What is the cheapest home sleep apnea test?

Let me try to put some well in what you put above.

"Pulse Oximetry" is misleading at best, in any type of sleep study. Any data collected by this method, and used to diagnose a disorder, is part of the sell. That is, they sell you that you have a disorder, then have you purchase a machine... The motivation? Money!

Ok, Pulse Oximetry works by passing 2 wavelengths of light though the body then calculates the absorption spectrum for particular gas content of the blood.

Here is the problem: It cannot measure carried O^2 at all. (meaning oxygen carried by hemoglobin) It also cannot measure ANY blood gas saturation. Even though they attempt to by guessing at pulse rate metabolism.

However... The meters ARE a great source of fun... They also use them in bathrooms where you can check your (love factor, or mood) Just place your finger in the sensor, put in a quarter. And receive your answer... So the question is, would any sane person want actual medical data, being collected by novelty love/mood meter... being used to sell them on a premise that they have a sleep disorder?

 

The color depth of the blood as the light passes through it is supposed to signify the content of oxygen in the blood. Blood oxygen levels are measured and used in real hospitals and doctors offices using oximeters.
For me, most of this is like homeopathic and chiropractic medicine. If it works for you, go for it. You have the liberty to do so. I have an issue that the government is getting involved in it. Then again, the beauracracies that are involved are likely unconstitutional anyways.

 

Doctors usually use the finding to determine if supplemental oxygen is required. Cpap does not generate additional oxygen. It forces additional naturally oxygenated air into the airway.

In my situation, pulse oximetery was the basis for their determining how vital it was for me to be on cpap. Quite humorous actually. They like to use 92 as the number to pass our fail you, and the % of time of the sleep session you were under the 92.

 

I'd rather be called paranoid then a blind sheep. These docs can tell you whatever you want. Numbers can be used in lies. My numbers came from the first hour after I fell asleep. They sure didn't want more numbers that weren't necessary, they had what they wanted. THESE GUYS WANT US TO HAVE CPAPS. If they want us to have them, they have plenty of tricks to stick us with one, if you're an idiot like I was...

 

I have talked to lots of drivers that are on cpap. Many of these drivers don't even know what the doctors look for on the data collected by the machines.

Most drivers will likely never talk to or be sent to any doctor for follow-up.
For drivers on cpap, the only way to get off of it is to have another sleep study, more money. Drivers should question any doctor that determines they need any sort of therapy, especially if you the driver feel perfectly fine. A second opinion usually will not help unless it's from God himself.

 

I agree, there is no question that some people have sleep disorders. However, nowhere near the numbers that some of them like to throw around (Some claim 1 out of 10 people have it... while others claim at least 1 out of 15 people have sleep apnea). Think about it, that's a lot of coin for cpap machines.

 

There are different levels and forms of it. But for the most part it comes down to integrity. In the report I posted earlier, they mention the integrity of drivers and the need for a way to measure compliance. From this, companies and jobs have been made. The data is collected and time on machine is calculated and thus is forwarded to safety managers at the trucking companies. If drivers fall below the company criteria, they are put out of service. Not by law, but by company policy. Who makes the policy? LAWYERS. If a driver retains an attorney to support his second opinion, he will likely be taken off cpap and allowed to drive for the company. Again, it is not supposed to be about hiring and firing.

 

A pharmacy lent me a pulse oximeter/recorder a while back. Man, was I surprised at the results! Then, as I thought about it, no, I'm not surprised. It's interesting what level of discomfort we can put up with and not realize that you're in pain. My immediate goal is to lose 15 pounds RIGHT STARTING IMMEDIATELY (already started) and re-evaluate.

A good night's sleep is not a good thing to miss out on.

As for CPAP, I'd rather attack the cause than the symptom for now. Good auto's come on CraigsList for as little as $200-$250 from time to time and I'd spring for that, too.

 

You'll be healthier losing the weight than you will having the hose on your face. If that is what comes of this, good for all heavy weights.

 

Too many people get into this industry because their desperate for a job. Companies know this & take advantage of these people. More than likely their in deep debt so another $1,000 for a Cpap machine is nothing. They now have a disease but hey at least they have a job.