I had the sleep study done a couple of months ago and the doctor never even called me back.  I called them 4 times and they called back yesterday and said that I only woke up 34 times.  He said I had a mild case.  I just wondered how many times is considered bad.  34 sounds like a heck of a lot. I did not snore there at the site but i have snored at home like I always do.

The magic number is 30, although if you get enough sleep, slightly over 30 would still be "acceptable". Plus, when I say 30, I am referring to respiratory events (apneas + hypopneas). If you woke up 34 times, maybe the majority of those were spontaneous. Without having a bit more info, its tough to say. A lot of people on here are going to prompt you to get the full report, but you can get a pretty good idea with ~ 7-10 pieces of info.

With that said, having the entire report never hurts.

They ordered the CPAP device so maybe they think it is bad enough to order it.  I know I wake up as tired as I went to sleep.  I hope it helps.  Thanks for you input.  I will get the full report just to keep if nothing else.

It's a very good idea to obtain a copy of the sleep study report.

My boss asked me nervously why I say this (I work in the office of a sleep study center).
Well, if the info isn't important to you and you have no issues using the machine and feel better, maybe there's no need.
But I have reasons for recommending getting a copy:

First, some of the basic information in that report is important to understand, such as your AHI, and your cpap pressure (from the titration study report).  
Second, many people with untreated sleep apnea have mush memories.  We're in a brain fog anyway, plus the news of this diagnosis can be a shock.  Even if your doctor goes over the results with you in his office, there's a chance you won't remember all of it.
And, your doctor may not go over all the information, thinking you don't need to know or might not understand it.  Sure, there will be parts of the report that may not make sense or needs interpretation, but much of the information is good to know.
Also, it's verification of your condition if alternative treatments or surgeries are recommended in the future.  
And, for some, just seeing the numbers, especially if the severity is bad, can be enough to encourage compliance.
And if you ever have a re-study or re-titration down the road, it doesn't hurt to have the results of the first studies available to review.

I have mush memory syndrome.  I also was baking cookies in my sleep.  Then i fell and cut my arm on another night and have no memory of it.  I have a scar from it.  That is what prompted me to get a study done.  The cookie baking was freaking me out.  I was afraid I would drive someplace in my sleep or walk around in my pajamas.   Thanks for all of your input.  My doc put me on depression meds but now i wonder if the sleep apnea is the major cause of the stress I am under.  I feel like a zombie.  I am hoping the machine comes in soon so I can get started.  I have heard that it can take up to six months to feel better.  I guess it depends on how bad your body feels before.  Is the CPAP machine terribly uncomfortable?

Well, everyone has their own experience with the cpap.  It took me awhile to get used to it, mostly because I had a very leaky mask, it kept waking me up.  Now it's so much of a routine that I feel strange if I don't use it.  It's such a habit now.  If you get the right mask setup for you, it can be comfortable.

Yikes, sleep baking?  I've heard this is part of what is sometimes referred to as night terrors, where some folks do all kinds of stuff in a certain stage of their sleep.  Hopefully cpap will regulate your sleep stages better.  And yes, everyone is different when it comes to feeling better with cpap.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to who or why.  But some feel instant relief; others see a gradual increase in feeling better; still others don't feel anything for awhile and then suddenly feel better.  But all of it is depending on if the machine and mask are working as they should for you.  So it's important to notice things, ask questions and have followup visits.  

Baking cookies, eh?  Chocolate chip?  
Seriously, though, sorry about all the problems.  Let's see how cpap works for you.  Often doctors will put patients on depression medications if they miss seeing the possible sleep apnea diagnosis.  Let us know how things go for you.


Linda

My husband just had his oximetry done--1st step prior to the full nights sleep study as required for insurance--anyway i just asked the dr. for a copy of the report and there was no problem! very willing to give it. I would just ask next time you see your dr. You have a right to your medical information! I beleive it's the law!

karessamom wrote:

My husband just had his oximetry done--1st step prior to the full nights sleep study as required for insurance--anyway i just asked the dr. for a copy of the report and there was no problem! very willing to give it. I would just ask next time you see your dr. You have a right to your medical information! I beleive it's the law!

Yes and thats the way it is most of the time. The real question, which I posed in another forum, is why isnt it given to patients automatically?

RAM_Sleep wrote:

karessamom wrote:

My husband just had his oximetry done--1st step prior to the full nights sleep study as required for insurance--anyway i just asked the dr. for a copy of the report and there was no problem! very willing to give it. I would just ask next time you see your dr. You have a right to your medical information! I beleive it's the law!

Yes and thats the way it is most of the time. The real question, which I posed in another forum, is why isnt it given to patients automatically?

I don't know, however I have found that you have to ask for anything. I've had that with other drs too about different things. I do find if you ask, you usually get, but for some reason, i've always had to ask to get anything. they never just give you copies. I guess they figure you really don't need it unless you ask??

DixiePeep, are you in the USA? If so you have a LEGAL RIGHT to copies of your medical records under HIPAA and the sleep and titration data are a part of your medical records.

Send a WRITTEN request to the sleep lab for a copy of the doctor's dictated results (1-2 pages each) AND the full scored data report w/condensed graphs (5+ pages each) from both your sleep evaluation AND your titration studies AND a copy of your equipment orders (script).

