Sleep Disorders

So, the company that did my sleep study can tell me a lot of things about my sleep disorder...unfortunately none of those things is the name of the disorder...

I'll get my "official" diagnosis when I see my PCP this Thursday. In the meantime, here's a good guestimate of what my issue might be...

The Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) norm is fewer than 5 instances per hour. During the study I experienced 36-49 per hour. Since I never slept for very long during this study I sincerely doubt they got a solid hour from me so I'm sure that number is a statistic of some kind, but it's enough to scare the crap out of me.

Okay, I'm sold. What do I need to do? Apparently I need to listen to a bunch of other information meant to scare me into agreeing to spend my co-pay and get the machine for which this particular group (associated with my doctor's medical practice) just happens to be a vendor.

Did I mention how glad I am to be going through this during the middle of the politicized healthcare debate?

Fortunately, I have awesome PPO insurance (for which I pay an additional premium) and my co-pay is reasonable-adjacent. After researching the machine options, I can't imagine having to figure out how to pay for the machine, mask, tube insulation, blah blah blah, on my own--let alone the respiratory therapist my coverage includes for the proper set-up so I don't blow out my ear drums...

Oh, yeah! There are lots and lots and LOTS of online posts from people who hate these machines and have had miserable experiences with them...only the threat of suffocating in my sleep is making me get this machine. I'm talking HORROR stories, people!

So, tonight and tomorrow night I will sleep with one eye open trying not to die until my CPAP savior arrives...assuming I can decide whether to go with the $125 or $400 option.

Can't wait to go through the peaks and valleys of LapBand qualifiers...!