Sleep test?

You’re making this into a much bigger problem than it is. I took my original sleep study eight years ago, I didn’t think I had an issue, but I had a new girlfriend (now my wife) who told me I stopped breathing several times in my sleep that first night we slept together.

That first test was the one at the sleep center where they wired me up and I had to sleep on my back (I almost never sleep that way.) Much to my surprise, I fell asleep fairly quickly. I had (and have) pretty significant sleep apnea, and the readout told the tale. I’ve used a CPAP ever since, and it’s definitely helped me get much more restful sleep. And I roll over in my sleep without any problems from the mask or hose.

More recently, I did a take home test, they sent me home from my doctors office with a small machine. It was much less intrusive. It didn’t have all the wires and sensors of that original test, I think it mostly just recorded my pulse and my oxygen levels (using one of those finger clamps). Again, it was easy peasy, and confirmed that my CPAP was doing the job.

I would be delighted to pass a breathing test and no longer have sleep apnea, but for now I’m using the machine with no issues.

 

Your company has no right to force you to essentially give up your current medical status in favor of theirs. They can choose not hire you or fire you but your medical choices are your alone to make.

If you want to stay with this employer you'll have to take the test. However, if you don't want to take the test nobody can force you to and nobody can change your medical status until your next physical. FYI, plenty of people do exams that aren't actually medical doctors. Mine are usually done by a chiropractor.

Personally, you should lose the weight. Get healthy and they'll all be off your back about it.

 

I would not WANT to take the test, but I would rather take the test at home than at a sleep clinic if that was an option. I get the feeling you are going to argue yourself into taking the test at a sleep clinic which will be much less comfortable than in your own bed. If the doc gave you 30 or 90 days to get the test that could be a few dozen attempts at taking the test at home. As I see it, you probably have a couple of options, find another job, but only after you find out it you can bring a valid DOT to them, or take the test in the most comfortable of the uncomfortable options. Do you see another option? You wouldn't stop driving your car or truck because something MIGHT go wrong, would you? Don't confuse being mad or strongly disagreeing with taking the test as the same as not having to take the sleep test.

 

Truth!! I had a job lined up and had to go get a new dot card just for them. Went to their doctor and had an issue the doctor wanted more testing for. Hadnt been a problem for years till i get to this quack. I called up the new job and said oh well im done. I will keep my old job and med card i have now. Thanks anyway. Hold on he said. We have other doctors approved call one of them. Lo and behold i did and walked in and out just like usual no problems. Fast forward several years and I move companies and again back to the same quack. I tell them upfront what happened and they said you call with any problems. This is a big company for the doctor and this time he passed me with no trouble. I said all that crap to say I think somenof these companies sometimes have their hand involved in these exams.

 

If a driver doesn't have sleep apnea then the test will prove it. So nothing to worry about. To be diagnosed with sleep apnea a person has to have 5 or more Events per hour. An Event is when someone stops breathing for 10 seconds or more. They say 1-4 Events per hour is normal for everyone and not sleep apnea. They have a sleep apnea scale 5-15 Events per hour is Mild. 15-30 is Moderate and 30+ is Severe sleep apnea

An Event or AHI is when someone stops breathing for 10 seconds. They don't need someone to sleep 7-8 hours to see if someone have sleep apnea. If someone only sleeps 30 minutes and has 2 Events they can basically double it for 1 hour and that personal would have 4 Events and not sleep apnea. If someone had 15 Events in 30 minutes they have sleep apnea.

If someone snores is doesn't mean they have sleep apnea but it possible more likely if they snore so much and wake themselves up.

You can record yourself sleeping and listen to hear if your gasping for air. That's what usually happens if someone has sleep apnea. They stop breathing then they are gasping for air.

