I'm new to this and, as you can imagine, confused. I had a sleep study earlier this week and just got the report.

I only slept 87 mins, with 90 arousals, out of 384.5 mins.  Is that enough time to gather reliable data?

Here is some of the data:

AHI 4.1%
Arousal Index 62.1
RDI          47.6

Sleep
Stage 1      2.3%
Stage 2     82.2%
Stage 3     15.5%
REM            0.0%

Diagnosis : Severe OSA/UARS

I am scheduled to get a C-PAP with the pressure set to 10.  

Since the actual Apneas are <5, does that mean that my main problem is UARS or did I not sleep enough minutes in a row to really judge the apnea?

They called me back the next night to titrate the C-PAP and gave me a sleep aid.  I slept a lot. I only remember waking up when the tech came in to reattach a leg lead that had come off. I haven't gotten those results yet.

No one from the sleep center has discussed this with me, they just referred me to a DME.

Well, the lack of information and just passing you off to the next guy is pretty much the state of the sleep medicine field today. Somewhere along the way you are going to have stop, plant your feet and stand up for yourself against the pros and insist on the getting the service, respect and assistance you deserve and are paying for. This is YOUR health, YOUR sleep, YOUR therapy and YOUR money (whether out of pocket or thru insurance is of no consequence - you still earned it). "THEY" are YOUR employEEs, YOU are THEIR employER. YOU are paying for their expertise and knowledge - and you aren't getting much for your time and money from the sound of things.

You need to familiarize yourself w/which CPAPs are fully data capable and which are bare bone compliance data only CPAPs. INSIST on a fully data capable CPAP. THAT is of prime importance. Inquire about their mask exchange policy. You may want to call your insurance company to ask what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this one as that gives you more bargaining/negotiating room to get the equipment you want (w/in reason, of course).

Good luck.


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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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Thanks CrohnieToo

The DME said that I am getting a PR System One.  Having read a lot on this forum, I did ask if it was fully data capable and she said yes. Does anyone know if this is so?

I expect that the report from the titration night will come next week, but I will be out of town.

CrohnnieToo is correct

Although I had a very different experience.  The place where I went to do my sleep study did not just refer me, they explained everything first.  these days that is the exception and not the rule.  But by that time I found this site and several others and got some background.  

In fact I suprised my DME because they just wsnted to set me up with just whatever machine they wanted (I assume eth one that would give them the most profit).  They did not seem to like it much, but I found out which machines my insurance company would pay for and researched them all.  I told them which machine I wanted.  They set me up with it rather than lose the account to a different DME.

So, since I hadn't heard from them, I called the sleep study center and asked them if anyone was going to discuss the results with me.  The response was "Oh. didn't you schedule a follow-up?".  After some discussion about the fact that this was my first time and I didn't know I was supposed to, but didn't they know?, I now have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday.  About 4 hours AFTER my equipment is going to be delivered. Ah well. better late than never.

bailachel wrote:

So, since I hadn't heard from them, I called the sleep study center and asked them if anyone was going to discuss the results with me.  The response was "Oh. didn't you schedule a follow-up?".  After some discussion about the fact that this was my first time and I didn't know I was supposed to, but didn't they know?, I now have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday.  About 4 hours AFTER my equipment is going to be delivered. Ah well. better late than never.

They forget us new folks are in training.  I made my followup appointment but didn't bring my machine.  I had been using it for about 2 months at that point.  I took the data card which they liked but was told i should bring my CPAP to each appointment.  You would think they would have told me that when i made the appointment.  Oh well at least i know what to do now.  

Cat J


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Resmed S8 Elite II w/H4i humidifier
Mirage Quattro
Pressure 12
Started CPAP - July 2009