I wonder if it would be helpful to allow people who experience sleep issues to just get a CPAP machine and try it out, instead of having to go through a sleep study.
Most people aren't good at assessing their own fatigue. A sleep study gives one quantifiable information about the quality of one's sleep.
So may people find their CPAP uncomfortable when they first use it, that it's unlikely they'll use it properly. Having a first use under the watchful eyes of a physician could be a good idea.
Then again, some people also get one and then don't use it, so maybe it's more of the same.
Yes, I'm sure it's not as good as having a proper sleep study but if the end result is that more people who need them get them it would be a positive outcome.
Also, a doctor can show you how to use one, you would not necessarily be completely on your own.
Sleep studies are just such a hassle (and expensive, depending on where you live), and if you have a weird sleep schedule it can be difficult to even fall asleep in time.
Being able to just rent a CPAP machine for a couple of days and have a doctor show you how to use it would be a good option to have.
I bought a wearable blood oxygen meter as I was concerned I had apnea. A previous study was inconclusive (I don’t think I slept the whole night). If I sleep on my back, I’m certain I have apnea, but haven’t validated with the o2 meter. Sleeping on my stomach, my o2 levels were acceptable all night. Once I confirm apnea on my back, I’ll probably get another sleep study (I’ve gained at least 30lbs since the last), and a CPAP... just like my father.
Not the OP but I use a Garmin Vivosmart 4 for this purpose - it is the cheapest Garmin I found with the SpOx functionality. I have a feeling it reads lower than a fingertip device due to its wrist location but it is very helpful to compare measurements across nights to see how things went.
It's already just like that here in california. They schedule a free in-home sleep study, then lend you (again, for free) a CPAP machine for a week. Then you decide if you want to keep (buy) it.
I've wondered that, too. Between my insurance company and me, we spent a combined $1000 on deciding whether I should get one. That's more than a low-end unit costs.
