OSA or Hypersomnia?
How do you know for sure if you have OSA vs Hypersomnia? Is that proven by the sleep study? I was diagnosed with OSA but can’t use CPAP or oral appliance so I have had to rely on 2 mg of Lorazepam nightly for many years or I can’t sleep BUT I have to nap 2 hours every afternoon. It seems like such a waste of a life but I can’t function when I hit that fatigue wall!! Any others with something that works for them besides CPAP or oral appliance or Inspire (I won’t try that)?
Hi
. The tests for OSA are definitive. A sleep test will show how often you awaken and what your oxygen levels are when you awaken. It will also show episodes during which you stopped breathing. So, if you received a diagnosis based on a sleep test, you can be confident that you do have it. Still, if it has been a few years, it wouldn't hurt to get retested. Testing for hypersomnia is more subjective. Doctors might ask you to rate your sleepiness, keep a sleep diary and/or do around round of sleep tests to determine the quality of your sleep and your sleep cycles. If the sleep apnea is not well treated though, it can be hard to diagnose hypersomnia. When you tried using a CPAP, did you try a variety of masks and the full mask versus the nasal pillow? The type of mask can make a huge difference when it comes to comfort. Here is an article with some lifestyle changes that can ease sleep apnea: https://sleepapnea.sleep-disorders.net/lifestyle-changes. For people with OSA, sleeping with the head elavated can sometimes make a huge difference. I hope this helps and that you get some relief. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