The local DME suppliers' NEED a copy of the sleep study report as well as the equipment order to provide to insurance; if you lose your CPAP when traveling or it is stolen or broken or quits working on you when you are out of town you need them in order to get a loaner, replacement or repair. Only give DME suppliers a COPY of YOUR copy. Always keep a copy safely in your records.

At least now you know you must have sleep apnea since they are ordering an xPAP device for you. I know you are anxious to get your xPAP and hopefully start feeling better and more rested soon - but - I'm going to strongly suggest that you 1] call your insurance company and ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than one and 2] INSIST on a fully data capable xPAP. If you have the option of more than one local DME supplier contracted w/your insurance then you have some bargaining/negotiating room to get the equipment you want. You do NOT have to use the local DME supplier your sleep lab sends your equipment order (script) to if your insurance is contracted w/more than just that one.

A fully data capable CPAP would be the Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR or the newer Resmed S8 Elite II w/EPR, or the Respironics M Series Pro w/C-Flex. DO NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS!

If they decide you need an autoPAP, you would want the Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage or the newer Resmed S8 II AutoSet, the Respironics M Series Auto w/C-Flex or the newer Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex.

The entry level CPAPs many local DME suppliers try to foist off on their clients are bare bone, compliance data only devices. The compliance data if of NO VALUE to you or your doctor, its only value is to your DME supplier's profit margin to prove you are using your CPAP for insurance reimbursement.

The fully data capable CPAPs provide data that can help determine any problems you are having w/your CPAP therapy. W/o that data your doctor can only make needed adjustments to your therapy "by guess and by gosh" or by another expensive titration study.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

karessamom wrote:

RAM_Sleep wrote:

karessamom wrote:

My husband just had his oximetry done--1st step prior to the full nights sleep study as required for insurance--anyway i just asked the dr. for a copy of the report and there was no problem! very willing to give it. I would just ask next time you see your dr. You have a right to your medical information! I beleive it's the law!

Yes and thats the way it is most of the time. The real question, which I posed in another forum, is why isnt it given to patients automatically?

I don't know, however I have found that you have to ask for anything. I've had that with other drs too about different things. I do find if you ask, you usually get, but for some reason, i've always had to ask to get anything. they never just give you copies. I guess they figure you really don't need it unless you ask??

Yes, its your right to have it. Noone would ever question that. And yes, you will always have to ask. The physicians that I have spoken to have told me that they dont like patients to have the copies because they are not educated enough to interpret the data. They spent years training, in some cases, to be able to read the data and having patients that "know more than they do" has to be a frustrating situation. I do not know how physicians operate thesedays with all of the information on the internet...

More than likely, I will get jumped on for the last few comments, but that was their viewpoint. I tend to agree, however I would want my copies too. I am always afraid of errors and neglect, so I understand the patients eagerness to see the information.

RAM-Sleep, the answer is because, surprisingly to those of us here, most patients still don't have any interest in knowing any more about their health care other than doing what the doctor tells them.

As a for instance: not too long ago we had a new imaging center open in our town, the FIRST in the area to have digital imaging. The first year or so, any time any one had a radiology procedure done there they were automatically given a CD of their images. The software to view the films was right on the CD so the patient or their doctor could view them on their PCs. The majorioty of patients asked what the CDs were for and what were they supposed to do w/them!!!! Many even went so far as to say they did NOT want them as they would just end up being thrown away!!!! There was no charge for these CDs. DUH!!! Now, the imaging center no longer just automatically hand you the CD. You have to tell them you want a copy. They make it for you right then and there. It takes maybe 5 minutes for them to do so.

This absolutely boggles my mind that people could have so little interest in their health and health care and information!!!!!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

RAM-Sleep, the answer is because, surprisingly to those of us here, most patients still don't have any interest in knowing any more about their health care other than doing what the doctor tells them.

As a for instance: not too long ago we had a new imaging center open in our town, the FIRST in the area to have digital imaging. The first year or so, any time any one had a radiology procedure done there they were automatically given a CD of their images. The software to view the films was right on the CD so the patient or their doctor could view them on their PCs. The majorioty of patients asked what the CDs were for and what were they supposed to do w/them!!!! Many even went so far as to say they did NOT want them as they would just end up being thrown away!!!! There was no charge for these CDs. DUH!!! Now, the imaging center no longer just automatically hand you the CD. You have to tell them you want a copy. They make it for you right then and there. It takes maybe 5 minutes for them to do so.

This absolutely boggles my mind that people could have so little interest in their health and health care and information!!!!!

That is a colossal waste of resources though. A CD to each patient will cost a lot of money in the end. Heck, I cant imagine of the days where they used to give you the actual films. Those films were very expensive.

I do understand that a lot patients do not care and it boggles my mind too.

But I do know that on all of our studies, it will say that data is intended to be read only by licensed/registered individuals. Our office may be in the minority and the physicians that I work alongside may be in the minority of hating to be second guessed. I was just using that as a reference. Thats all. You have a point though, no doubt.

They never did give you the actual films in our area. Except if your were going to meet w/a doctor who wanted or needed them and there wasn't time for the radiology department to get them mailed to that doctor. And when and if they did give you the films to take to that doctor the envelopes were SEALED.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

They never did give you the actual films in our area. Except if your were going to meet w/a doctor who wanted or needed them and there wasn't time for the radiology department to get them mailed to that doctor. And when and if they did give you the films to take to that doctor the envelopes were SEALED.

I never left without them. Also, I looked at them every time. Ha. One time, I found someone elses XRays in my envelope.