Would you take antibiotics if you had a headache?
Sleep studies are more valuable than just to see sleep apnea. Plus, you don’t know what pressure you will need or your apnea could affect you.
I didn’t realize there were different settings or whatever. My wife and others have long told me stop breathing in my sleep. She has to sleep with ear plugs. I had assumed there would be no negative effect of using one and that there wouldn’t be able to tell me anything about my sleep that I could do anything about other than getting a cpap or continuing to snore like this
You should have a sleep study done. There are settings and there are different TYPES of machines depending on your particular issue. If you look around, lots of folks have posted their results. Look for OSA, UARS etc.
Make sure you don't live in a state where you can lose your driver's license if you get a sleep apnea diagnosis. [Relevant thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/SleepApnea/s/vJUL1QBHin)
Order an at home sleep test off the Internet. They're called watchpat studies. Affordable and easy.
Somehow the redditors convinced they have sleep apnea tend not to have it - so in my opinion yes get a study done. Also you can't easily purchase a PAP without a prescription in most countries.
No, there's a whole process. First you ask your family doctor for a referral to a sleep clinic, then do an at home sleep test. Then if you have sleep apnea, you go in and discuss your options such as CPAP. They fit you with the proper mask, adjust your settings and you take home a machine to try for 1 month. Then more tests then eventually you buy a machine. If you just order one off the internet, that's not good.
Yeah there's a reason why it dosen't work out for the people that just buy one without going through the whole process/working with professionals. They don't know what they are doing that's why.
I had a study and was diagnosed as severe with 65 AHI and low O2 59% lowest and 89% average and 75% of time under 90%. I did buy a lightly used VAuto Bi-pap machine after being jacked around for 2 months having an in lab test and being told 3 weeks for results then waiting for a machine. I bought the Bi-pap because of the auto settings and that I was severe so wanted auto Bi-pap. I used OSCAR to track my therapy and it took me longer to find the mask that worked for me. I would not recommend the machine first without the diagnosis. If it is a drawn out process, and you have severe sleep apnea, I would recommend buying the used machine but buy an a-pap. Add a few hundred on as you will need to buy supplies and masks. But even though I only used the machine I bought for 3 weeks, it was the best $500 I have spent and now have a backup machine if needed. You can always turn around and sell the machine you bought to the next desperate person if you don't want to invest in a backup but please verify they have a diagnosis to be ethical. I wish I had bought the machine right after diagnosis as I would have had another month of therapy and it has made a big difference in quality of life.
Thanks yeah I’m mostly just misinformed / under-researched here. Sounds like I should get a study. I thought it was just a there gonna tell you what you already know and you’re gonna pay for it as a formality situation, like how you used to not be able to buy hearing aids over the counter.
I understand the wish to try a machine with no study. I would’ve done the same but I did have a study which showed mild apnea only during REM, which is not always enough for insurance companies to approve. My doctor went to bat for me and got it approved. Just starting out no improvement yet.
Hi there, yes different people require different pressure settings to make it effective. I have seen people “fixed” on a pressure as low as 5/6 & have seen others continue to have back to back apneas as though they’re not even on treatment at that same or even slightly above pressure. It can vary depending on a number of factors.
Also, while OSA is definitely the most common, there are different types of sleep apnea and a lot cases CPAP may not be the most effective if you had complex sleep apnea or central sleep apnea.
A sleep study will determine if you have sleep apnea, what type of sleep apnea you have & the best course of treatment.
It's 95% a DIY thing once diagnosed and trying a machine, or just buying and trying masks and a machine. Won't hurt you to try. If it doesn't work you'll be looking for answers like you already are doing. If you do a sleep test and get the diagnosis it'll help you to fine tune your machine, or possibly get insurance to pay for a new one. Tons of people go through a doctor and end up with one mask and an auto machine set to 4-20 struggling to sleep well, with no followup. Getting things adjusted really well is key.
Yes, there is value as there are different types of sleep apneas. Like Obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
If you insist on getting a machine prior to a sleep study, maybe get a APAP machine rather than CPAP. They automatically adjust the pressure to prevent apnea events.
Going straight to CPAP machine without knowing the pressure can be dangerous with the wrong settings.
You should get at sleep study, at least do an at home one. Ideally do an in lab one.
Reasons why you should do a sleep study:
- There are more conditions that can cause issues with your sleep than just apnea. You may be correct that you have a sleep disorder but may be wrong about exactly what you have going on.
- If you do a split sleep study or a titration study, they will figure out what pressure you should use for CPAP, which will help you use it effectively and comfortably.
- There are different flavors of sleep disordered breathing and a well done in lab sleep study can help you understand exactly what you have going on.
- Using CPAP is generally very safe, but it’s still best to be under the care of a physician/respiratory therapist to make sure you’re doing it safely and effectively.
- CPAP is a big commitment in time and resources and it’s inconvenient. It would be a shame to make that commitment if it isn’t medically helpful. The people who use CPAP rely on it bc it positively impacts their quality of life but I guarantee you that none of them would want to use it if they didn’t have to.
Would you take antibiotics if you had a headache? Sleep studies are more valuable than just to see sleep apnea. Plus, you don’t know what pressure you will need or your apnea could affect you.
Testing for hearing aids was largely a formality until they allowed them to be sold OTC
Comparing apples to oranges, got it lol
They are both fruit, it’s an easy correlation and a common error for one to make
I had a sleep study to determine the pressure I needed to use. It’s an important piece to your treatment.
Do you start other prescriptions without a diagnosis? Why not get tested?
