Got my sleep study results back, and I don't understand a word of it, HELP

[kenneltech]

I don't know why in the world my doctor would send ME the results in medical terminology, I can see sending these results to my family doctor, but I can't understand any of it.  Please help if you can...

Sleep scoring data:
Sleep latency was 5.5 minutes. The total sleep time was 286 minutes and the sleep efficiency was 72.3%. There were 40 scored awakenings after sleep onset and a total wake after sleep onset time of 104 minutes. There were 2 observe periods of REM sleep and the REM latency from sleep onset was 39 minutes which is abbreviated.

Cardiology monitoring:
Continuous ECG monitoring revealed a normal sinus baseline rhythm throughout the study. There were no abnormal rhythms noted. The EKG channel did show occasional artifact. The pulse rate was elevated for much of the study and the mean heart rate was 91 beats per minute.

Motor activity:
Continuous monitoring of motor activity throughout the study revealed an absence of sleep-related movement disorders including excessive fragmentary myoclonis, dream-enactment behavior, REM without atonia or bruxism .

Respitory monitoring:
CPAP was initiated at a pressure of 9 cm and titrated incrementally to apparant breakthrough events. At her home pressure of 9 cm there continued to be significant desaturations as low as 82% a. These were confirmed by the non-artifactual plethysmography tracing. Desaturations were as low as 83% at a pressure of 13 cm. A close review of respitory channels reveals that many of these desaturations were preceded by central apneas which were not originally scored. There appeared to be increasing central apneas with increasing pressure suggesting in over titrations.

Patient behavior and technician observations:

No unusual behaviors to suggest a parasomnia.

Impression/Recommendations:

This is a polysomnogram undertaken prior to a multi-sleep latency test. The study shows a decreased REM onset latency which can be seen in situations of severe sleep deprivation or hypersomnias. There were increasing central apneas at higher pressures suggesting that these are treatment-emergent in nature. Despite overall paucity of breakthrough events, desaturations were present into the low 80's. It would be useful to add supplemental oxygen in the home environment and obtain oximetry thereafter. Additionally, the patient did not obtain significant duration of sleep and as such, the results of her nap study may be skewed..\

Impessions/recommendations:
This is an abnormal multi-sleep latency test which shows excessive daytime somnolence as demonstrated by a means of sleep onlet latency of 4 minutes. There wer no sleep onset REM periods observed. This must be taken in context of the data from the plysomnogram on the night prior to this study which showed a total sleep time of 286 minutes.

thanks

[CrohnieToo]

Collies and Canaan Dogs were my two breeds. I was a member of our local humane society for several years. Did some cruelty investigations but I just wasn't cut out for that and was ineffective. I worked at the shelter for awhile when it first opened until they could hire some caregivers. Before the shelter opened someone dropped off a lovely sable smooth Sheltie. I kid you not that is exactly what she looked lilke. I managed to hide her for almost 2 months. I just don't understand people. She was sweet, not at all timid, not at all over boisterous or aggressive, just sweet. And pretty. And CLEAN in her kennel. People passed her by repeatedly and took home timid dogs, what I considered overly boisterous dogs and dogs that were NOT clean in their kennel. Eventually the society veterinarian got wise to me and she was euthanized. That was my last day at the shelter. They had hired 2 staff persons by then altho another 2 were needed but I just didn't care for the public.

[kenneltech]

Yes, your comments did help some, but I think I will google sleep forums and see if I can get a little better breakdown.  What kinds of dogs did you raise?  I've worked in daycares, shelters and places for many years, although I am not working with animals right now.  Showing dogs is a whole different "animal!"

I do not have COPD, but I was diagnosed with asthma when I was just a kid, although it is just exercise induced asthma and generally do not have a problem with it.  The ONLY time I have problems with it is if I go to a humid place (can't take Florida, Louisiana, etc., ) or swimming.  Other than that, it never has bothered me, although we aren't getting any younger and things that used to not bother us have a tendency to creep up on us.

Thank you.

[CrohnieToo]

Hi! I bred and showed dogs for some 25 years. Scooped a lotta poop in my day! That being said, I am NO sleep professional, just a COPD, OSA patient.

A lot of OSA patients would REALLY appreciate their sleep doctor having sent the dictated results to them! What is even more valuable is the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs that many of us ask for too. It then just becomes a matter of educating ourselves so we understand them and that you are starting to do. Good on you!!

Latency just means the length of time it took you to achieve whatever the subject is.
There are 4 stages of sleep: Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and REM. REM is Rapid Eye Movement. Assuming that scored events means the number of apneas and hypopneas combined, your apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was 4.7. Generally it takes an AHI >5 for a Dx of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). I would think that the mean heart rate of 91 which is high for sleep is due to so little sleep being accomplished. Central apenas occur when the brain "forgets" to tell the lungs to breathe or when CPAP pressure is too high. An overnight oximetry at home w/your current CPAP and settings are indicated and can be scripted by your doctor. The recommendation is that the at-home overnight oximetry be done w/02 supplementation to your CPAP. Insufficient sleep time during your overnight PSG could well have skewed the results of your multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Usually length of time to achieve sleep AND experiencing REM during the naps is needed for a Dx of narcolepsy.

Do you have asthma, COPD, allergies? Do you experience shortness of breath (SOB) during the day? Have you had a spirometry or pulmonary function test (PFT)?

I'm not real experienced at using MedHelp yet so I don't know what info is easily available here. But there are 4 good sleep apnea support group forums that I frequent which have EXCELLENT explanations of sleep terminology and explanations of PSG testing. A google search should bring them up.