Is sleep apnea over-diagnosed?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 23:44:05 -0400

So when ever the CAPT spends most of the day cleaning the house and then goes to bed, and I’m trying to relax and sleep from a stressful day of watching football, she sounds like a freight train. So they are sending her for a sleep study. I hear everyone who walks in the door comes out with a CPAP machine. What’s up with that?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 26 at 2018 12:17 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 00:17:03 -0400

Be careful with that because I think it is a racket as well. It's on average $5,000 for a sleep study, and the best part for the medical industry is that one sleep study is not good for life. You need to have a sleep study done before you can get a prescription for the CPAP. Per the medical standards of the CPAP as I was told by my Doctor, you need a new sleep study each time you drop or gain 20-30 lbs., which is another $5,000. I opted to lose weight instead of the CPAP or sleep study. Doctor stated since that worked for my Father..........weight loss might work for me as well and he gave it his OK. If it doesn't work I'll go ahead with the sleep study but will still look for an alternative for the CPAP...........maybe surgery next to prevent the obstruction in the first place.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 26 at 2018 11:02 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 11:02:34 -0400

The illness is not in itself over diagnosed. I guarantee that many people’s lives are improved by the use of a CPAP. It is a career ender for more than just pilots, for the most part Soldiers and Marines are non-deployable because of it. Who would gain anything by faking the symptoms and getting a physician to prescribe the system is a wonder.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2018 6:22 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:22:07 -0400

I have had 2 slept studies. No CPAP machine.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2018 6:31 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:31:54 -0400

Well, my experience is more with people leaving the service and picking up that CPAP machine with VA disability.

Response by PO1 Mary Vermont made Mar 27 at 2018 10:39 AM

PO1 Mary Vermont — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 10:39:42 -0400

My guess is yes

Response by PO1 Mary Vermont made Mar 27 at 2018 10:40 AM

PO1 Mary Vermont — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 10:40:49 -0400

Just like hyper-activity and all the children they have put on drugs because of it

Response by Isaac Bell made May 17 at 2022 4:51 AM

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Response by 1SG John Millan made Jan 30 at 2024 10:13 AM

1SG John Millan — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:13:56 -0500

It can't be over diagnosed. Its based on an objective, quantified set testing and diagnostic standard, vs a subjective, diagnosis of exclusion. Lung capacity can't be faked. Gotta be from burn pits.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Jan 30 at 2024 3:38 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:38:50 -0500

I don't think sleep apnea is over diagnosed. I would point out that only people who show distinct signs of sleep apnea are ever tested, so it's not surprising that most people who are tested are found to have it.

One possible problem is that the diagnosis is pretty much YES or NO (with almost everyone who is tested being a YES as already noted). There is essentially no way for a doctor to say "You have a little bit of sleep apnea."

Another possible problem is that there are very limited treatments available for sleep apnea. Pretty much the only non-surgical treatment is positive airway pressure, which means blowing air into your nose or nose and mouth to force the throat open to push air into the lungs. So, yes, pretty much "everyone who walks in the door comes out with a CPAP machine."

Overall, there are probably more people who have sleep apnea who are undiagnosed simply because they have never been tested.

Be sure she puts in her VA disability paperwork.

Response by PO1 Mary Vermont made Jan 31 at 2024 10:20 AM

PO1 Mary Vermont — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:20:54 -0500

Well, of course they do and they try to scare you into it. My advice is to look into options.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 9 at 2024 12:32 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:32:32 -0500

What we hear and what we see are usually very different things. The machine is rather technical and is connected to a monitor at the treatment facilities. The Mel of apnea is evaluated in a hospital setting, a controlled environment the doctors would be jeopardizing their careers, for what! Bottom line it can extend and save lives.