Home Sleep Test results

[Bb1878]

Hi All, I recently had an overnight sleep study done checking for sleep apnea and got my results back this week. My results show I didn't meet the criteria for a sleep apnea diagnosis. Both AHI and ODI were recorded at 1.2 per hour, below the 5 required for a diagnosis. Average SP02 was 92.4%. It was noted I had some episodes of stopping or shallow breathing overnight but these were within normal range. I've now been discharged from the service. So, although it's good news on the result I'm still left with all the same symptoms which led my gp to suspect sleep apnea at play,eg overnight breathlessness, daytime sleepiness, dry mouth and eyes on overnight etc. I'm not sure where I go from here now. Does anyone know if cpap would help even though im under the threshold for sleep apnea? I believe these can be bought privately. Any advice welcome. Thanks

[Hidden]

hi I had test back in April, no results yet, that’s a difficult / frustrating situation - don’t meet criteria i.e. not as severe but your still experiencing issues but no help.

hope some one comes along with what can do instead, I imagine those machines are expensive.

Following with interest. 😊

[CapnM in reply to Hidden]

can I ask was this on NHS , how long did you wait to take testing and since. I believe I have OSA but it comes and goes and its currently quite bad now so thinking of paying for test so that doent lose the moment so to speak. thanks

[Hidden in reply to CapnM]

hello

I think I called my GP in February 2023 as I’d noted low blood oxygen readings on my Apple Watch, I know views are may not be as accurate but the GP referred me as have other risk factors / disturbed sleep.

I had overnight home study early April 2023 - I was told it would be a 40 week wait but they hadn’t had notification of my congenital heart defect that’s causes blood flow restriction and then surprise I get appointment for late April.

Then I had to send a pre appointment form in and I also sent my Apple Watch screen shots of blood oxygen readings and they brought it forward saying I needed different equipment- finger pulse and chest/waist strap.

This post reminded me and I called today they said my test results have been sent to consultant so I guess now wait for an appointment / contact. Hoping to ring and ask what waiting times are.

Hope helps. 👍

[CapnM in reply to Hidden]

thanks, thought it could take a few months, persuades me to pay for the test bit atleast, keen to get this disagnosed, believe mine is triggered by thyroid or the hormone replacement I am on as it comes and goes with other hypo symptoms. hope you get sorted soon.

[Hidden in reply to CapnM]

thanks, good luck with getting your test. 👍

[Bb1878]

Hi, thanks for replying. I had my test done on March 30th and got results back last week, so not a long time really from gp referral to result. Mine also seems to be a bit variable I wear a wellue wear02 sp02 ring overnight and sometimes sp02 is OK, mid to low 90s other times it drops numerous times into mid 80s, so it could be I was just on a 'good' night when I took the test. Very frustrating! Cheers

[SpeedyH]

Hi. Perhaps you are snoring at night rather than having apnoea. This would explain your symptoms. I wonder if a referral to a respiratory physiotherapist might help you.

[Bb1878 in reply to SpeedyH]

Hi there, thanks for your reply. The sleep study showed apnea episodes during the night (non and shallow breathing events) just not enough for a diagnosis of OSA. I had a snore index score of 3.3% which I dont think is very significant. I dont really snore tbh, altho I do sleep with my mouth open which prob explains the dry mouth of a morning! The consultant who reviewd my results was a consultant respiratory physician, so I'd hope they'd know if it was snoring related and would have referred me on if necessary I would hope (but who knows!) Thanks for ur post tho, appreciated. I'll mention to gp just incase. Cheers.

[Dawn43]

I did the same sleep study in August last year. I was told it would be 12 weeks to get a result. Still hadnt heard anything by January just gone so I rang gp receptionist to ask if they had a result. My results are the same as yours but im still having symptoms. Receptionist said she would let GP know and as of today, I still havent heard from gp.

[Bb1878 in reply to Dawn43]

That's terrible 🙁. I was lucky then I guess getting a referral, test and results within about 3 months! Sorry to hear u are still having symptoms as - I do wonder if 'one test on one night' is enough really, it could have just been a 'good' night when u took test so the apnea was infrequent? I certainly have frequent differences in number of oxygen desaturations overnight( according to my sp02 ring I wear at night) - sometimes I can have 40-50 desaturations a night then other times its lot less - so it's a moving target! Please get back onto ur gp and ask him to help u - one thing I've learnt over the last 2 years is u have to be persistent to get anything done! Take care, Bb.

[Dawn43 in reply to Bb1878]

I dont think it should be just 1 night either, for all they know I could have put the equipment on wrong. I think at least a couple of nights stay in the sleep clinic with them fitting the equipment on patients. My oxygen overnight was 96 which they said is usual when asleep.

My docs surgery are useless. Back in october i had an appointment regarding a constant pulsating in my head. GP referred me to x ray department (or so i thought) for a ct scan with contrast. Only recently found out the gp had asked neurology consultant if this was necessary and apparantly it wasnt and no one has mentioned it since. Oh and it was a student gp i saw!!.

I will bring it up again with own gp, but in the meantime ive got to have more blood test for diabetes and coeliac.

Dawn.

[Bb1878 in reply to Dawn43]

Oh dear, sounds like you've had a rotten time of it with your gp! Could u maybe look for another gp? Best of luck with your upcoming appointments anyway, cheers Bb.

[Dawn43 in reply to Bb1878]

Me personally dont like change so will stick with the only decent doc there is at the surgery. My named GP is useless. Hopefully should get blood test results by tonight as they show up on my nhs app. As a former employee at the local hospital (porter) i have worked in the path lab and the staff are bang on with testing. Hopefully i have no more ailments!!

[Bb1878]

Hi All, as mentioned previously i got tested for sleep apnea and was found to have episodes of none and shallow breathing overnight, but did not meet the threshold for a diagnosis (which i understand is 5 oxygen desaturations per hour), i still however have all the main symptoms daytime fatigue, breathing issues overnight, dry mouth etc. I wondered if - as my sleep issues vary overnight i wondered could it be that when i had the test done i was just having a 'good night'? And if so is one night really long enough for a proper test? Heres a couple of examples from my overnight sp02 ring monitor. I know not as detailed as proper sleep study but gives some useful info :-

Diagram 1 Shows a 'good' night - less that 1 desaturation per hour.

Diagram 2 Shows a 'bad' night - nearly 7 drops per hour.

Im not sure it will let me attach 2 diagrams so will post 2nd diagram in reply if needs be.

My question is - when i had sleep study done (im kicking myself i didnt wear my sp02 ring aswell but didnt want to influence anything) - was i just having a 'good' night? And if id had a night similar to second diagram (7 drops per hour) would i have been referred at least for more tests? This is my worry, id be interested in ppls thoughts? Many Thanks Bb.

sp02 results

[Bb1878 in reply to Bb1878]

2nd Diagram - 'bad' night

sp02 results

[ling in reply to Bb1878]

You probably want to put up a new post. Continuing on the thread like this, only those who have saved your post for updates will know when there's been a new message.

Best wishes.

[Bb1878 in reply to ling]

Ah right - didn't realise that - thanks!