Sleep Study Requirement?

[sandisleeve 563]

So my surg date has been delayed until I take a sleep study according to my primary care physician

I asked my friend who is a nurse why I would need to do this and she thinks its a waste of time for me as I don't have a heavy snore, I sleep like a baby 95% of the time and rarely get up at night, and i don't suffer from Migraines or shortness of breath.

Any input would be helpful. My only conclusion based on some brief Internet browsing is that the doc office gets a sweet cut of the sleep study cost. If that's the case, what a shame.

Frustrated pre-oper here, but will still follow my doc's orders

[brwneyedwoman 11]

A lot of doctors require sleep studies. My insurance initially denied it, but the office resubmitted, not sure what they said but it was approved. I was very unhappy because I don't have a sleeping problem, only snore lightly when extremely tired. So, imagine my surprise when the diagnosis was severe sleep apnea. I refused the equipment and signed a waiver to that effect, because it was not a study of my sleeping habits, but a study of how they forced me to sleep. I'm a side and stomach sleeper, so if you force me to sleep on my back, I'm going to snore.... most people do. The doctor had to agree... he said if I actually slept on my back, based on the study, I would be dead :-O In my opinion, it was all about making money.

[CrazyJaney 775]

I just finished with my study and started using my machine 2 weeks ago. I'm also a nurse. Preop - hoping for February/mar date. Here's the deal..... Obesity causes increased work on the chest wall muscles and blocks the airway during sleep. Snorring is only one sign of apnea. You can never reach REM sleep (deep, restorative sleep) and or, the constant awakening (even if you don't remember it) causes stress. The stress the body goes through with sleep deprivation, especially chronic poor sleep, causes cortisol levels to rise. Constantly stimulating cortisol levels make it hard to loose weight- your body thinks it needs to hold onto fat. Also, the weight carried in the chest and abdomen make it hard to fully expand the chest meaning your air in vs air out causes an imbalance in O2 and co2. Increased Co2 causes higher cortisol levels. So see, it's a vicious cycle. The CPAP is also a tool for weight loss. Severe sleep apnea, untreated, has a 35% higher risk of cardiac sudden death and heart arrhythmias. This can complicate a surgical recovery, especially in people with really high bmi's. It was a requirement of my surgeon. My study showed mild to moderate apnea, but my bmi's is 49-50 so, if I want him to do surgery, I guess I'll comply. If I reduce my bmi's, the CPAP can go away. Uncontrolled sleep apne also increases bp (cortisol again). It's all the stuff happening in your body that you can't see. Wearing The CPAP is ok. Not a huge fan. But I'll stick with it if it helps me in my weight loss. And I hope it will be temporary.

[Arts137 1,811]

Sandi.

Boy was I upset that I had to have a sleep study. No way! I slept well, rarely snored, was always fine in the AM (shoot I get up normally at 3:00AM, for goodness sake).

But, it was "required", so I did it.

And discovered that I have periods of apnea avering 60 times an hour... once a minute.

Long story short. I have a CPAP, and I love it. And even though I thought my sleep was good, it's SO MUCH BETTER now!

[sandisleeve 563]

Wow- this is all interesting. I sleep on my side and back cause stomach sleeping actually causes lower back pain for me. I don't use a pillow for the same reason. I will see the sleep specialist this morning for consultation and see what he says. Hope I won't need a cpap cause the delivery time could delay my surg date even further (to early january)

[sandisleeve 563]

My current BMI is 37.5 and the highest it's been is 45.9 back in 2009... Been yoyo ing for many years

[sleevinIT 88]

So my surg date has been delayed until I take a sleep study according to my primary care physician

I asked my friend who is a nurse why I would need to do this and she thinks its a waste of time for me as I don't have a heavy snore, I sleep like a baby 95% of the time and rarely get up at night, and i don't suffer from Migraines or shortness of breath.

Any input would be helpful. My only conclusion based on some brief Internet browsing is that the doc office gets a sweet cut of the sleep study cost. If that's the case, what a shame.

Frustrated pre-oper here, but will still follow my doc's orders

I had a sleep study done that was the most annoying thing I ever had to do...I put my journey up on YouTube.....they found allot from the study.......they said I was restless in the night as well as my oxygen levels dropping down 82% that was something I never knew....I do get constant migranes....and sometimes chest pain but overall I'm young....I'm 18 245lbs at the start of my preop diet.....but at the beggining of this whole journey I was 252 im 5'0....I am sappose to be having surgery next Saturday......even if you don't think anything is wrong you should still go this whole journey they put us throb is all worth it.

