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Post by minx on Feb 26, 2018 9:34:07 GMT -5
Got the results this morning, and (drumroll, please....)
It's inconclusive! What a fricken shock!
I scored a 5 out of 10, which means I may have it, and may not. Dr said that he would have expected it to be higher if all my issues were being caused by sleep apnea. However, (and you all know there's a however), I have to try a CPAP anyway, because BC/BS won't pay for further testing unless he can show that a CPAP did nothing to greatly reduce the symptoms.
So, back in for a CPAP test in April. I'm not sure how long I have to 'try' it out. Hopefully it helps, otherwise I get to go for yet another sleep study to rule out narcolepsy.
Glad that the only thing totally suffering is my quality of life and not my health.
But don't worry, we don't ration healthcare at all....
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Post by bobathon on Feb 26, 2018 10:06:26 GMT -5
They should do a real sleep study on you, in a lab. THEN see if a machine will help. WTF happened to diagnosis?
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 26, 2018 10:42:38 GMT -5
FFS. Did they give you an AHI? The way it's "supposed" to work is you go in for a sleep study and if you have any apneas, they put you on cpap and adjust it until your AHI is 0 (or as close to it as possible). You AHI is an indicator of 1) if you have apnea be it OSA or CSA or both and 2) the severity of it. Mine was 20 or 25 I think, which was considered moderate, over 30 is severe IIRC.
The whole DIY sleep study is bullshit and a waste of fucking time and money, and obviously something the sleep disorders industry came up with the milk out more insurance money under the disguise of "screening" or sleep study-lite.
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Post by No. 1 son on Feb 26, 2018 11:43:06 GMT -5
John Redcorn helped Nancy Tribble with her migraines. Several times a week. I don't know if he has a Stafford office though.
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Post by minx on Feb 26, 2018 17:55:48 GMT -5
FFS. Did they give you an AHI? The way it's "supposed" to work is you go in for a sleep study and if you have any apneas, they put you on cpap and adjust it until your AHI is 0 (or as close to it as possible). You AHI is an indicator of 1) if you have apnea be it OSA or CSA or both and 2) the severity of it. Mine was 20 or 25 I think, which was considered moderate, over 30 is severe IIRC. The whole DIY sleep study is bullshit and a waste of fucking time and money, and obviously something the sleep disorders industry came up with the milk out more insurance money under the disguise of "screening" or sleep study-lite. I didn't get an AHI - I'll have to call and ask for it. Doctor sounded like he didn't think I had apnea, but said that since the results didn't conclusively say no, then the insurance wouldn't pay for further testing before I tried a CPAP. Totally asinine, because they've already forked over some bucks for the DIY thing that basically didn't produce anything that would explain why I sleep all the time. Now they're going to shell out more for me to test a CPAP that I may or may not need. If that doesn't work, then I have to go back and have them shell out even more money for a full sleep study. And since the damn lab is so booked, I have to wait a month and a half at a time to get in. So if it's not apnea, that means I may not get answers until Christmas at this rate. OTOH, it doesn't appear to be something that will make me drop dead before then, and I guess I've dealt with being constantly tired for this long, so what's another half year?
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 26, 2018 18:10:13 GMT -5
So are they giving/loaning/renting you a CPAP? If it's an advanced one, most of them can detect apneas, hypopneas, and all kinds of other data. Chances are the fuckers will give you a brick (doesn't do anything but pump air) that you'll have no data, no control, no humidifier.... try talking them into an autoset. Hopefully they'l at least send you to an RT to get all of this. Jeezopete.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 26, 2018 18:34:07 GMT -5
Screen shot of the data using Sleepyhead to read the SD card that goes into my Resmed S9 AutoSet- AHI for that one night was 1.68 which is super low, but remember that it's low because I'm on CPAP!
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Post by No. 1 son on Feb 27, 2018 7:35:06 GMT -5
John is right about the home studies, although I am not sure what they entail. There are other reasons for sleepiness, like grinding teeth, restless leg, and some medications promote it. In a lab they are monitoring you visually and electronically, so anything contributing will likely be spotted. Plus, they do this and have pretty good experience.
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Post by minx on Feb 27, 2018 9:23:18 GMT -5
Exactly - I don't really get why they make you go through all this shit to just get tested. To me, if you're sleeping an average of 12hr/night, and still need a nap during the day because you're tired, it should be clear that something's up, and they should just pay for the full test.
In the end, they're going to pay more for all this unnecessary diagnostic work than they would have by just doing the full damn study in the first place.
And they'll pay to rent the machine (since it's not clear that I need it). Since I'm doing the titration in the sleep lab, it will be done by an RT. While I'm not thrilled about using a CPAP, I really and truly hope it solves the issue - I am so tired!
