33 year old female newbie here, always tired and yawning, can find myself shutting eyes at my desk. Did an Epworth Sleepiness Scale test as a participant for my PhD supervisors study recently and got 16! Hard to get doctors to listen if I say im tired as im a PhD student...
I just remembered I had a in-home sleep test 3 years ago that was never really followed up. My father has OSA and uses a cpap and my dentist thought i may have it too as back then Epworth Sleepiness was 13, hence the test. I just looked through the report again and wonder whether I should have had some form of follow up; my dentist didnt really follow it up.
Main points from the report as follows:
Arousal Index 18.2; RDI 13.1 [so both in mild 5-15 range].
[The RDI was exclusively from hypopnea episodes; no OSA or central apneas.]
Sleep efficiency was 91% and lowest SaO2 was 96% [so my oxygen levels seemed ok]
Conclusion:No significant snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea. Infrequent hypopnoea and occasional arousals with bruxism.
Clinical Recommendations
1. Clinical correlation recommended.
2. Optimised sleep hygiene and improved nasal and upper airway patency (incl ENT assessment as indicated) may be of benefit.
3. Sleep physician review if concerning or persistent symptoms.
I already wear a night guard for bruxism and to fix an overbite; and had actually had sinus surgery for chronic sinus inflammation and deviated septum 6 months prior to the sleep test. But maybe im still not breathing properly? Also they seemed to be mostly, but not exclusively, when on my back
I guess I am just wondering whether I should get this followed up given I am still really sleepy. It seems mild, but also does seem as if something is not quite right.
Thanks!