Another thing if people can't sleep on their back they might have sleep apnea. Lots of people will say the sleep better on their sides because they sleep good on they backs. If someone has vivid dreams. I say scary dream because I had dreams I was going to die then I would wake up. They say the dreams happen because when someone stops breathing. The brain knows you chocking and not breathing. So your brain pumps adrenaline trying to wake you up. That's were the crazy dreams come from. I guess it put more pressure on your heart and body basically because you body is running on adrenaline all night. People wake up in the morning feeling exhausted or like they been running a marathon all night or just tired. Plus blood oxygen levels drop at night because someone stops breathing they wake up feeling tired till the start breathing correctly again.

If someone had 15 Events or AHI that would mean they stopped breathing 15x10 seconds. 150 seconds per hour. 150/60minuts is 2.5 minutes per hour of sleep not breathing. If someone sleep 7 hours x2.5 minutes per hour. That person would not breath for 17.5 minutes per night. Try holding your breath for 17.5 minutes and see how you feel. Ha ha. A CPAP can help someone if they have bad sleep apnea.

People don't always have sleep apnea the neck size thing is not very good sign of sleep apnea but it seems to be the one they picked. That's why they test to see what a persons Events or AHI are first. Record yourself sleeping for 30 minutes or 1 hour and listen to see if you hear yourself gasping for air or stop breathing. If it 1-4 times per hour or 2 times for 30 minutes. No sleep apnea. If you hear gasping for air 6 times per hour or 3 for 30 minutes. You probably have sleep apnea

 

I was asked if i had it, i said, “No.”
dude said “What ls your neck size?”

I asked what is max, he said 17, i said mines 16. never been asked again.
I had one woman asked if I snored, told her truthfully, I don’t know, when i’m asleep I don’t have an outta body experience, but she was more than welcome to sleep with me and tell me in the morning if my ole lady was present and knew she’d keep her hands to herself.

She no longer asks me those type questions either.

 

In my experience this isn't true at all. Of the hundreds of people (yes, literally hundreds) of people I know that have taken the test exactly one came back not needing a CPAP machine. The place he got his physical done refused to accept the results and made him get another study done and to no one's surprise he needed a CPAP after the second time around doing the exact same test.

So no, a test will not prove a person doesn't have apnea.

 

I can't disagree, because I have seen it as well.

In general, there is so much BS and pure 100% USDA Grade A Malarkey on this entire subject I don't even know where to begin. First, you can ALWAYS get a 2nd physical IF YOU NOTATE ON THE 2nd PHYSICAL THE FIRST ONE! I helped a guy do this about a month ago. He got scammed by a local quack and almost lost his medical. With the help of a fantastic physician, he got a new 2-year card.

BS, you ALWAYS have options! The trick is finding them.

Some of the best advice in this thread. Not only this but eat healthily and get plenty of exercise.

Today I am 64, and honestly staying depressed a lot taking notice of so many people I know passing away early, far too young! Lose that weight and you will find you will sleep better and have much more energy.

 

Sleep apnea is ½ serious medical condition and ½ scam.
If you truly have sleep apnea it can lead to other more serious medical conditions. It can also inhibit your ability to function. Definitely something that needs to be taken care of.
Sleep studies put you in a strange bed with a camera on you. There are wires pasted to your head so you can't get in a comfortable position. Then if you have trouble sleeping they say you have sleep apnea.
Now that you have it you'll have to wear a cpap. You'll have to show that you are wearing it every night or lose your license.
The machines cost around $200 but they charge you a $1000. They know that you have to pay so why not over charge.

If you're lucky you can spend thousands on another sleep test and get them to remove the cpap requirement from your medical card.
The only time I fell asleep during the day was when I was using a cpap. I was exhausted from the terrible sleep I got while using it.

 

Nobody can force you to sleep with a cpap machine on every night.

Is the cpap cia going to stop in every night at 10 pm and spend the night staring at you?

Lose some weight man...for your overall health including hips, knees, ankles, and feet, as well as the usual heart etc.

But cpap patroll cops do not exist.
If you want to store it on the shelf in the spare room, do so.
Buy a used one to save money if you want.
All you have to do is buy one, don't wear it if you hate it.