apnea is usually treated, unless it is too mild for insurance to pay for therapy. Since you were told, unofficially, you have mild OSA, you probably will be treated.

To get ready, read the posts at the top of this site to prepare yourself. Post your questions here & you will get responses. Make sure to educate yourself on what machine you would like before you visit your DME.

Regarding OSA, knowledge is power for you to successfully treat your condition & maximize your therapy.

Welcome to the forum.

Jen

Do you sleep on your back most of the time? If so, try sleeping on your side and use something behind you to keep you from flipping back. See how you do that way and then come back and tell us... I have a reason for asking. Do you know how many times an hour you were supposed to have had an apnea on the study?

I am usually a side or stomach sleeper. Occasionally I wake on my back but not often. Not sure on number, I go see the sleep doc tomorrow morning.

Thanks, you kind of shot down one idea...

The point is not so much whether an insurance company, doctor, or book classifies your sleep-breathing condition as mild, moderate, or severe, based on a one-night test. The point is doing what it takes to be allowed to find out whether stabilizing your airway helps how you feel.

Mainstream thought in the industry, as I understand it, is that moderate-to-severe-OSA findings during a sleep test indicate that you likely need CPAP for good health whether you usually feel sleepy during the day or not, but that mild results indicate that CPAP is mostly only needed if it helps you not feel overly tired or sleepy during the day.

But such generalizations, naturally, are based on averages, so you and your doc have to figure out what it all means for you based on your medical and family history. We are here as fellow patients to help you find ways to make your chosen approach work for you.

In my opinion.

We already have a DME we work with. My last son was a 30 week preemie. He also had to have his lung removed at 6 weeks old. He is 17 months old now. We use them for Oxygen, pulse ox, heart rate monitor and special formula. Though he doesn't use the oxygen or pulse ox anymore, we still keep it at the house in case he gets sick. (We live at a high altitude.)

I have been very pleased with them. Local, always answer the phone, timely deliveries, never any billing issues. I called them this afternoon and they usually have Respironics and Resmed machines.

9forus wrote: Do they usually rx a cpap for mild sleep apnea? I would like to try one and see if I can get my energy back. I rarely dream anymore, I used to dream a lot. I will know for sure tomorrow but was curious what everyone else's experiences were with being classified mild. I do know my hubby says I snore. Sometimes I even wake myself up snoring!

Thanks!

My AHI was only 3.8 to 5 when first tested in a “home test” (two weeks). I was told a machine would not help me. I was told I had only insomnia. I told my doctor to stop thinking of the insurance companies and start thinking of me. I purchased one “out-of-pocket”. It is helping me a great deal!!!!

CPAP only prescribed in a mild case if symptoms are occurring

High BP
Insomnia
Morning headache
Excessive day time sleepiness