Went for a sleep study, doctor fully expected I'd need one, had it all written up for a split-study. (I KNOW I've waken up with a huge gasp for air a couple times in last few weeks. I end up breathing very slow and shallow (like I'm forgetting to breathe) during the day, mostly/especially in certain semi-reclined positions.)

Technician hooking me up to all the wires & stuff explained everything I could ever (and even never would want to) know about sleep studies.

Including that now most insurance companies require 40 episodes per hour, or 120 per 180 minutes of sleep, before they will pay for a machine. So, the sleep center doesn't even try you on a machine if they see apnea, unless you meet or exceed the 40 per hour requirement.

From what I've been able to find, this is a really high number. Am I right? Is this abnormal for a sleep study to not even consider testing a cpap on you until you cross this number? Or, (once again) is my local hospital just bad news?

I have had a good number of testing for sleep apnea. On testing I had CPAP on the first and second (Which I had a mask on). A few year later I was with another doctor so I went on another trip, but because I could not sleep I had to repeat which there was no mask, so I had to repeat it. On the next one I did have a mask on and did fine.

These studies were done at night time. It is hard to believe they are done during the day. Hope you develop some helpful answers.Thoughts and prayers with you.

Most insurances are based on Medicare guidelines. Medicare requires 2 hours of actual sleep time and 15 apneas per hour of sleep. Another words 30 apneas in a 2 hour sleep period. Medicare changes their minds yearly, so most sleep labs make sure that the worst sceanario is present so the patient does not have to come back and re-qualify, and that you don't have to pay out of pocket for the equipment and supplies. The sleep labs are trying to save you time and money in the long run. The physicians just want to have you treated ASAP so you can enjoy a great nights sleep. They don't know when insurance companies are going to change their rules.

yeah, see, that's it. This guy says most insurance requires 40 episodes per hour, and 120 episodes per 180 minutes (3 hours) of sleep. That's two episodes per 3 minutes....so when do you have time to breathe at all at that rate? So, they don't even test a CPAP on you unless you have more than 40 episodes per hour. From what I've found so far, this seems like an extremely high requirement.

Sorry, Darlene, I wasn't clear. The sleep testing was indeed done at night. What I meant was, I know I have problems breathing during the day, if I recline (on couch, in chair, whatever) at certain angles, after a short bit I realized I'm barely breathing, it gets really slow and shallow, and then I end up instinctively heaving a huge breath and breathing hard to "catch up", then, if I don't change position or consciously breathe more deeply, it just happens over and over. Is why I finally convinced one of my doctors to send me to a pulmonologist. In the two months waiting for the appointment, things continued to get worse, and in last few weeks I've woken up with a giant gasp or gulp for air a few times. Is why he sent me for the sleep study. Didn't seem much impressed or to care about the daytime problems.

This all started with a massive car accident over a year and a half ago. Complications are still ongoing/progressing. Have had this problem from the start, but no one listens to anything that isn't a five minute to diagnose & solve problem. So I guess I continue to get what sleep I do, propped up in a recliner-couch on my side packed in pillows to keep me on my left side, weight off my shoulder, right arm held up level, back packed in to support bad zone, knees also pillowed to minimize pain (two diff docs, same MRI, and either there's absolutely nothing wrong with it or it's completely shot from trauma-induced arthritis, take your pick), it's freaking ridiculous. But as long as I'm completely on my side and not tipped back at all, and partially upright, the breathing thing doesn't seem to happen. Oh well.

I am sorry, I think you misunderstood how many events you need to qualify for CPAP. It is 30-40 in a 2 hour period. That is an average of 15 episodes per hour. Many will qualify during a testing night.

I am not sure what state you live in. This does vary between state to stae. There is help out there for those who cannot afford testing and a machine. Please check around with the home care companies and physicians. Maybe even the community health center.

Nope, he specifically said, "40 per hour, or that is to say 120 per 180 minutes of sleep".

This guy talked slowly and deliberately and repetitively and ENDLESSLY the whole time he was hooking me up, from when he first took me down the hallway to the center until I was piling up the pillows and lifting the blanket. I knew the entire history of sleep studies and everything by the time he was done (even covered how the early astronauts had shaved heads and a cap with all the sensors and wires built into it so that they were monitored...).

This is Connecticut.
And it is not a good area for needing medical care beyond a sore throat or a sprained ankle.

The only community health center would be this hospital, and despite the usual printed policy about people who cannot pay, they HAVE and DO take peoples' homes who cannot pay their bills. I do have insurance, so if insurance won't pay, nobody else will (have been through this with certain meds), or it just encourages the insurance companies to refuse things, so they say.

I'm on my 5th machine first 3 machines were cpap now on Bi-pap I qualify because of my O2 in the blood level drops less than 68% ... I stop breathing for long periods of time I guess.. i find the Bi-pap is more comfort to sleep with.. I have have 3 sleep studys and they want to do another and another thung I use to do was sleep driving.. even while I was using the machines, there a stay awake pill they put me on is provigil