I have been using a Cpap for 4+ years. I have had maybe 3 or 4 good nights sleep during that period 3 with the Cpap and 1 without it. I have had two sleep studies done, at sleep centers at two different hospitals, I firmly believe they both guessed at the pressure to be used. I either didn't fall asleep or slept for a very short time (less than 30 minutes ) , and in an effort to produce a result, they just threw out a number, after all who can afford to check them out. I have seen my sleep doctor and two different surgeons, since this has gotten worse (4times). ( It was never better, but the times that I am drousy has increased. He agreed with my opinion of the sleep studies. He suggested we try a variable Cpap that might sort out the proper pressure, but then the insurance wouldn't pay for the varable machine. I have talked to two different surgens and both suggested that surgery would not be a good opinion.
I have talked with the sleep doctor, surgeons, and had sleep studies. Does anyone have any ideas. I know several people who use a Cpap and say they got the best nights sleep ever. I also know someone who had surgery and was perfectly fine there after. So I do know there are happy endings, how do you get there when the direct route does work ?

Hi Dan!,

It would be hard core data that would show you did not sleep during your studies.  You have a right to your medical records.  Get a copy of your sleep studies and find out if you really did not sleep and if the lab guessed at pressures.  Your brain waves, heart rate, etc., should of been recorded and documented.  If your study reports are sparse, then there is an epidemic of unethical sleep labs where you are at.

Let us say that you did not sleep.  First you have a doctor to report to the ABSM and AMA for incompetent treatment.  The best test to have is an overnight sleep study in which they are able to collect enough data to make a definitive diagnosis.  If they were not able to collect enough data to make any kind of diagnosis, then they had a medical and ethical obligation to tell you they were unable to collect good data.  The next step would of been to understand why you were unable to sleep and address those issues.

Any good sleep doc will have a follow up one week after initiation of CPAP therapy, then one month, then every six months to a year thereafter.  Any good sleep doctor will continue to work with you until you are treated and feeling better.  It is this kind of health care we all deserve, should expect and must insist on.

Unfortunately, your sleep doctors may not of not been qualified.  Anyone can throw out a shingle and call themselves a "sleep doctor".  Find a certified sleep doctor and lab and make an appointment (see my link in "interesting links" to see how to do this).  Your current doctor probably wants you to take home an auto-titrating PAP for a few nights to get an idea of what is going on, not to premanently use.  I don't understand why he didn't recommend an overnight study and address issues you might of had there.  There really is not a good substitution for an overnight study where many parameters are monitored and many different sleep disorders can be identified.

Surgery is very painful with long healing times and low success rates.  At least you are fortunate that you didn't go that route.

I'll be interest to hear how this turns out!  Keep us posted.

Vicki


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

I have both reports. The first is more extensive, the second is basically a page long summary concluding with the Cpap setting. What the doctor and I wanted to try was an automatic Cpap back last Nov. but my insurance turned it down. Where the machine could try a variety of pressures to figure out where the best one was. Trying to figure out why it was turned down, the insurance clerk told me they had recommended it for unspecified sleep apnea. Where as if they had recommended it as medically necessary their request would of been filled. So all of this may of been a mistake by the equipment billing/sales staff. Will see what happens there.

I only sleep on my stomach, so the first study I had a hard time with the contacts pressing into my chess etc.. Theones on my head didn't allow me to move my head very much which I normally change positions frequently. Secondly, the room was softly lit, but lighted, I really sleep in the dark. So not falling asleep was mostly conditions at the lab. The second test, the contacts where more flexible or softer so it wasn't as big an issue, but the lighting was bright, and I tried several times to see if it could be dimmed or turned off till I could get to sleep, but they couldn't or wouldn't. There were lights in both directions so if I turned to the left, I was looking straight into the light, and if I turned to the right I was starring straight at the second one. The other factor is I normally go to sleep around 1 am, both of these places wanted to put me to sleep around 10 pm. They tell you do all your normal routines, but then they really don't let you. At the first test the tech. told me I couldn't take a shower. I told him I had tried in the past to sleep without a shower, and had never succeeded in sleeping without one. He maintained no one could take a shower and keep their hair dry, and I told him I did it all the time. I understood why he didn't want me hair wet, and assured him I couldn't keep it dry. So after a half hour arguement he finally agreed. Had no problem with the contacts sticking.

Oh OK, I understand about the lights.  The first study I tried to have was about 15 years ago in horrible conditions, being lit was one of them.  I had an anxiety attack, told them I had the flu and left.  The labs I have used in recent years use small, unobtrusive infared cameras so the room is dark.  Maybe you can find a lab like that.  They still had an obligation to tell you how good the study was.  Maybe you can post your results under the sleep study link.  SleepyDave is an expert at reading sleep studies.

Vicki


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