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Post by No. 1 son on Feb 27, 2018 9:56:28 GMT -5
If you are anemic or have low thyroid activity, it will make you week and sleepy. Maybe a blood test would help.
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Post by minx on Feb 27, 2018 14:28:19 GMT -5
BTDT - had blood tests for thyroid, vitamin deficiency and anemia - all negative Have switched my meds and it hasn't changed anything either.
So either I'm just a naturally tired person, or there's something else going on.
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DA
mob associate
Hello? Is this thing on?
Posts: 589
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Post by DA on Mar 27, 2018 13:02:36 GMT -5
I find that sometimes the more I rest, the more tired I become. If I "heaven forbid" exercise more or get more physical activity, I seem to have more energy and sleep better. Getting into the habit of exercising regularly isn't as easy as I wish it were.
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Post by minx on Mar 27, 2018 15:28:48 GMT -5
Definitely! I need to move more!
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Mar 27, 2018 15:49:45 GMT -5
When I was going to the gym all the time my energy level was significantly higher but I don't remember if I slept any better. Sleep and sleep quality have been a major issue for me ever since..... well, guess when. Yeah, AFTER they rxd me with sleep apnea.
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Post by minx on Mar 28, 2018 8:41:32 GMT -5
Well, I go in on April 23rd to get fitted for the CPAP - we'll see if it makes a difference. The exercise did help me fall asleep a little faster, but I'm still tired in the morning.
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Post by minx on Apr 24, 2018 7:57:26 GMT -5
Did the second sleep study last night (with the CPAP on). Tried the one that just fits on your nose, but it was so godawful uncomfortable, that I immediately switched to the full face mask. Wasn't bad, wasn't great. I go back to the doctor next Friday (5/4) to get the results. I imagine that if they say I have to do the whole CPAP thing, that I will then have to wait to actually get the thing. Someone remind me again about how fast American medicine works compared to other countries.
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Post by bobathon on Apr 24, 2018 8:33:37 GMT -5
Corporate death squads are on their way, to stop you from being a problem.
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Post by minx on Apr 24, 2018 10:06:44 GMT -5
Not me baby - I bow before my corporate overlords, so I'm totally safe.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Apr 24, 2018 11:07:31 GMT -5
Good thing it's not serious.....
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Post by minx on Apr 24, 2018 13:32:35 GMT -5
If it was, it wouldn't be an issue, because the infamous Obama Death Panels would have already rubber stamped my application for burial.
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Post by No. 1 son on Apr 24, 2018 20:48:45 GMT -5
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Post by bobathon on Apr 25, 2018 2:30:06 GMT -5
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Post by k9krap on Apr 26, 2018 0:01:04 GMT -5
What is your neck size? I found out today that Iām borderline for sleep apnea. They screened me for it as part of my pre-surgical exam. Never had it before.
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Post by minx on Apr 26, 2018 8:36:44 GMT -5
A weird but interesting question - my neck is 15"
Mr. Minx thinks they snuck in a full sleep study under the guise of setting the CPAP titration. He said that when he got his CPAP, they didn't have him all hooked up - just the heart monitor. So we shall see.
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Post by k9krap on Apr 26, 2018 14:36:31 GMT -5
They said 16ā is the borderline. Mine is 16 1/4. I wake up a lot during the night, but always attributed it to pain. Or having to pee.
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Post by No. 1 son on Apr 28, 2018 17:50:19 GMT -5
They said 16ā is the borderline. Mine is 16 1/4. I wake up a lot during the night, but always attributed it to pain. Or having to pee. I feel like someone that fell asleep in class when they were telling us how to put those gas masks on when the siren went off. What does neck size contribute? Axing for a friend. Got my MRI song picked out, which is half the battle, just strap the legs down.
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Post by k9krap on Apr 28, 2018 19:45:38 GMT -5
Evidently, those with necks 16ā or larger are more prone to sleep apnea. They performed an assessment on me as part of the pre-surgical exam.
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Post by minx on Apr 29, 2018 12:56:02 GMT -5
Well, the doctor's office called Friday, but I was on a customer call, so I had to call back and leave the nurse there a VM. I figured she was either calling to say that the sleep study had messed up, so I'll have to do it again, or calling to let me know that I had less than 48 hours to live. Since she didn't call back, and I wanted to be safe, I assumed it was the latter, and ordered a large blizzard rather than the small yesterday, and I plan on pizza tonight. If I'm gonna go, might as well eat the bad stuff
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Post by No. 1 son on Apr 29, 2018 14:16:08 GMT -5
You can't even sleep without drama.
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Post by bobathon on Apr 29, 2018 18:50:50 GMT -5
I thought the neck size thing is more about how much fat you have around your trachea than some particular trigger size. All that makes your breathing passages want to collapse.
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