• Hi, If you cannot get into the site, be sure to Contact Us. Please be advised that the app is no longer in use!

sleep apnea test

novamay

novamay

Born Free
Hi I was wondering if anyone had been referred by bariatric team at Sunderland RH for testing for sleep apnea. My score on the day was 15 and apparently it shouldn't be more than 10, so they recommended I get tested.

My doctor should have received a letter from the hospital asking him to set up an appointment (I got a copy last week) so will hopefully get word in the next week or two. I just wondered if anyone has had it done in the Stockton area (ie at North Tees hospital, etc). Do you have to sleep in the hospital/clinic or do you do it at home?

Not worried about it too much - I think I'm just a very bad light sleeper (always have been) that's why I'm so tired during the day.
 
10 is classed as sleepy 18 is classed as very sleepy. I scored 18 but answered 2 questions as 0, therefore the other six were scored as 3.
It turns out I have Severe Sleep Apnoea which is classed as 30 episodes an hour.
During my study I had 90 episodes an hour, I was never asleep because i stopped breathing 90 times per hour.
It is well worth getting checked out. Remember although diagnosed, post surgery it can disappear.
 
hi im not at ur hospital but i had 2 have a sleep apnia teat cuz i dont sleep 2 well, i was lucky they gave me a mechine 2 take home so i cud do the test at home just waitin my results x
 
Hi

Although not done in the Stockton area, mine was done via Freemans just thought I'd let you know about my study.

I was given a machine to take home. They fully explained to me how to use the machine, it had a tube resting under my nose, a monitor to attach to my stomach, a pulse indicator on my finger and various pads on my chest. I wore the unit over night and then took it back to hospital the following day. They then plug it into a computer that gives them a print out of you sleeping pattern the following evening. They can tell when you were awake, asleep, snoring or having an apnoea.

I was fortunate in that I only registered as having 11 apnoeas an hour, basically I stopped breathing on average 11 times an hour which send signals to your brain to wake you up. Mine was classed as mild sleep apnoea and wouldn't normally be treated but because I was very symptomatic they decided to give me a cpap machine. I find my cpap machine invaluable and felt the benefits within days. If I sleep without it for even one night I feel groggy the next day.

As Daisy said though almost 100% of people who have bariactric surgery recover from sleep apnoea once they start to loose weight.

Good luck xx
 
If you're diagnosed with having sleep apnoea do you have to tell the DVLA? Is this just if its not treated?

I saw a WLS programme a while ago where a guy was diagnosed and had to give up driving (and he was a bus driver!)

TBH I could easily have gone to sleep this morning driving into work - had to really focus on the road. Dark mornings don't help! I don't have late nights - in bed by 10pm - but I do get up at least twice a night for the loo, constantly turning from one side to the other because of hip pain and get woken up by OH snoring and cats jumping me around 5am! grrrrr..... Its strange, I can sleep fine on the couch anytime of the day with the telly blearing out and the lights on and people talking, but when I go to bed I can't sleep unless its absolutely quiet and pitch black.
 
My personal experience was that I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep aponea(OSA) with about 55 aponeas per hour. I was issued a CPAP and felt the relief within 2-3 days. When you are diagnosed with OSA you MUST inform DVLA and your car insurer. If you are getting treatment at that time they are most likely to let you continue to drive for a while until it is determined that you have improved. If you have to wait for a CPAP then I'm afraid you may lose your licence until one becomes available.

If you have a PSV or HGV licence then you could well find you lose that and probably lose you job too with immediate effect. In theory once you are being treated succesfully you should get your licence back, if it was a PSV or HGV then don't hold your breath! (Sorry, pun intended... :D)
xx
 
:eek: thanks Glenville, fingers crossed I don't have it - and that I'm just a crappy sleeper!
 
CPAP Forums
You might find this site useful

You will also find that if diagnosed you will not keep getting up to go to the loo at night. I used to get up 3 to 4 times in a 6 hour sleep. I don't get up that many times in a fortnight now.
 
Last edited:
Hi hun. I've got sleep apnoea. For years it was a laughing joke in my family that I could fall asleep anywhere and after years of putting up with it and popping to the docs for blood tests to check for aenemia (spelt wrong I know) I asked for it to be taken further and was diagnosed.
Had a test overnight at home, few weeks to get the results (my reading was 46) and (luckily) I was given a CPAP machine straight away. And to say that it made a difference after a couple of nights isn't exaggerating. Felt better than I've done in years. The mask takes a bit of getting used to but it's so worth it.
And I did have to inform DVLA, the consultant told me that I couldn't drive until it was seen to be under control. After a couple of months I filled in a form to send to DVLA and a few weeks later got the all clear to drive. I jus thave to inform them if there is any change in my diagnosis.
You'll be amazed - after all the years thinking you were a light sleeper and needed to go to the loo during the night to have a full undisturbed nights sleep is absolute bliss!
 
