I went for a sleep study last Tuesday. In the morning, the tech (who I know can't tell me anything) suggested I try sleeping on my side. ?!? What would that mean?

Today, the sleep center office called, saying the doctor reviewed my results, sent them to my regular doctor, and now I've been recommended for the second study. The woman on the phone couldn't tell me anything (I know she can't, but GRR!!), but said that if I'm going for the second study that means I've got apnea.

Obviously I know there are different degrees and kinds of apnea, but could the second test be for anything else?

I'm a 29-year-old female, and I've been exhausted for years. I don't really snore, I'm not overweight, and my regular doc said I didn't fit the profile for apnea. We've tried other things, to no avail -- although the Allegra-D for allergies helps -- so I finally went for the study.

I'm going on vacation next week so I can't get in to see the sleep doctor for 4 weeks. On one hand, I'm beyond thrilled to think we've found the cause for my constant fatigue, but I want to get a move on fixing it! I read all the stories of the relief people have from the CPAP, and I want that!

However, are there any other things that seem to work for slight apnea, besides the CPAP?

Thank you so much, and I'm sure I'll be posting here often now.

Just a guess here:

IF you had slept supine and/or prone all night long, then the technician may have wanted to get a side trial in, so that physician would have more data to use for his interpretation. Some physicians will suggest positional sleeping, most cases on your side, if CPAP therapy isnt tolerated or if you cant afford/refuse the machine. Without the data, the physician would be guessing as to whether or not the side position would give you any relief.

If you had already slept on your side, then I have no clue. Ive seen some techs ask for side trials when titrating, so that their overall AHI on the last pressure adjustment wouldn't be above 5   . That doesnt apply to you here.

The tech suggesting that you sleep on your side until you hear from the sleep lab or sleep doctor tells you that you DO have sleep apnea and like most of us most of your "events" occurred while sleeping on your back during the sleep evaluation.  

Yup, they wouldn't waste their time suggesting and doing a second in-lab study if you hadn't been Dx'd w/sleep apnea. This second study will be the same as the first except no "pastie" under/in your nose, instead you are fitted w/a mask and attached to a CPAP.

Hey, I'm female, 5' 4", weigh 110 lbs, have a 13" neck circumference. I don't fit the profile of the "usual" apnea patient either. But I DO have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.


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You may not have 'slight' apnea.  You have been tired for years...Lucky it is caught and treated now.  When I was 29 I was tiny and was exhausted...then through the years of misdx's I put on weight until the apnea symptoms really started to show up.

I agree with CrohnieToo...you were told in the morning by the tech to try sleeping on your side since we tend to have less apneas on our sides.  If it were mild the tech probably would not have even said that.

Nope, they do not give you the titration study for anything else other than to titrate you with a mask/machine.

RamSleep..." if CPAP therapy isnt tolerated or if you cant afford/refuse the machine"...........those are naughty words


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