Overnight Sleep Study - help needed

[Bb1878]

Hi There, i posted on here recently about my overnight sleep study which i had done last month, ive decided to put it into a new post for clarity (as my previous post was buried within various replies).

I had an overnight sleep study done in April, the results came back showing that the results were within normal limits :-

AHI : 1.2 per hour

ODI : 1.2 per hour

snore index : 3.3%

Average sp02 : 92.4%

It was reported I did have episodes where I stopped breathing or breathes shallowly however these were in normal boundaries. In summary - my results were below the sleep apnea threshold for diagnosis which is AHI of 5 per hour - result :'no evidence of obstructive sleep apnea' and discharged from service.

Whilst relieved to get these results - i do have a *nagging* concern in that this one test on one night - is that really long enough for a diagnosis or otherwise? The reason I am asking this is :- I have an overnight sp02 wearable (wellue 02 ring) which - whilst accepted this is not as detailed as the sleep study it does show me a good summary of my sp02 levels overnight, and records the number of desaturation events which occur during the night (so similar to the sleep study AHI score). My results vary from night to night, sometimes on a 'good night' I have around 5-10 desaturation events overnight - so giving an average AHI of 1-2 per hour, other nights i can have between 40 and 60 desaturations, giving an AHI of 5-7 per hour.

Do you see where I am going with this? My question? Did i just have my sleep study done when i was having a 'good' night? If id have had a 'bad' night - would I have more likely been invited for more tests? Im really not convinced one night is enough for this test, a bit like an ECG sometimes its hit and miss and requires a longer testing duration. Id have thought 3 or 4 nights would be more realistic representation, but I guess the demands on the health service dont warrant this.

Any comments welcome. I dont know if i can go back to my gp and plead my case or just leave it?

The reason im pushing this is im suffering all of the main symptoms associated with SA but have no diagnosis - so do i just accept it?

Ill post the good night/bad sp02 report in the reply comments (as i cant work out how to add 2 pics to same message!).

Thanks, Bb

[Bb1878]

Good sp02 night..

sp02 results

[Bb1878]

'bad' sp02 night..

sp02 results

[Hidden]

hi I’ve just had an indication of my results, letter to follow which says my sleep study in April is normal. I’m still getting low readings but I’m glad in a weird way because hope the focus will stay on my congenital heart defect which has been shown to restrict blood flow.

But I see the dilemma that you’re getting readings indicating an issue but sleep study has come back as “normal”.

I did wonder about one night not being typical but maybe it’s just the cut offs they work to?

If you’re still struggling with sleep then definitely worth going back to at least discuss how to go forward I.e. review with GP at least at some point.

I haven’t seen the details of my yet though so don’t know how far off the thresholds I am.

Good luck, it’s frustrating because no matter what tests say, we feel what we feel.

👍

[Knitting20projects in reply to Hidden]

Did you have a home study or a sleep study in a sleep lab? I’m asking because if you have congenital heart disease with restricted pulmonary or aortic blood flow, I would honestly think you deserve a sleep lab study. (I’m a pediatrician).

[Hidden in reply to Knitting20projects]

hi I had a home study, my CHD (restricts blood flow through LAD) was only discovered last year at the age of 51 when it started to become symptomatic. Some people will never know they have one / is identified on autopsy. Can’t say there was any real indications before then or as child but I wasn’t a very active child either.

I have an exercise stress echo in few weeks hoping that may shed some light?

👍

[Knitting20projects in reply to Hidden]

Do you have ALCA? Anomalous L coronary artery?

[Hidden in reply to Knitting20projects]

no I have a myocardial bridge over part of my LAD - the bridge (layer of muscle) it’s 24mm deep and couple of centimetres long. Average depth is 1 to 10mm. It’s been shown to restrict blood flow.

[Knitting20projects in reply to Hidden]

Oh, wow!! Talk about rare. Glad it was identified! See what your dr thinks about how sensitive home test is to identify low oxygen and apnea. If it’s your cardiologist making the decision I would trust it. If it’s your GP, I would suggest they be sure the cardiologist is ok with not doing a lab study.

[Hidden in reply to Knitting20projects]

Ok will do, thanks for the advice, much appreciated. For my CHD they have run out of medicine options and can’t do surgery so maybe the echo will be a breakthrough, never know / can hope! Cheers

[Knitting20projects in reply to Hidden]

PS and I’m not trying to disparage GPs!!! I’m one for kids

[Bb1878 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks fishface101, think I'll see how things go and get onto my gp again if no improvements over next few months. Ive been trying to lose a bit of weight recently so hopefully that will help. Trouble is I think my gp has me down as a hypochondriac now I've been there that many times over the last few years! I hope you can get the answers you are looking for with your heart tests. Best wishes, Bb

[Hidden in reply to Bb1878]

thank you!

whatever your GP thinks if you feel things aren’t right, go back!

Good luck!

[Opie__]

I was the exact opposite, I didn't believe I had SA but did sleep study more for RLS. I had 52 episodes a night and oxygen down to 80%. I was completely surprised, it said I had severe SA. Just wonder where your study was completed? When I spoke with many friends about their SS, it was much less complicated than mine. I had mine done at Vanderbilt and most of my friends was done in our small town. Just wonder if place of study make a difference

[Bb1878 in reply to Opie__]

Thanks Opie, it was a home sleep study done in UK.