Blackjack's Thread of Illness and Ailments

[NTP66]

My wife seems to think I may have sleep apnea. I recall some of you going through the same a while back, but what was the process for seeing a doctor on this? Did you have to actually see a doctor on one visit, and then do multiple sleep studies after the fact? I’m sure I’ll find out Tuesday when I call, but now I’m a little bothered by it.

[Ad@m]

@mac5155

[mac5155]

My wife seems to think I may have sleep apnea. I recall some of you going through the same a while back, but what was the process for seeing a doctor on this? Did you have to actually see a doctor on one visit, and then do multiple sleep studies after the fact? I’m sure I’ll find out Tuesday when I call, but now I’m a little bothered by it.

It's a crock of sht but it can also kill you so it's worthwhile endeavor.

My PCP gave me a referral to a specialist. I went in and he asked me about tiredness then Sent me for the test. It's a two night thing. They administered theirs in a holiday Inn hotel.

Night one you go in and they put about 40 different electrodes all over you (including all through your hair) as well as an O2 monitor on your finger and a hose on your nose (like folks in oxygen wear). Then they say alright, head to sleep. Good luck with this. It's as terrible as it sounds. You'll eventually fall asleep after 2 or so hours waking up like 10 times. They then get your reading and everything. Figure out when youre in REM etc. Then they walk in the room at 6 am, juuuuust as you start to sleep really good, and flick the lights on. Rip all the electrodes off you as you're sitting there in a fog. And tell you to go home.

Then they call you back and say yep you have sleep apnea (I have NO CLUE how ANYONE COULD NOT have it with the way they test you). You go for night two test. Sometimes it's right away, mine was like a week and a half later. Same deal except they swap the nasal hose out with a CPAP mask. And I think there are a few less electrodes.

Then the fun really starts. You go to a durable medical equipment supplier who sees you as $$$$$ and gives you a machine and sets you up on supply reorders. Masks, etc. At this point you've probably blown through your deductible as the tests are around $2k. So you're on co insurance only for the supplies which are still crazy overpriced but you don't have much choice you are all in now.

The supply company will install a transmitter in your machine and make sure you're using it for like 21/30 days for at least 6 hours a night or otherwise you'll get to pay full price for it.

After all this, I don't really feel any better or worse when it comes to tiredness/energy. I still struggle to wake up in the mornings. I recognize that it's impacting other aspects of my health so that's why I am doing it.

Best of luck!

[NTP66]

Well, now I wish I hadn’t read that. Assuming that sleep studies are covered under outpatient services, I may not have a deductible at all thanks to my wife’s insurance. I guess I’ll find out more next week.

[shafnutz05]

I actually said "**** it" when they told me I had to come back a second night. But yes, it significantly increases risk factors for other diseases

[NTP66]

So is the first visit an actual sleep study visit, or do you have to see a specialist in their office before any of the actual study happens?

[mac5155]

So is the first visit an actual sleep study visit, or do you have to see a specialist in their office before any of the actual study happens?

Office visit first to determine your "tiredness". And most importantly collect your copay.

[mac5155]

I've actually done the study twice. So if you do go just stick with it is all I can stress.

My main gripes are cost based so if you have good insurance I would go.

[NTP66]

Oh, I’m going regardless, just trying to get a handle on what to expect. An office visit beforehand seems pointless to me, but I doubt there’s any way around it.

And yeah, I checked on the coverage, and it’s all 100% covered with no co-pay or deductible. Just my own time is all I’ll be paying, apparently.

[mac5155]

Oh, I’m going regardless, just trying to get a handle on what to expect. An office visit beforehand seems pointless to me, but I doubt there’s any way around it.

And yeah, I checked on the coverage, and it’s all 100% covered with no co-pay or deductible. Just my own time is all I’ll be paying, apparently.

If I remember correctly I paid the doctors office to "read" the results from the test too.

[NTP66]

I used my iPhone to record my sleep last night, and just went through all of the audio. There are only two very short areas where I wasn't 100% positive that it was just snoring, because it didn't sound like any of the apnea videos I watched yesterday. I honestly wasn't even aware that I snored some of the night until then. And now I wonder if my issue is more likely related to my deviated septum. It seemed like the snoring was only when I was facing one side of the bed. If that's the case, I think I'd opt for surgery over the CPAP mask if possible.

The only thing I noticed is how many damn helicopters flew over my house in the middle of the night. And me waking up at midnight had to have been because of my neighbor and hit shitbrick Harley.

[mac5155]

It's not necessarily snoring but apneas, moments when you stop breathing. I had something like 14 per hour. So I stopped breathing once every 5 minutes. But, I do snore heavily also.

[NTP66]

I know, it just didn’t sound like that’s what was happening; I didn’t gasp for air at all, though this is probably only noticeable for bad cases. I’ll just expect the worst and hope for the best.

[NailedPenguin]

I'm not one that sunburns easily, but my God my feet blow up twice their size after like an hour in the sun. Applying aloe roughly every 10 minutes and my socks dont even fit right now

[dodint]

^squatch

[NailedPenguin]

What the hell is that supposed to mean

[dodint]

At its most basic it means you have big feet.

[NailedPenguin]

Beefsquatch or Samsquanch?

[NTP66]

I met with my doctor about the sleep apnea thing. He doubts I have it, but sent through the prescription for the study. It's 100% covered by insurance, and the first sleep study is actually an at-home study; they're shipping the machine to me in October. If the results are inconclusive there, I would then have to do the study at one of the facilities.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

Nice, sleep bong.

[meow]

Anyone got a witchcraft level remedy for a mouth ulcer?

[Silentom]

bourbon

[NTP66]

Silver nitrate sticks are old school and work well. Stings at first, since it's cauterizing the area, but all good afterwards.

[meow]

How would I acquire said sticks?

[Shyster]

Just contact the local barber-surgeon and ask him to direct you to the nearest apothecary.