As a scientist, I'm suspicious of taking a single data point and drawing treatment results.  Based on one night in a foreign environment with wires attached everywhere on my body, can you really diagnose needing a CPAP machine for the rest of my life?  Even on my second test with the CPAP, I had no REM sleep, and wonder if it is a sleep disorder or just discomfort in the lab.

Has there been any work done to see how repeatable results are?  Ideally, I'd like to have a home test where I could check myself for a week on and a week off the machine.

Russell wrote:

As a scientist, I'm suspicious of taking a single data point and drawing treatment results.  Based on one night in a foreign environment with wires attached everywhere on my body, can you really diagnose needing a CPAP machine for the rest of my life?  Even on my second test with the CPAP, I had no REM sleep, and wonder if it is a sleep disorder or just discomfort in the lab.

Has there been any work done to see how repeatable results are?  Ideally, I'd like to have a home test where I could check myself for a week on and a week off the machine.

Russell,

In saying you are taking a single data point, you should remember what brought you to that point. There were obviously symptoms, interview with a clinician and then the polysomnogram.

You seem to be obsessed with REM sleep. In another post you mentioned that you got no stage 3 and 4 sleep, but a little REM sleep. Stages 3 and 4 are where you get your rest, so are equally important. REM comprises dream sleep and brain activity in the main.

Once diagnosed you should stick with the prescribed therapy. Sleep Apnoea is not solely about sleep, as there is a liklihood of damage to several major organs while off therapy. As an ongoing test of the suitability of the therapy, most machines can be fitted with data cards, software for which is freely available. This will give you a good indight into what's happening.
Kind regards,

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Russell,

For being a scientist, you are not too trusting of empirical data.  This data was not false.  You did not have just one data point, you had many apneas/hypoxias events, each of which was substantiated by multiple accompanying variables such as O2 sat., pulse, EEG, heart rate, effort, air flow, snore, etc.  This is exactly why a sleep study is so much more perferred than a;

"...home test where I could check myself for a week on and a week off the machine."

You can not check all of the parameters.  Part of being a good scientist is knowing your limitations and utilitizing the resources of those who know more to help fill in the pieces of a puzzle.  Sure, you need to be a strong self-advocate and you can even monitor your therapy to ensure you are being adequately treated.  But, I find it best to know as much as I can about my illness and to work in partnership with people who are very knowledgable in the field of sleep disorders.

An expert, but not in sleep apnea, Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Russell,

I think you'll be much happier if you can get a CPAP machine that records the data and that you can then check it out.  I didn't, mostly because I thought my apnea was so mild the insurance wouldn't want to go for the added expense, and already after 5 days, wish I had.  I think it would help a lot in setting yourself up initially, besides reassuring you that it wasn't a fluke.  There are some of us who would like to quantify everything, and I miss not being able to do that but just taking the how the CPAP and masks are working as an "act of faith".  It seems to me, at a minimum, all machines should sense whether you are leaking or not, how much,e tc. so you know whether you are being compliant or not.

Judy

So does anyone know how consistent sleep study results are?  For example, I had no Stage 3/4 sleep in my first study w/o the CPAP.  Does this mean I was having a bad night, or never get any Stage 3/4 sleep?

P.S.  I'm trying to learn here!  Some of the responses seem a bit testy...



Last edited by Russell on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

Ask SleepyDave, he is the sleep lab/study guru and would be able to answer that question.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.