I was reffered by SRH, I had mine done at Darlington... I was given a machine to take home and returned the day after....I went into see the Dr and it is really interesting they can tell you how often you sleep on your back and sides etc..... mine turned out that I was fine, which I new it would be ( have a daughter that has night terrors) so i'm up alot through night....it shouldn't take long for your refferal xx
 
DaisyMaesy said:
CPAP Forums
You might find this site useful

You will also find that if diagnosed you will not keep getting up to go to the loo at night. I used to get up 3 to 4 times in a 6 hour sleep. I don't get up that many times in a fortnight now.
Click to expand...

Interesting site - thanks for the link. I read one story of a lady whose cat tapped her on the head during the night - just thinking - I woke yesterday morning with my little one tapping me on the face. mebbe he knows something I don't? ;)
 
kurvykaren said:
...
And I did have to inform DVLA, the consultant told me that I couldn't drive until it was seen to be under control. After a couple of months I filled in a form to send to DVLA and a few weeks later got the all clear to drive. I jus thave to inform them if there is any change in my diagnosis.
Click to expand...

Thanks Karen, I think that's worrying me more than wearing a mask in bed! But I am getting rather concerned about driving to work on a morning as I am usually still tired. I work in Durham and live in Stockton so have quite a drive each day to and from work - I don't know if I could ride the bus as I'm very very travel sick! Then again I'd rather throw up than get in an accident or hurt someone else by not being able to focus on the road. Hopefuly I'll hear from the doctors soon and I can get it sorted.
 
nikster1975 said:
I was reffered by SRH, I had mine done at Darlington... I was given a machine to take home and returned the day after....I went into see the Dr and it is really interesting they can tell you how often you sleep on your back and sides etc..... mine turned out that I was fine, which I new it would be ( have a daughter that has night terrors) so i'm up alot through night....it shouldn't take long for your refferal xx
Click to expand...

Thanks Nikki, Does it tell you what side of the bed you sleep on? - my Andy complains that I'm always squishing him to the edge of the bed.... that and the cat lying on his feet.... and yet he sleeps like the dead! typical!
 
I know, I doubt that they would look favourably, even if I've not been officially diagnosed - they'd use the fact that I've suspected something might be up and that I'd been referred by hospital for tests to invalidate my insurance.

So, I've got an appointment with my GP on Monday to set up an appointment for the test - hopefully I won't have too long to wait!

I have to stress that I'm very careful when I'm driving and stay well back from traffic in front of me. I've only been in 1 accident in over 20 years (someone side-swiped me when they were overtaking a parked vehicle on the opposite side of the road) - thankfully no-one was hurt and vehicle damage was minor.

If I get to the stage where I feel far too tired or I don't feel that its safe to drive then I will get the bus to work (plus sick bag) or take the day off and have a kip on the sofa...
 
Reading on the cpap site it is definitely a postcode lottery. I had the sleep test in hospital, results two weeks later given cpap 1 week later. I told dvla, they sent form, got letter back okay as i was compliant. Others however are not so lucky, mainly it seems, people who drive for a living, cabbies hgv etc
 
I am getting my mask and cpap machine on Friday, but was told at my initial consult that as mine was not severe I was not legally obliged to let DVLA or my insurance company know, but she advised I did.

I hardly drive much, so decided not to. However on confirming my appt for Friday I was told it was a legal requirement to let DVLA and insurance company know that I was having CPAP treatment, but they would not necessarily stop me driving as I would be having treatment for it.

I will phone them (DVLA) on Friday once I get back and see what they say.
 
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, it is recommended to undergo a sleep apnea test, also known as a sleep study or polysomnography. There are different types of sleep apnea tests available, depending on the specific circumstances and preferences.

It's important to consult with a healthcare professional, such as a sleep specialist or a pulmonologist, who can evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and recommend the most appropriate sleep apnea test for you. They will guide you through the testing process, interpret the results, and develop an appropriate treatment plan if sleep apnea is diagnosed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

loubyl00
Sleep Apnea Test
Replies
11
Views
1K
Thereza1111
Thereza1111
B
Sleep apnea test
Replies
9
Views
1K
caraline
caraline
kirstyjade
Undiagnosed sleep apnea and surgery?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Maphillips
Maphillips
fatbutnot4eva
Sleep Apnea Test
Replies
12
Views
815
shell_1974
shell_1974
D
SLEEP APNEA
Replies
15
Views
2K
novamay
novamay
Back
Top