Posted by SleepyDave on April 19, 2009 at 07:03:51:I was diagnosed with sleep apnea ten years ago. My first sleep study showed 20-30 apneas per hr. My setting was 10. CPAP seemed to make me more tired. During this time I was having a difficult time with allergies.
I had my next sleep study 4 years ago. (My allergies were very much under control at this time. My ENT thought about fixing my deviated septum, but his suggestion was that if medication (allegra) keep my allergies under control why do surgery.
The tech that completed the study at that time said that it looked pretty good. My ENT wanted to increase the level to 11.
A couple of weeks ago I went to see a new ENT to find out information about the “pillar procedure”. I had my old sleep study results sent over and he looked at me and said your sleep apnea is very mild – 5.5 episodes per hour. Normal is 5.
He sent me for another sleep study (he wants to fix the deviated septum) and I had it last night. In the morning I talked to the tech and she said that she had to get me to sleep on my back to get any apneas to appear, and then they disappeared at a setting of 7. She also said that my O2 was good and it was a good study.
For the sleep study, I wore a nasal strip, took an allegra-D, flonase (sic) and .5 mg of Klonopin (to help me sleep through the sleep study). At first, I thought that the results may have been due to the Klonopin (helps central sleep apnea) but the previous sleep study was almost normal and no Klonopin that time.
I have no doubt that I have sleep apnea. I have fallen asleep on the floor when playing with my kids (hardwood). Gone into REM the moment that my head hit the pillow only to wake up suddenly gasping for breath. Learned never to drink alcohol at night and been so exhausted during the day that simple addition seemed like calculus. But this was really before I got my allergies under control with allergy shots, sinus rinses (neti pots), and medication. I use CPAP for about two hours in the morning 3:00-5:00 for REM and this seems to work. I in no way feel that my apnea is cured (sometimes my allergies flare up, mainly during spring, and I do have a couple of back weeks) but I feel that it is being addressed.
Sorry about the length of this. Does my explanation seem plausible or am I just missing something? I am not overweight and I am the same weight as my first sleep study. My blood pressure is currently 78/127 (It was higher at the time of my first study).
- Re: Perplexed SleepyTimeGal 12:11 4/19/09 (2)
- Re: Perplexed SleepyDave 13:46 4/19/09 (1)
- Re: Perplexed jvan31 13:03 4/23/09 (0)