How bad can it get?

So I had an at home sleep study 8/26/19. Went in yesterday and was given my results. My average events per hour was 104 & oxygen dropped as low as 62% during the night. Is this as super bad as it sounds? I know over 30 is considered severe. Do many people have 100+ events per hour? I will go in Friday for a titration study. Will I get my prescription then or wait for the follow up appointment two weeks later? Also in y’all experience can I pick a certain machine if using insurance coverage or do I have to take what they say? Thanks for any help, I have enjoyed looking back through the topics reading other info.

Yes, 104 for AHI is high. My wife tested at about 83 or so as I recall, but now averages under 1 for AHI. Her apnea is essentially all obstructive and CPAP works well for that. The 62% oxygen is more concerning. The titration study should tell you a lot more. Typically the study results have to be interpreted by a sleep doctor before you get a prescription. I would wait until you see the results of the titration study before getting set on what type of machine you need. Do you know what the breakdown is of the 104 AHI? That can be indicative of what you will need.

I Do not know the breakdown. When I go in for follow up I will ask for a copy of both studies.

You want a full copy, including the charts and tables. All too often I see very important details (central apneas noted in the body but totally missing in the summary.

You should be able to pick a brand (ResMed or Phillips) and a model (CPAP or APAP same billing code) or a BiLevel which allows the prescription written. You may need to let them know what you want and insist on it, BUT as stated above, you will know more after the titration study.

Well, I had the titration study done, went for my follow up, now just waiting to get my equipment. Because of my insurance I have to go through carecentrix, who orders my stuff through April. Anyone have any experience with either of these companies? During the study I was started at a 7 and eventually finished out at 11 pressure. They said that brought me down to 2.7 ahi. Hoping that once I get my equipment and am using the recommended pressure all night it will be lower than that.

I'm a truck driver, and quite honestly, I have never heard of anyone passing one of these SA tests. Truck drivers are the backbone of the SA industry, trust me on that. The test is designed to fail, unless you have a real history with very troubled sleeping I would dismiss the results and seek further medical attention as to what may be causing you to lose sleep. My first guess would be to have a complete and through Thyroid examination, and that is my issue, my thyroid, and it is not affecting my ability to sleep... But just the other day I was magically diagnosed with SA by a doctor by just looking at me. Sounds like voodoo to me, or as we used to say, snake oil.

Funny thing though, hyper and hypo thyroidism do match the SA symptoms almost to the letter. Just saying.

I have had Thyroid checked repeatedly. It’s fine. No one ever gave me a reason for always being tired etc except “well maybe you are just depressed, take these pills and see if it helps”. Then after I had my gall bladder out, and I was talking about dr asking about sleep apnea, my husband goes “yeah, you probably have that” that a light bulb went off. I went and got tested. I have it and it’s severe.