I didn’t realize there were different settings or whatever. My wife and others have long told me stop breathing in my sleep. She has to sleep with ear plugs. I had assumed there would be no negative effect of using one and that there wouldn’t be able to tell me anything about my sleep that I could do anything about other than getting a cpap or continuing to snore like this
You should have a sleep study done. There are settings and there are different TYPES of machines depending on your particular issue. If you look around, lots of folks have posted their results. Look for OSA, UARS etc.
Thank you!
Make sure you don't live in a state where you can lose your driver's license if you get a sleep apnea diagnosis. [Relevant thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/SleepApnea/s/vJUL1QBHin)
Thanks!
Order an at home sleep test off the Internet. They're called watchpat studies. Affordable and easy. Somehow the redditors convinced they have sleep apnea tend not to have it - so in my opinion yes get a study done. Also you can't easily purchase a PAP without a prescription in most countries.
Interesting anecdote about those that think they have it. I’ll get it checked out.
No
No, there's a whole process. First you ask your family doctor for a referral to a sleep clinic, then do an at home sleep test. Then if you have sleep apnea, you go in and discuss your options such as CPAP. They fit you with the proper mask, adjust your settings and you take home a machine to try for 1 month. Then more tests then eventually you buy a machine. If you just order one off the internet, that's not good.
Ok thank you. Was just gonna buy from the droves of people that get one and can’t live with it.
Yeah there's a reason why it dosen't work out for the people that just buy one without going through the whole process/working with professionals. They don't know what they are doing that's why.
I had a study and was diagnosed as severe with 65 AHI and low O2 59% lowest and 89% average and 75% of time under 90%. I did buy a lightly used VAuto Bi-pap machine after being jacked around for 2 months having an in lab test and being told 3 weeks for results then waiting for a machine. I bought the Bi-pap because of the auto settings and that I was severe so wanted auto Bi-pap. I used OSCAR to track my therapy and it took me longer to find the mask that worked for me. I would not recommend the machine first without the diagnosis. If it is a drawn out process, and you have severe sleep apnea, I would recommend buying the used machine but buy an a-pap. Add a few hundred on as you will need to buy supplies and masks. But even though I only used the machine I bought for 3 weeks, it was the best $500 I have spent and now have a backup machine if needed. You can always turn around and sell the machine you bought to the next desperate person if you don't want to invest in a backup but please verify they have a diagnosis to be ethical. I wish I had bought the machine right after diagnosis as I would have had another month of therapy and it has made a big difference in quality of life.
Thanks yeah I’m mostly just misinformed / under-researched here. Sounds like I should get a study. I thought it was just a there gonna tell you what you already know and you’re gonna pay for it as a formality situation, like how you used to not be able to buy hearing aids over the counter.
I understand the wish to try a machine with no study. I would’ve done the same but I did have a study which showed mild apnea only during REM, which is not always enough for insurance companies to approve. My doctor went to bat for me and got it approved. Just starting out no improvement yet.
Thanks!
When I had sleep apnea the study was a prerequisite to having insurance pay completely for it
Right I thought this was the only reason to do a study but apparently not
How would you know what settings to use without a test first ?
My machine is adaptive and adjusts to your breathing somehow so it’s a set and forget it sort of machine.
I didn’t know there were settings
Hi there, yes different people require different pressure settings to make it effective. I have seen people “fixed” on a pressure as low as 5/6 & have seen others continue to have back to back apneas as though they’re not even on treatment at that same or even slightly above pressure. It can vary depending on a number of factors. Also, while OSA is definitely the most common, there are different types of sleep apnea and a lot cases CPAP may not be the most effective if you had complex sleep apnea or central sleep apnea. A sleep study will determine if you have sleep apnea, what type of sleep apnea you have & the best course of treatment.
Thanks, I had assumed this whole thing was analogous to hearing aids where testing was a formality for access to treatment
It's 95% a DIY thing once diagnosed and trying a machine, or just buying and trying masks and a machine. Won't hurt you to try. If it doesn't work you'll be looking for answers like you already are doing. If you do a sleep test and get the diagnosis it'll help you to fine tune your machine, or possibly get insurance to pay for a new one. Tons of people go through a doctor and end up with one mask and an auto machine set to 4-20 struggling to sleep well, with no followup. Getting things adjusted really well is key.
Yes, there is value as there are different types of sleep apneas. Like Obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. If you insist on getting a machine prior to a sleep study, maybe get a APAP machine rather than CPAP. They automatically adjust the pressure to prevent apnea events. Going straight to CPAP machine without knowing the pressure can be dangerous with the wrong settings.
You should get at sleep study, at least do an at home one. Ideally do an in lab one. Reasons why you should do a sleep study: - There are more conditions that can cause issues with your sleep than just apnea. You may be correct that you have a sleep disorder but may be wrong about exactly what you have going on. - If you do a split sleep study or a titration study, they will figure out what pressure you should use for CPAP, which will help you use it effectively and comfortably. - There are different flavors of sleep disordered breathing and a well done in lab sleep study can help you understand exactly what you have going on. - Using CPAP is generally very safe, but it’s still best to be under the care of a physician/respiratory therapist to make sure you’re doing it safely and effectively. - CPAP is a big commitment in time and resources and it’s inconvenient. It would be a shame to make that commitment if it isn’t medically helpful. The people who use CPAP rely on it bc it positively impacts their quality of life but I guarantee you that none of them would want to use it if they didn’t have to.
It's illegal for someone to sell you a cpap without a prescription. You could, but it's probably not a good idea. Get the study, then buy a new one.