British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

After a life of sleep problems (my problem is Insomnia, my wife & kids would say it's Snoring), I finally got round to seeking help.

Had 1st hospital appointment today in ENT.

The Doc had a look down my throat & said say Ahhh & said an enphatic "ohh, there's your problem". Said my Uvula is very long.

He then said they would do a full test. I have to go in April to have a ApneaGraph. He explained I'll have a Catheter up my nose, which I'll go home & sleep with & everything will be monitored.


Is this standard?

Anything I should know?


Thanks!

Hmm, No replies. Hopefully you're all restfully Sleeping!


I wonder, is an ApneaGraph something you've all had or some new approach nobody's heard of????



Thanks!

Sorry not to have replied beforehand ... but I've never heard of an Apneagraph. Hope it helps you get diagnosed quickly and you soon get better sleep and for longer. Please keep us updated as to what happens in this procedure and what the results showed ... it's always good to improve one's knowledge!

Hello ,

The test you will be having at home will be something like what the site here sells -

http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/home_sleep_study.php

It saves the NHS alot of money instead of putting in for the full polysomnograph test .
I think you will find that the catheter your describe will be a small prong that just sits in each nostril its used to measure nasal breathing.

You have nothing whatsoever to worry about with this test.

Regards,

Thanks Nuneatonman

They said the catheter goes in the nose & down the throat. I asked if it would make me gag & the assistant said maybe a bit, depending on my gag reflex.

The leaflet I got is from ArthroCare ENT


.

Ouch !!!! im glad your having it and not me ,

Hope all goes well for you ,keep us posted

Regards,

TBH, I don't care what they do to me if it sorts out my Sleep!


I sure will. It's on the 4th April. I'll report back then.

.

I was diagnosed by apnoeagraph 15 months ago. I can confirm that it is a long nasal catheter. Inserted up one nostril and pushed down throat past the adams apple. This can then sense exactly where in the upper airway any obstruction lies. Catheter probe is then connected to the portable computer which can be strapped anywhere. That is about the size of laptop battery pack. You are also have a pulse oximeter connected to a finger. You are then sent home to sleep, next morning you go back to hospital to have it all removed. The sensor will show where obstruction is, amount of snoring, what position you are lying in, temperature, heart rate, non breathing episodes, breaths per minute.

I was first one in my hospital to have it done so it was they were very much learning. The first one never got of the ground because they did not know how to reset/reboot/configure the computer pack and they spent hours on a technical support line to Bangalore and was abandoned. The second time there was a lot of fumbling getting the catheter up my nose and down my throat - eventually got there with sips of milk to lubricate the throat. Not painful but the first few hours with it in it felt like I had a fishbone stuck in my throat. My results were available 2 weeks later and showed that I stop breathing 44 times an hour on average.

I am told that this is the way of the future as full attended sleep studies are too expensive. I was quite impressed with it, but the long fight after diagnosis to actually getting CPAP treatment is another thing. My thought in these economic times is why bother to diagnose if they wont treat. Sorry was about to get on my hobby horse again - anyway my story is well document on this site if people want to check it out. Yes I am still bitter.

Hi :

The ApneaGraph is a study used throughout the world.
Its unique feature is to allow the ENT clinicain to assess how often you stop breating during sleep , or if you problem is an airway resistance ( snoring) .

It also informs the clinician where the obstruction or resistance is most likely occuring, and therefore if you are suitable for surgery.

Do not worry about the catheter, its very small and you can eat and drink after you have it inserted.

It can feel a little strange when they are inserting the catheter, but once down, life goes on as normal and its only for one night.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Guest

I've found out loads more today. Had a conversation with a lady involved with ArthroCare. Incredibly helpful!!!

All looks/sound pretty thorough :

http://www.mra-medical.com/products.html



ApneaGraph AG 200
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea Syndrome and the Site of Obstruction

The ApneaGraph is a new diagnostic approach, aiding the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and the site of obstruction.

* Accurate diagnosis of the site of airway obstruction
* Identifies appropriate surgery
* Helps define suitable treatments :surgery or CPAP
* Cost effective: Ambulatory for home use

The ApneaGraph stores and analyses the breathing patterns of a patient by simultaneous continuos recording of pressure changes in the upper and lower airways using a micro-pressure –transducer catheter. By measuring pressures simultaneously at different levels in the pharynx, it is possible to identify the segment of airway obstruction during sleep in patients with sleep apnea.

ApneaGraph AG 200The ApneaGraph features easy set up and application in the Doctors office or sleep lab, is validated against Polysomnography and includes full disclosure report generation software.

The ApneaGraph helps with the identification of

* Obstructive apneas (upper/lower)
* Mixed apneas (upper/lower)
* Central apneas
* Hypopneas (upper/lower)

Includes full disclosure report generation software

See larger version



Available Channels:

* Upper airway pressure transducers
* Upper airway temperature/flow
* Lower airway pressure
* Lower airway temperature/flow
* Heart rate
* Spo2
* Body position
* Snoring

Event marking obstructive upper apnea
Software

A full report generator software package is available for windows 98 and above and requires a flash card reader.

See larger version

Have to say that I'm glad I've already been diagnosed by more traditional means. I have no doubt it will give useful and true results, but I'm glad that I'm not having that catheter ................. !!!

GOOD LUCK, and may it be for one night only!

I hear it's very thin. and as I'm sure you know, NOTHING could be worse than the torture of poor sleep.



I'm really looking forward to this. Wish it was today!

I hope that this was an endearment and not a term of abuse ... remember I don't live in the UK and am out of touch with 'slang'.

Yes of course!

Knackersyard

Hope it all goes well. The apnoeagraph is a walk in the park. Let us know the results.