Sleep Study - Low Results

[jane taylor]

Hi, I've just received my results of a sleep study conducted recently. They are borderline, although my history of gasping, tiredness etc all bears out that I have a mild case of sleep apnoea. (I am going to follow up with another more conclusive test via the NHS but obviously there is a long wait.)

My query to the forum is whether any other forum members have been diagnosed, or know of others with a low sleep study result, who have gone on to benefit from an auto cpap machine, or am I wasting my money?

I do have all the classic symptons, tiredness and falling asleep during the day, heavy snoring, waking and gasping for breath etc. Of the couple of companies I have contacted I feel I am getting a hard sell for an auto cpap. I am going to try renting for a month to see how I get on but I wonder if the cost is worth it for someone like myself. I'd be very interested to know what others think.

[pavarottiman]

Mild Apnea

Hi, I would suggest that your question is going to be very difficult for us to answer, the medical profession will tell you that you either have a condition or you don't?, I say this because I have Diabetes and once commented that it was mild diabetes because I take tablets to contol it, the Nurse retorted there is no mild diabetes, you either have it or you don't?.
When I first was diagnosed with OSA I had an Epworth score of 14, I think 9 or below and you are ok 10 and above and you have the condition.
You may be able to alter the score by adjusting your weight and excercising etc, if this is not the case then you may well benifit from using a CPAP, I had a NHS machine initially and found that it worked ok to a point, however as time went on I decided that an auto CPAP would be better as it offerd more control of settling times and pressures, it also maps sleep trends which I find better for my well being, reduces mouth blowing open episodes (if the pressures are set correctly) and prevents it blasting away whether or not you are having apneas.
If you are not using any CPAP then maybe your best option is to try a NHS machine?, you may get one that is an auto, some areas are offering them as standard, getting used to using a CPAP for some people is very difficult and not everyone manages it, (I took to it no problem) the CPAP settings and different masks play a large part of success along with your ability to take to the new sleep arrangements. So maybe hiring one may be the best short term option to see if you can get on ok and that it offers you the benifits that you are seeking.
All suppliers will tell you their machine is the best, but none will offer a trial.
Best wishes
Alex.

[jackyk]

I had a quite high score on epworth scale and was referred by gp to consultant. i suffer mild sleep aponea with only 26-28 apneas an hour. because of my symptoms of severe tiredness etc i was put on cpap treatment in march this year. it is the best thing that could have happened, ive got my life back as i knew it. try an nhs machine and see how you go. i use an nhs cpap and find it great to use.

[Tigers Fan]

Depends

Hi Jane

You have a "mild case" but have all the classic symptoms. So I'm going to say that the solution/decision depends on you ....

The NHS will get you there but typically they take an age. Do you want to start treatment asap or can you wait for the NHS. If you want to start asap, how much are you prepared/able to chuck at it?

An APAP has all the whistles and bells and they are absolutely the best way to start PAPing - but they are expensive, less so in the States. You can tailor your APAP treatment to a 'just so' degree.

A less expensive rig to get you started asap would be a CPAP. Not as versatile but does the job just fine - well, perhaps 'fine' is the wrong word, but perfectly adequately, oodles of us use them.

When I started I couldn't get NHS funding so I bought my own APAP in the States. Wonderful fantastic, enabled me to chase my stats and learn lots about PAPing with this forum and James. Then I bought a lower cost Apex III from Intus to use as a light-weight, compact travel CPAP - and it doubles as an 'emergency' rig in the event of breakdown. Then the NHS decided to get organised and gave me a CPAP.

Now that I know precisely what I like, need, want and don't like, want and need in a machine, I use the NHS CPAP all the time at home and the Apex when travelling. I get the APAP out when I think my stats have started to wander and I can't figure how or why.

As you don't seem to have all your stats to hand - no, impossible for me to suggest on theinformation you've given. Perhaps my story will help you reach a decision.

The NHS are most likely to give you a CPAP for long term use. Perhaps you'll get an APAP for a week to give them a clue about what settings you need and a taste for the good life - but the likelihood is a CPAP long term. Post Code lottery again!

TF

[Stewart]

I don't know if it's too late to answer, but my Epworth score was only 11, but I persuaded the consultant to test me - I'd already crashed my car due to falling asleep behind the wheel. I turned out to be waking 89 times per hour.

I went all the way with the NHS. Initial referral from the GP to see the consultant took the longest time; I think it was two months. From the consultation to test was only three days (I got lucky, they'd had a cancellation, it would have been about two weeks). Then from the test to results was two and half weeks. Then another two weeks to the CPAP trial.

Not really quick, but as I've probably been living with this condition for nearly 20 years not too bad!

[Wombara]

I had to wait a couple of months to see the consultant, but then once I saw him I did a sleep test THAT NIGHT and had my CPAP machine Monday the following week.

[Sleep2Snore]

Hi Jane,

I knew of 3 people that were borderline like yourself.
I don't know if you hired a machine or not or if you found it of benefit?
Out of the 3 I knew of 2 found it worked for them and now have their own NHS machines.
The third found it of no benefit and chose to loose weight, they said they were clear of OSA at a later date.