help need to pass sleep study

Hi Everyone, I need some help. Sorry so long...I am having my 3rd sleep study to try and get off the cpap machine..The doctor is a big pain in butt. I drive school bus and have a mild case of sleep apena I never woke up or stopped breathing the first study.   He said I was ok and didnt need a machine until he read the report I was a school bus driver. He has done everything to make it hard on me. He started me out with 14 and only need 12. now that I have lost 53lbs and down to 180 he told me I could go off the machine. Now he is making me have another sleep study. He has my machine set at 10 and I only need 7..so I took machine back to Lincare to adjust the airpressure and told them take your time getting it back to me. If I truly needed the machine I would have no problem. I have a really hard time with the mask. Ihave tried the nose mask, nasle mask, I lose more sleep now then ever before when I have it on. I keep it on about 2 hours and off it come. The doctor said to me I wonder what your level is when your not wearing it. I was told that if your at a 6 you dont need the cpap machine. I am now at a 7. They have also put me on a varitable everytime it tries to give me more I take it off. Can anyone give me a web site or hints on how to make sure I pass the sleep study beyond borderline like I was before. Thanks Barb

Barb, I can relate however, I don't know of any way to pass, it's not a like your taking a test that you can study for. The test is what it is. I had to use one for years and I loved it, however I truly needed it as I my pressure was a 21, yes very high. My sleeping stopped 97 times per hour. For me it was the best thing in the world. I had no idea how much sleep I was missing. Well, anyway back to you situation, I'm not sure what you can do to pass the study... just wanted to share some support.  Frank

Hey! You can't really cheat on a Sleep Study test. YOU can choose to just NOT use it. The machines are made to help you breathe...to live life better.... I HATED my machine...and I haven't used it since my surgery. It was MY choice. IF I get congested...or start waking myself up..I WILL gladly put it back on and wear it.

Leticia, I was sure I didn't have sleep apnea even though I was stopping breathing (and somehow waking myself up without knowing it to restart breathing) over 100 times per hour. My question...if you look at your sleep study and it tells you you were waking up 40, 60, 80 times per hour...did you know EACH time that you were no longer asleep?  Because from what I've heard, most of us don't realize that we do "wake up" to restart the breathing. Anyway, to make sure, maybe a simple pulse oxymeter study...with one of those little clamps on your finger?  If your O2 sat is getting too low, maybe you need to know that..and it's easier than a sleep study. Sue

two things  theres nothing you can do to pass a sleep study, it is what it is.  I applaud the Dr for holding you toa  higher standard than the avewrage person because of your job. At my worst I was falling asleep while driving because I was still undiagnosed. With you job youi should be happy he/she is making completely sure you're not in danger. I agree its tough sleeping with the masks but it will be gone soon enough

keep in mind that due to the nature of your job, should you G*D Forbid get into an accident or something happens, the cpap machine will come up and you will be held responsible.  I don't believe the doctor is being a pain in the butt, I believe he's trying to make you healthier, on that note, there's no way to "fudge" this one, best of luck to you. ANDI

Thank you for posting this, I do wish you the best but now I thank God more than ever that I drive my daughter to and from school every day.

Thank you very much for your response. I do not wish to fuge the test just to get beyond borderline. I sleep less now having the machine then I did before I had to have it. I spend more time fighting with the thing. my air pressure of 7 is not that high so he told me.  I love my job and the kids on the bus are my first thought and if I truly need the machine I would be sleeping  better at night or than staying awake more and not rested in the morning. The kids are my first concern and my concern is sleeping less with the machine

kkanne, Do you use a cpap machine? If so, then you are in the same class as our original poster.  Just because she needs a cpap, does not mean that she is unsafe in driving.  I needed a cpap for a while, but never knew it, until I had to do a sleep study for my WLS.........and, I have never had an accident while driving.......and I've even driven semi-trucks cross country for a living.  That was kinda mean to say what you did, don't you think?  Just my 2 cents on how your post came across to me..........

Cheryl

it was a bit harsh... I didn't get the impression she was trying to cheat on the test...  hard to judge someone until you have walked a mile in thier shoes... don't be so qiuck to judge