Btw if you wanna check my YouTube page out my name on there is the same name I have on here it's SleevinIT...I show u whats in the room and etc.. but ill probably tag this thread so u can just click instead. Anywhoooo goodluck!!!

[sleevinIT 88]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQmlMmXL0t0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcgpqr7ZlvQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wpd0ufIL4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2gAvwR2oQ0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is me getting all areas of what happens on the sleep study the last one is me in the train station doing a recap

[tonydepalma 19]

A lot of doctors require sleep studies. My insurance initially denied it, but the office resubmitted, not sure what they said but it was approved. I was very unhappy because I don't have a sleeping problem, only snore lightly when extremely tired. So, imagine my surprise when the diagnosis was severe sleep apnea. I refused the equipment and signed a waiver to that effect, because it was not a study of my sleeping habits, but a study of how they forced me to sleep. I'm a side and stomach sleeper, so if you force me to sleep on my back, I'm going to snore.... most people do. The doctor had to agree... he said if I actually slept on my back, based on the study, I would be dead :-O In my opinion, it was all about making money.

Refusing the equipment is opening yourself up to future heart attack or stroke. The machine saves lives I pray you rethink this egregious decision

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

surgery has been delayed til sleep study

sandi

i "respectively "disagree that making you have a sleep study test is a waste of time

I also don't think your primary makes money from you taking the test

my main thought/comment - is doc shouldn't have waited til last minute to tell you "all of a sudden" you need the test - thus delaying surgery

DH sleeps like a "baby" too

but.....he has sleep apnea - would never have known unless he was tested

for your health it is better to know and "treat" the situation

some people put their head in the sand, don't want to be bothered by the equipment,

but it is beneficial to wear it, and as OP (nurse said - you can have heart issues crop up et al)

sounds like you were approved by insurance without having sleep apnea

but.....Sleep Apnea is considered a co-morbitity that helps insurance decide iif they will pay for WLS

that comment/info is for others

sorry for the delay of surgery

btw i HAD sleep apnea

as with many others - losing 105 lbs GOAL - i no longer have sleep apnea

good luck with that and surgery

speedy recovery

sweet dreams

kathy

Edited December 7, 2013 by proudgrammy

[sandisleeve 563]

sandi

i "respectively "disagree that making you have a sleep study test is a waste of time

I also don't think your primary makes money from you taking the test

my main thought/comment - is doc shouldn't have waited til last minute to tell you "all of a sudden" you need the test - thus delaying surgery

DH sleeps like a "baby" too

but.....he has sleep apnea - would never have known unless he was tested

for your health it is better to know and "treat" the situation

some people put their head in the sand, don't want to be bothered by the equipment,

but it is beneficial to wear it, and as OP (nurse said - you can have heart issues crop up et al)

sounds like you were approved by insurance without having sleep apnea

but.....Sleep Apnea is considered a co-morbitity that helps insurance decide iif they will pay for WLS

that comment/info is for others

sorry for the delay of surgery

btw i HAD sleep apnea

as with many others - losing 105 lbs GOAL - i no longer have sleep apnea

good luck with that and surgery

speedy recovery

sweet dreams

kathy

-----

@proudgrammy

Thanks for your response, it is very helpful but just as you say the requirement came way too last minute from my primary care cause my surgeon made no mention of the need for it

I was approved for surgery by my insurance without a sleep study test because my BMI was slightly over 40 (morbid obesity) at the time my forms were submitted (early October) now I'm happy to report that my BMI is around 37.4.

Hoping this process all goes by fast so I can have my surgery ASAP -- the sleep doc I went too today is pretty funny sort of like a circus clown but I totally respect him and value his expertise

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

Hoping this process goes by fast so I can have my surgery ASAP -- sleep doc I is pretty funny

sandi

glad to hear that episode is over

docs are people too (some of them LOL)

glad you liked "sleep guy"

fingers and toes crossed that you will have WLS soon

drink plenty of Water, sips, sips

good luck

speedy recovery

kathy

Edited December 7, 2013 by proudgrammy

[tonydepalma 19]

Not PCP fault Bariatric surgeons are supposed to always have a requirement of sleep study CPAPs save countless lives

[sandisleeve 563]

Not PCP fault Bariatric surgeons are supposed to always have a requirement of sleep study CPAPs save countless lives

Interesting cause my bar. Surgeon didn't require it or maybe it was my insurance that didn't require it... Turned out I was negative for sleep apnea

I'm 16 days post op today and feeling weak but hoping all gets better soon

[macman 603]

A diagnosis of sleep apnea is also a consideration during surgery, especially for the Anestegiologist. I know that I got a lot of extra attention because I have severe obstructive apnea. My blood oxygen levels were constantly monitored before, during and after surgery