Is a CPAP machine neccessary for very MILD sleep apnea?
My husband was snoring and not sleeping very well for a few months. We had a lot of issues going on and neither of us were sleeping well. He went to a sleep clinic and spent one night. His AHI was 5 point 1. 5 through 14 is classified as mild sleep apnea. His oxygen saturation was 89%. He had heard all kinds of horror stories on how uncomfortable the CPAP machine was so he decided to lose some weight (20lbs so far), start exercising and eating better and taking melatonin at night for a more peaceful sleep. Both of us are doing so much better.
His DOT physical dr required a release from the sleep clinic. The sleep clinic refused to release him until he spends another night in the clinic and receives a CPAP machine. We have very good insurance and I see this as a subtle display of insurance abuse. They congratulated him on the efforts he has made to become more healthy but they refuse to acknowledge that he may be maintaining his MILD sleep apnea without any medical interference. Could I be wrong about the sleep clinic? Could he really need this contraption for his face? Can’t we control this on our own? He is sleeping fine now. Should he get a second opinion?
Tagged with: contraption • cpap machine • horror stories • insurance • insurance abuse • interference • melatonin • oxygen saturation • peaceful sleep • second opinion • sleep • sleep apnea • sleep clinic
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
Well, an O2 sat of 89% is dangerously low, so I wouldn’t classify that as mild. Second, sleep apnea is usually congenital and has nothing to do with a person’s weight. I have always been active and fit and have severe sleep apnea. My sleep doctor says his worst case he’s ever seen is on a 110 pound woman. Therefore, being more healthy is definitely a good thing, but it doesn’t mean that the sleep apnea has gone away. I think that it’s worthwhile that he do another sleep study — untreated sleep apnea is dangerous, and I would freak out about a 89% O2 saturation.
Regardless, millions of people use a CPAP machine, and it is not so horrible. He only uses it while sleeping. I’ve been using one for 10 years, since my mid-20s. I don’t like it, but it made me much healthier and I know it has added years to my life.
Definitely get a second opinion, even a third… most pulmonologists will not order a CPAP for MILD apnea, but an oxygen saturation of 89% is NOT MILD either. So, get another opinion.