<p>As you can imagine, there are many different sleep disorders. If the sleep study shows obstructive sleep apnea, the options are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Lifestyle changes</li>
<li>CPAP</li>
<li>Dental appliance if mild to moderate OSA, or if patient is CPAP non compliant</li>
<li>surgery</li>
</ol>
<p>or a combination of the above</p>
<p>An overnight study in a sleep center is the gold standard, there are also take home monitors which are becoming more and more sophisticated. I own one that I use to evaluate the results of oral appliance therapy.</p>
<p>Sleep clinics can be a real help–not only for snoring, but also if you’re excessively sleepy during the day.</p>
<p>I’d agree with some of the other posters and talk to your regular doctor first, and see if he/she has a sleep clinic they have worked with and trust.</p>
<p>Some sleep clinics may be scams–So, I went to a sleep clinic affiliated with a university teaching hospital.</p>
<p>And, no, I DIDN’T have sleep apnea or narcolepsy. It turns out that every time my body goes into Stage 4 (the deepest sleep), Stage 1/2 sleep intrudes. So, even if I get a lot of sleep, it’s not restorative sleep.</p>
<p>Single middle aged person can say, “Really, I’m not looking for a serious relationship here. Just sleep with me for a week and tell me if I should go get a sleep study.” :p</p>
<p>OtherETC–were they able to help you? I have a feeling I have a similar problem. I have hesitated on the sleep study thing. I know I probably wouldn’t be CPAP compliant should that be the recommendation. However, I’m tired of waking up exhausted and being tired all day.</p>
<p>That’s good to know. Upon further reflection, I realized that I haven’t worked night shift in 14 years. I’m sure those machines have come a long way since then.</p>
<p>Physician here- on CPAP. Excellent posts above. Just replaced 4 year old machine (ruined it) and new one even quieter. Go through your primary care physician, not some ad for care. Sleep Labs are for diagnosis, the treatment comes via physician (who specializes in field) analysis of the results.</p>
<p>mimk6, which CPAP machine does your husband use? My husband might be looking to replace his old machine with a new one and I’d love for it to be a QUIET one!</p>
<p>My dad snored horribly for years, finally was referred to a sleep clinic by his dr. He went to the clinic, and less than 2 hours into his overnight they woke him up. He had sleep apnea and his oxygen level had dropped into the 70’s - dangerous. They said it was putting him at prime risk for a heart attack. He has a small, portable CPAP machine now and he sleeps MUCH better. He also has better energy during the day and doesn’t fall asleep every time he sits down in front of the TV now!</p>
<p>It’s the top of the line Respironics M Series with a heated humidifier (he adds water to this tray that’s in it.) His is model number 1051158 and he got it within the last year. Let me tell you, he must be passionate about this, because when I told him there was a thread on CPAPs and someone asked him what he uses, he literally leaped off the couch and went to the bedroom and wrote the information down on a piece of paper for me. This is a man who never gets off the couch for anything, once he’s settled in. He says he researched it thoroughly before getting it. It has some kind of computer chip in it and when you first go to sleep, it starts off with low pressure and it doesn’t increase the pressure until it senses you need it to. This probably makes it more pleasant to get to sleep. He also says that the humidifier feature is very nice, because the air isn’t cold and dry like his old one and it just feels much better. He also uses a Resperonics gel mask and says the mask is key to a comfortable experience. He says you need a prescription for it so that insurance will cover it as, of course, they prefer to default to cheaper models – our insurance ended up covering the whole thing. He says if you have to pay for it out of pocket, the best place to go is cpap.com. Re insurance coverage – he was diagnosed with a very severe case of apnea and had a mild heart attack last year (had another sleep study as part of his follow-up care as they felt it important) so I imagine the insurance company was invested in him using the cpap machine – maybe they’d have been less willing to cover if he didn’t have as pressing a need. But it’s worth trying.</p>
<p>Getting patient to the doc–you can say it’s bothering YOUR sleep because he snores so loudly & you understand it may increase his risk for serious heart problems. THAT might get his attention.</p>
<p>Insurers generally cover sleep studies ordered by your reputable MD. My S had one, as did my brother. LOUD snoring is a sign of possible sleep apnea and needs to be discussed with the doc, as well as possibly investigated.</p>
<p>Some sleep labs offer the option of having the sleep study in the patient’s own home, but many are done in very comfortable settings that look a lot like nice hotel rooms. The one my S went to is in the hospital (which is handy, in case anything goes wrong and prompt medical attention is needed). If your insurer covers the study, the co-pay is pretty minimal, but check so you’re not surprised.</p>
<p>Sleep apnea and other sleep issues are not inconveniences, they can shorten the patient’s life and should not be made light of or ignored. Those who I know who have been diagnosed and fitted properly with a Bi-Pap or C-Pap say it has made a world of difference in their energy level and health.</p>
<p>Last night H voluntarily slept in Ds bed and sent her to sleep with me. It was my birthday, so I guess an actual nights sleep was my present…and it was greatly appreciated. And I’ve already bought every type of ear plugs the drug store sells and they barely take the edge off the noise. A guy at work actually died of sleep apnea…big snorer, overweight, just stopped breathing (at the age of 42).</p>
<p>A friend of mine in the same situation finally got her teenage son to film her husband one night after he fell asleep. Once he saw (and heard) the film, he couldn’t deny the problem.</p>
<p>So, I spent the nite on the floor in the bathroom and finally crawled back into my bed at 5 in the morning. I couldn’t believe a woman her size (5’2" and 95 pounds) could produce the sounds she made. </p>
<p>I heard her get up around 6 and go to the bathroom - but she didn’t flush the toilet. </p>
<p>Later when I got up, she popped up, hurried into the bathroom and said, “Oh, I didn’t flush the toilet this morning, I didn’t want to wake you up!”</p>
<p>I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. </p>
<p>Missypie - I think it was a great birthday present!</p>
<p>I am finding this very interesting. I think my husband might have sleep apnea too. I have always thought it’s just the latest “fad.” It seems like everyone that goes to a sleep clinic gets the diagnosis. (I always think medical stuff is a conspiracy) Do they tell you how “bad” it is, cause I can’t imagine being non-compliant if your well being/life depended on it. My husband has a big neck, but he isn’t fat. Is that still a risk factor? I don’t hear him stop breathing, but he snores. He also sometimes “has trouble sleeping.” He also drinks a lot of coffee! Hmm…</p>
<p>Missypie, do you have an old-fashioned tape recorder? Maybe if you record your DH and how he sounds when sleeping he’ll believe you. </p>
<p>Sleep disorders are being linked to many SERIOUS health consequences - high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity among them. In the US, we seem to view getting a good night’s sleep as a luxury, but a membership at the gym as a health issue. Perhaps we have it backwards. Sleep is not a luxury - it is necessary for good health.</p>