The appointment is made
Question:
Anonymous-Remai…@See.Comment.Header (Goov) wrote: >Apparently I have sleep apnea. At least my husband has reported that I >do. Per hubby, I not only snore very loudly but I stop breathing for >up to 30 seconds at a time and the poor guy can’t get a wink of sleep >as he is always worried about my breathing or lack of.
Well over 80% of sleep tests are due to Spousal Referrals, both you and your husband will sleep _far_ better once you’re treated. >I gather that the first appointment (in 2 weeks) will just be an >interview. >Any suggestions on questions I should ask, things I should know, or >things I should be watching for?
Not really, the doctor will do most of the talking. But bring your husband along, his knowledge of your nighttime behavior will be invaluable. You’ll probably be scheduled for an overnight stay in a sleep lab, we can give you tips to get through it easily, but ask your sleep doctor for a sleep aid to use the night of the test, most will be happy to prescribe one. Also, if it will take some time before they can fit you in, sleep labs are busy lately, ask to be placed on their Cancellation List. Tell them that you’ll keep a bag packed and be ready to go at a moments notice, it can cut weeks off the wait. Please feel free to ask other questions as they occur, we’ll be happy to help. 
Tom
Response:
"Goov" <Anonymous-Remai…@See.Comment.Header> wrote in message
news:DAIFQXJP37508.5782638889@anonymous.poster… > Hello all, > Apparently I have sleep apnea. At least my husband has reported that I > do. Per hubby, I not only snore very loudly but I stop breathing for > up to 30 seconds at a time and the poor guy can’t get a wink of sleep > as he is always worried about my breathing or lack of.
Snoring doesnt mean you have sleep apnea. Some sleep apnea sufferers snore, some snorers dont have sleep apnea. I have had sleep apnea since the day I was born but didnt snore till in my 20s. However, the cessation of breathing IS sleep apnea. > I did some reading up on apnea and it does appear that I have it. I am > profoundly exhausted and get nervous about driving any long distances > as I tend to nod off behind the wheel.
What sort of distance are you talking about? Even the healthy can do that in the right circumstances but if you mean you cant help it and go right off, also look into narcolepsy. You may not have it but it doesnt hurt to be sure. > I reported this to my doctor, who then made me an appointment with a > sleep clinic. > I gather that the first appointment (in 2 weeks) will just be an > interview. > Any suggestions on questions I should ask, things I should know, or > things I should be watching for?
With what you have said, they should be booking you in for a sleep test overnight. If they don’t, they are not doing their job. That is the major thing to look out for IMHO. Apart from that, it doesn’t hurt to find out about the reputation of the sleep clinic you are about to attend because if you have to claim disability, it may have an effect. I had a wage insurance policy for a while and the clinic to which the insurance company sent me was reported by them to be not good enough AFTER the event. I had already been to a few other reputable clinics before that, though and my sleep disorders specialist confirmed their low opinion of that centre. However, as I pointed out to them when they started getting all demanding, I complied with the letter of the law in their policy and if they are going to make my life one continuous sleep disorder test they are asking too much "by law". They relented, of course, at that point. You need to keep in mind any claims you may be going to make after possible diagnosis thus you need to find out about the reputation of the sleep clinic you are about to attend. — Friar Tuck was always the butt of Spoonerism Jokes from the Merry Men!
Response:
Goov, you won’t have to ask any questions. Take your hubby with you. The doctor will ask all the questions and he will ask most of them to your hubby. At least this is how it went for me. I cannot stress this enough, TAKE HIM WITH YOU!! He is vital to your diagnosis. Please keep us posted to how everything goes. And if you ever have any questions, check with us here. You won’t believe the people here, they are amazing. Check out the thread, Cindy’s Adventure, I posted step by step what I went through. I am glad that you found us this early as I did. It will help you more than you will ever know. Cindy
Response:
take your husband to the appointment……… HE is the one that knows your symptoms, you don’t my Dr actually gave me a form for my partner to fill out……. he didn’t even want to hear what i though…… lol……… because we don’t notice the symptoms as much as our partner does and good luck! come back before you have the sleep study for more tips from the BTDT gang "Goov" <Anonymous-Remai…@See.Comment.Header> wrote in message
news:DAIFQXJP37508.5782638889@anonymous.poster… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all, > Apparently I have sleep apnea. At least my husband has reported that I > do. Per hubby, I not only snore very loudly but I stop breathing for > up to 30 seconds at a time and the poor guy can’t get a wink of sleep > as he is always worried about my breathing or lack of. > I did some reading up on apnea and it does appear that I have it. I am > profoundly exhausted and get nervous about driving any long distances > as I tend to nod off behind the wheel. > I reported this to my doctor, who then made me an appointment with a > sleep clinic. > I gather that the first appointment (in 2 weeks) will just be an > interview. > Any suggestions on questions I should ask, things I should know, or > things I should be watching for? > Thanks > Goov
Response:
I thought nodding off was a normal part of long distance driving. I had been doing it as long as I had been driving. Then it started happening after only twenty minutes. CPAP changed my life. Follow their instructions and stay away from stimulants and alcohol ahead of the test. Sleep well. Sleepy Pete
Response:
Hello all, Apparently I have sleep apnea. At least my husband has reported that I do. Per hubby, I not only snore very loudly but I stop breathing for up to 30 seconds at a time and the poor guy can’t get a wink of sleep as he is always worried about my breathing or lack of. I did some reading up on apnea and it does appear that I have it. I am profoundly exhausted and get nervous about driving any long distances as I tend to nod off behind the wheel. I reported this to my doctor, who then made me an appointment with a sleep clinic. I gather that the first appointment (in 2 weeks) will just be an interview. Any suggestions on questions I should ask, things I should know, or things I should be watching for? Thanks Goov
Response:
do everything your told… The test is gonna be weird.. they hook wires all over your head and videotape you.. .don’t worry about not sleeping very well.. that is the point. when you get your cpap… wear it every day for at least a month before you get frustrated.. there are lots of things to get used to, and sometimes you have to acclimate… Don’t expect to not be tired for a while.. again, your body hasn’t slept well for years and you can’t make that up very quickly… Sleep well!!!!!! :o)
Response:
oh, one more thing.. if the mask they give you is uncomfortable, change… there are tons of different kinds of masks and once you find the one you like, it all goes a lot easier.. I tried 6 different ones until I found the one I liked (breeze nosepillows)….
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Goov wrote: > Hello all, > Apparently I have sleep apnea. At least my husband has reported that I > do. Per hubby, I not only snore very loudly but I stop breathing for > up to 30 seconds at a time and the poor guy can’t get a wink of sleep > as he is always worried about my breathing or lack of. > I did some reading up on apnea and it does appear that I have it. I am > profoundly exhausted and get nervous about driving any long distances > as I tend to nod off behind the wheel. > I reported this to my doctor, who then made me an appointment with a > sleep clinic. > I gather that the first appointment (in 2 weeks) will just be an > interview. > Any suggestions on questions I should ask, things I should know, or > things I should be watching for? > Thanks > Goov
From your description, you have OSA. Why don’t you call your doctor and see if you can get a sleep test ordered. When that happens, call the sleep clinic and get put on a cancellation list so you can get in earlier. Also, since you have all the symptoms, see if they will do a double test in on night so you can get a prescription for your machine. Regards Lee in Toronto —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
