Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by sarahb: I took a sleep study ad was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and hypoxemia?
Well, anyways my doctor has me on a oxygen macine with the nose cannulla, and sleep with it at night, the first night I did the oxymonitor test which checks my blood oxygen levels with the machine on and they got down to 53. Well she is going to have me do the oxymonitor test again tonight without the machine, and see how low my levels get to. Does anyone know what other tests she will do from there if my levels are way off again? I believe she will probably have another sleep study done because the last one I had from a previous doctor who did nothing, that’s why I changed, so I’m thinking she might have her own done, but what would she after this? What could possible be wrong with me if my levels are this low at night, they are fine during the day, just when I sleep. Please give me suggestions on what you think.

Best answer:

Answer by Michelle
They drop to 53%?? That is not good at all.

I’m a little confused about what is going on here, though. You were placed simply on a nasal cannula? No CPAP machine? Unless that is what you mean by oxygen machine. IF you have sleep apnea, simply placing you on a nasal cannula would not do a whole lot of good. I’m going to assume that you have obstructive sleep apnea, since it is more common. If this is the case, then you need a CPAP machine to keep your airways open. If your airways are not open then you dont get the oxygen and your levels will drop until you wake up and start breathing again. If I misunderstood your terminology, I apologize.

If you have already been diagnosed I don’t understand why your doctor wants to see if your levels will drop into the 40s. If anything she should try higher cpap levels or something. I’d be sure to read up on the subject of sleep apnea if I were you, and ask your doctor about all of this.

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Question by star_north_2006: I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in 2001…?
I had surgery to remove my tonsils and uvula three weeks ago to make more room for airflow. Prior to the surgery I was wearing a CPAP for six years. I am still experiencing discomfort and there are a couple of areas that haven’t healed yet. Question: should it take three weeks for surgery to heal?

Best answer:

Answer by Nes S
it should have healed by now. Maybe there is some infection please check your doctor.

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Question by IRONMAN: how do you obtain disability insurance if you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea?
After 20 yrs in the same hospital, I’m leaving my pharmacist job to work as an independent contractor. In preparation for my move, I applied for disability insurance thru a large insurance company but was denied coverage because I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Any suggestions out there? Will this continue to haunt me? I had the test done because my wife said I snored too much. Had I never been tested, I’d be on my merry way with a disability policy in hand.

Best answer:

Answer by kiltze
You likely will not be able to obtain coverage. Sleep Apnea is rather expensive for an insurance company due to the high costs of CPAP machines and masks. The only way around this might be to convince an insurance company to let you sign a waiver absolving them from having to cover your Sleep Apnea.

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Question by J Garrison: I’ve been diagnosed with sleep hypoxia (not apnea). Do I need a CPAP machine?
He specifically said I had hypoxia, not apnea. I understand that a CPAP machine helps to keep airways open. My problem specifically is I breathe extremely shallow at night and my blood oxygen levels drop. I fail to see how a CPAP machine will help me with my problem since being able to breathe isn’t the problem, but how deep I draw my breath. Can anyone educate me on how a CPAP machine will help me with sleep hypoxia? I don’t have much faith in my doctor as he seems disinterested in me, putting his head in his hands, looking at my shoes while sitting in a chair and leaning up against a desk.

Best answer:

Answer by ♥ Crys ♥
If there is no apnea then no, you’d just need oxygen while you sleep BUT did you have a sleep study or did you just wear a pulse ox overnight? The Sleep Study will say yes there are or no there aren’t apneas. The pulse ox will say if there is hypoxia. Before most insurances will even cover a CPAP you’d have to be diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a sleep study. If you want more info feel free to email me, let me know what exactly they did to diagnose you etc and I’ll try to guide you right

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Question by James S: Anyone here have Sleep Apnea? I was diagnosed with it this morning.I will sleep with a C.P.A.P machine tonight
I quit breathing over 200 times in a 8 hour night ( they had all kind of sensers hooked on me). i don’t remember waking up, but it was easy to see on the readout this morning.( and video/ audio tape) Anyway, i have to go back and sleep there tonight with a C.P.A.P. machine ( i will have to sleep with it every night)
That explaines the cronic fatigue, and memory loss, over the past few years, also depression and irratabilaty. I’m really excited, finally some answers as to why i feel like %$ ^# all the time.
I lost a couple of good jobs, and a 16 year marraige because of this. well i’m glad the marriage is over, but i’m sure going to miss those jobs

Best answer:

Answer by dragonkisses
What exactly is the question?

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