THREE SLEEP STUDIES, AND RUNNING OUT OF SOLUTIONS

[aspiringdiva]

I'm a 63-year-old female in good health; I began to have cognitive problems (memory loss, inability to focus, etc.) which caused me to lose my job 3 years ago; a brain scan was inconclusive. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 9/06 (sleep study #1); since a 12/06 turbinate reduction/septoplasty I've had constant fatigue and my left nostril collapses when I inhale. Sleep study #2 (3/07) showed the sleep apnea had gotten worse.  I've tried CPAP (nasal pillows, nasal mask, face mask) but can't tolerate the masks/headgear - they keep me from sleeping and/or they wake me up. My ENT surgeon and a second ENT don't see any physiological causes for the nostril collapse. I'm awaiting results of sleep study #3.  I've lost the weight I gained as a result of the nasal surgery fatigue, and I'm installing wood floors and a foam bed to reduce the impact of allergies on my sleep. I live in a small Southern California city with a teaching hospital, excellent medical care, and more specialists per capita than any other place in the USA, but I'm running out of solutions. Any suggestions?