Posted by Lookman on March 18, 2008 at 17:43:34:

I had my second sleep study (CPAP titration) recently. My first was done professionally. This one, I am not sure of. Let me describe it and see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

After tech. attached electrodes, I was fitted with nose mask and then I prepared to sleep. My nose got a little stuffy so the tech. turned off humidifier. As time went on, I found more and more I wanted to breathe though my mouth. Tech. fitted me with full nose and mouth mask. Much better. I could breathe with nose mostly but could also breathe with mouth when I needed.

Bed was not comfortable and was told to keep on my back during study (hate that). I began to get used to the mask and breathing with it. Though I did not sleep very well, I did go to sleep (briefly it seemed) from time to time. As the night progressed, I noticed an increase in pressure regularly. No end to the increase. I was later told that this was because breathing could not be restarted by any previous pressures, hence the increase.

At some point, I detected what I presumed was BiPAP mode (high pressure on inhale, low pressure on exhale). I did get a little used to this and would sleep occasionally. Eventually, the pressure was increased to such a large amount that I was kept awake and very uncomfortable by this. I found myself gasping for air with my mouth frequently, and sometimes the machine would be out-of-sync with my breathing. The inhale pressure was tremendous. This went on for about 2.5 hours and being painfully aware that there was no way I could sleep like this, and hardly bear it awake, I informed the tech.

He said he had been on the phone with his boss all night for assistance with my study. He also said there was nothing more he could do and asked if I would like to end the study. Since there was nothing more he could do, I said yes and signed the appropriate forms and left. If I had continued the study, it would have lasted about another 2.5 hours. I was tired, weary and frustrated and could not see spending another 2.5 hours of this torture.

Apparently, none of the pressures would re-start my breathing when it stopped during sleep and the highest pressure prevented me from sleeping, and sleep would be required to test this pressure. A no-win situation.

I sent a letter to my referring physician describing my experience and he wants to set me up with a pulmonary specialist, who would be up-to-date on the latest treatments and discoveries. Has anyone had a similar experience, even partially? What was your outcome and solution?

Follow Ups:

• Re: Very Difficult CPAP Titration D.H. 19:37 3/21/08 (0)
• Re: Very Difficult CPAP Titration buckthorn 07:13 3/20/08 (1)
  • Re: Very Difficult CPAP Titration D.H. 19:35 3/21/08 (0)

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