Does Adjacent Snoring and Noise Impact Sleep Study Test Results?

[Benos123]

Hi Folks,

During a recent stay in hospital, I was "wired up" for an overnight Sleep Study Test.

On the night of the study, another more elderly patient, in the fully occupied 3-bed room and which I was only moved into that day, was snoring loudly like a horse and thrashing around in his bed for most of the night. I recall being woken at 02:45 by the noise and I could not get back to sleep for at least an hour and when I got up at approx 06:30am, I was exhausted/wiped out for the day due to the lack of sleep! Oh and in addition we also had the possible disturbance of the Night Nurses doing their hourly checks! (Thankfully, this night of disturbance was a one-off, as the patient later that day received some new medication and which corrected the problem).

Now I can understand how all this led to some disturbance in my own personal sleep, but would/could it have any impact on the results from the electronic recording devices and which were attached to various parts of me? The results of the test show that I stopped breathing some 41 times during the night, and yet I don't recall many nights of disturbed sleep in the past 68 years and I've always been able to sleep here, there or anywhere during my 26 years service in the Royal Air Force!

Incidentally, my wife of 40 years assures me that I only snore a little and does not recall any instance during the night when she would have noticed that my breathing had stopped or that I would have suddenly woken up gasping for air!

Thanks in advance!

[Ian1967]

Hi Benos123, the ambient snoring around you would not register on your Sleep Study, as you say the test equipment is attached to your body and would therefore only measure your SAT’s.

I have had the same Sleep Study as you and I did mine at home, I was not diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea but with CO2 retention, I have also completed Sleep Studies in Hospital prior to going on BiPAP, I understand your hesitancy about your results and your thoughts about having to use CPAP or BiPAP, but believe me if you have to use either of these machines, they will change your life for the better.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Benos123 in reply to Ian1967]

Thanks Ian,

It's very re-assuring.

Kind Regards,

Ben.

[cofdrop-UK]

Agree with and am very grateful to Ian for his comments. During my recent stay in 5* they found I was retaining co2 and I had a sleep study. I don’t recall sleeping a wink that night but they may have enough information - report not back yet. I usually get to sleep listening to the radio but they said not to put it on because of the microphones. I agree with Ian that it wouldn’t have picked it up and if it did for the short time it would have been on I might have given them more sleep time.

I understand it depends when your sats drop in the cycle of sleep as to what treatment you would be given. I.e. if it happens whilst snoring or if it happens during REM sleep, when you may not have noticed you have problems. It is new to me too. Very reassuring comments from Ian with regard to Bipap and Cpap. Many thanks.

Cx

[Benos123]

Hi cofdrop-UK,

Thanks for your interesting reply as I've heard nothing about sats or anything else other than me stopping breathing 41 times in a night and that they wanted me to do a months trial of two inhalers and a CPAP machine and which I'd have to purchase over here.

Incidentally, I have felt some benefit in that my breathing now seems easier through my nose from using the "once a day" 24 hr dose inhaler but then again it may just be wishful thinking on my behalf. On the other hand there are a number of negative side effects and which I'd prefer to avoid.

Thanks again.