TL;DR version: Please take a look at my sleep test results at link below and give me your thoughts/impressions as to CPAP in my case?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fyfWf4OQk3NiQaZjRTosVg3yqsp3T5t7
Long version: Hello, all! I have had restless/fragmented sleep for my entire adult life. Tried pretty much everything natural (if it's a natural supplement, I've tried it; methodically, not haphazardly). My sleep hygiene is about perfect now. I even wear blue light filtering glasses at night before bed, which I do think has had a positive effect on my melatonin, but has not helped with my sleep disturbance issues. Healthy lifestyle and diet, so that's not it. No red flags on bloodwork/thyroid/vitamins, etc. Pretty much ruled out everything except for apnea. Finally went to a sleep doc here, who examined me, listened to my case, said he suspected apnea and wanted to do an in lab sleep study. I have no insurance, am paying out of pocket, and can't afford to gamble $1,700 on an in lab test during which I might not even get enough sleep to get results (from anxiety about that exact thing), and which would only lead me right where I am now: wondering about CPAP in my case.
I did a home sleep test instead. The link is above (it wouldn't let me attach a PDF).The second night is shorter because the machine started acting up. My REM total for that night might be higher if it had kept going. Two sleep docs reviewed it. You can see the opinion of the one contracted by the sleep test company. The doc I saw in person reviewed the results and said that home sleep tests tend to under-report (he said this to me in person, too), but this machine is supposed to be pretty darn accurate compared to PSG, which studies have confirmed), and he's convinced more than ever that I have moderate apnea; and since I don't have insurance he would be willing to just write me a prescription for CPAP (which I think is cool of him, since he's not even requiring that I purchase from him).
So, I'm writing this post to get some other impressions/interpretations about my case/sleep report, from you experienced folks. In many ways, this report doesn't look that bad(?). But I know that I have many arousals during the night. Before doing this sleep test, I videoed myself sleeping for three nights, and saw myself move/adjust position at least 25 times a night (but didn't hear snoring, or any gasping for breath). I do get sleep, but I wake up tired. I need to take a few recharge rests (10 -20 min, like meditation, but lying down) during a day, and also one 35-45 min nap in the afternoon, during which I will sometimes doze off for maybe 10 min. max (most of that time spent in stage 1 theta wave/half-conscious sleep). Sometimes this helps me feel refreshed, sometimes just a bit groggy. But I do not find myself falling asleep during the day, or doing regular activities. I "just" feel tired or exhausted. My sleep is not fully restful, it's restless, constantly being interrupted by...something. My brain is very active during sleep (I have half-woken to find my brain literally writing an article or story, for example), but I do not have insomnia (extended periods of wakefulness, or a problem falling asleep). I have often wondered about psychological causes, but even when I feel good emotionally, I still have restless sleep.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I do not want a dental appliance (after researching them and outcomes/cost), or surgery, so that leaves CPAP (or, for me APAP, since I think that'd be the way to go). I'm game try it, but it's not easy to try, for so many reasons, that you all know quite well. I'd want to try a Resmed auto 10, or Dreamstation (no point in renting a different machine, because it won't tell me if a better machine might actually work for me...), but there's really no way to do that, so I'd have to buy one to try it. Basically I'm trying to decide if I think it's worth it to spend upwards of $800-$1,000 (including all supplies, like a good mask) to TRY it. A refurb model might be bricked. I am not poor, but very frugal, so this is hard to swallow. But I am not cheap. There's a difference. $1,000 would be worth better sleep in the long run, but, again, there's no guarantee, so it's a gamble.
I'm curious what you experienced folks think when you look at my sleep test results. I know that the only way to know if CPAP would work is to "try" it (which, again, is much easier said than done), but do any of you have an opinion/experience (first or second hand) as to whether CPAP might even help someone in my situation? And any ideas as to how I might proceed? Does anyone know how I might try a Resmed machine? I can ask the doc/clinic here, but I highly doubt they will let me borrow/rent a high end machine like that. And I'd have to try different masks, which they wouldn't do for free if I haven't bought their equipment. The point is that it is anything but simple (or even doable at all!) to try the high end machines I'd want in order to see if CPAP will help me. A pickle of a situation, to be sure. But any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!! :)
Oh, in another thread, I found the following interesting...
Pugsy:
"We can usually spot arousal breathing but not always able to spot any changes in the flow rate that might be responsible for the arousal in the first place....and then there are spontaneous arousals that are unrelated to any breathing issues that can happen too."
http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t174530/UARS--my-self-therapy.html?hilit=resmed+vs+dream&start=15#p1288142
...because I do have lots of arousals, but I can't tell if they are directly from my "disordered breathing events." It's hard to tell from the results they gave me. What do you think?....
(Please note that I'm not "asking for medical advice" (wouldn't put anyone in that position), but I would love your thoughts/impressions/ideas, etc....!)
