Recommended Sleep Tracking Hardware / App for Possible Sleep Apnea

team teri on 18/11/2021 - 11:41

The last couple of weeks I've been sleeping really badly. I set aside plenty of time for sleep, but keep waking up and feeling not well rested in the morning.

I happened upon a presentation by a fatigue expert last weekend. 2 things I learned: sleep apnea could explain how I feel in the morning. I know I frequently snore, which seems to be a common symptom of sleep apnea, but a lot of people snore without it too.

He also recommended the app 'Sleep As Android'. I tried it for a few nights, but the app on its own clearly is 'placebo', phone in bed next to me doesn't measure squat, it attested me hours of sound sleep when in fact I was awake.

Questions now: is any of the many fitness bands / smart watches really good at actually sleep tracking? On it's own or in combination with some app (maybe Sleep as Android, but open to suggestions)?

Since we're on ozBargain: which is the cheapest good one that measures blood oxygen as well, which would be a sound indicator if indeed I suffer from sleep apnea?

And yes, I am aware that a proper diagnosis will need to be made by a doctor, probably specialist, but it sounds like a lot of hassle (sleep lab, etc), so I'd like to get a good idea myself first.

Health & Beauty Sleep Tracker

Comments

  • Drakesy on 18/11/2021 - 12:17
    +7

    Invest in a good sleep study.
    Best thing that i ever did.
    Got surgery and found a way to handle it without going down the CPAP route.

    Apps really don't do anything. I mean what are you expecting to do with the data?

    • Sleeqb7 on 18/11/2021 - 17:58
      +2

      Don't even need to invest in a study, you can talk to your doctor about it and he can get you a referral for one through the public health system. I did my sleep study last week!

  • KaTst3R on 18/11/2021 - 12:18

    If you have a smart watch, look out for your increased heart rate spikes during the night. This would be an indication of lack of oxygen which means your sleep apnea is choking you. A normal heart rate during rest should be 60 bpm or so.

  • Stewardo on 18/11/2021 - 12:18

    See a doctor,
    If you don’t have health insurance, Chemists can do a cheap sleep test, where you take home hardware strapped on to you then results are discussed with doctor, re cpap machine etc.
    don’t get medical advice off YouTube, don’t buy shonky apps/tech.
    If you do have a medical issue, get certified equipment prescribed by a doctor.

    • freefall101 on 18/11/2021 - 15:17
      +3

      Don't need health insurance to do a sleep test, it's provided under medicare.

      I did one a couple of years back, went to my GP, did the sleep test at royal melbourne a week later (although I might have gotten myself on a wait list because I was pretty bad, falling asleep at work, etc). Only downside was it was a month's wait to see a specialist to review the results.

      I think you need a specialist rather than a GP to review the results but I'm not 100% on that. They need to recommend a starting point based on how much pressure is needed (although these days they give you an automatic machine as a trial for a month which measures it for you, then you can save cash buying the non-automated one).

      Edit: And definitely easy to do. Popped into the hospital after dinner, got wired up, read a book/listened to music, slept for a few hours, left at about 6am and went and had breakfast. Piece of cake.

      • kiitos on 19/11/2021 - 07:58

        Sounds good, I had been thinking I'd find it hard to fall asleep in a strange bed and all wired up.

        • freefall101 on 19/11/2021 - 09:31

          I only got 4 hours sleep or so but it was enough data for them. Probably helped that I actually have really bad sleep apnea and was exhausted all the time, put me in a nice quiet room and it wasn’t too hard to sleep.

          Worth doing it at the hospital as a few sensors came off during the night, someone just came in and hooked them back up again.

    • morse on 18/11/2021 - 16:43

      A former GP I know said everyone who did those chemist based at home sleep tests ended up being recommended a CPAP machine, much more so that those who went to a clinic for a sleep study. She reckoned it was a bit of scam.

      • Stewardo on 18/11/2021 - 17:16

        Take results to GP, better than not having one done.

  • deme on 18/11/2021 - 12:33
    +2

    See a doctor.

  • pharkurnell on 18/11/2021 - 13:04
    +1

    but it sounds like a lot of hassle (sleep lab, etc)

    Its not a hassle, its piss easy.

    • Drakesy on 18/11/2021 - 13:15
      +10

      So easy you could do it with your eyes closed

  • donbot on 18/11/2021 - 13:48

    Having gone down the path of investigating possible sleep apnea, no 'do it at home' device will be thorough once you go through a proper overnight sleep study.

    From memory, I did a take-home test that the doctor gave me.. it was inconclusive. I then hit the public wait list for an overnight sleep study (it took months to get in there), and it confirmed that I dont have sleep apnea worth worrying about. Between the cameras on you and the 100 wires attached to your head and body - I'm confident they'd identify the problem.

    We moved not that long after, and I firmly believe that it was environment related issues that caused poor sleep - our apartment was too warm (was never uncomfortable, but when we moved, our house wasnt always as warm and I woke feeling 1000 fold better. We rarely used heating - it was just a warm apartment with a north westerly aspect). I also messed with different pillows - one, two, thin, thick, firm/etc… until i cracked that nut and found what really works for me.

    This is all without any tracking apps or change in bed - just environment and pillows.

    Lastly - do you drink alcohol? Reason I ask is no matter what, I will sleep horrendously bad if I have more than a couple of drinks in the evening. Dont feel hungover, but its enough to cause me to feel horribly unrested.

    • jellykingdom on 18/11/2021 - 15:37

      I didn't effing sleep one minute with all the wires hooked up to me. My results were inconclusive, probably because they didn't have any sleep data to go on.

      Definitely agree re the pillow and mattress. It's so hard to find the right match. I find the tougher part is convincing my wife WHY i want to change the mattress or the pillows or the bedding. For e.g the mattress is probably in need of a replacement, it's getting too soft, but she doesn't understand why it matters. It isn't just being fussy, it's actually causing a medical problem!

    • WT on 19/11/2021 - 10:24

      this is valid point as its been warming up I have been waking up hot, kick everything off and go back to sleep

  • dirtybigbjelke on 18/11/2021 - 14:00

    Record yourself with a digital recorder and then look at the file in software for loud moments. I discovered I really badly grind my teeth this way, plus dentist confirmed :(

  • silenthillrocks on 18/11/2021 - 15:45

    Xiaomi mi band 6 is pretty solid. Decent tracking for $60.

    Can be paired with sleep as Android too.

    • jv on 18/11/2021 - 15:47
      -2

      Xiaomi mi band 6 is pretty solid

      Read some reviews…

  • BBQChip on 18/11/2021 - 15:57

    I haven't had a sleep study done, but I was waking up feeling the same way and I think it's just spring allergies causing nasal congestion. I find a spray like Rhinocort helpful - see your pharmacy.

  • yk300 on 18/11/2021 - 16:42

    Sleep Check(https://sleepcheckapp.com/) is the only one which I think had some studies done on it. Obviously, not a replacement for a proper sleep study but a convenient screening tool.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 18/11/2021 - 17:59

    SnoreLab paid version

  • baker bob on 18/11/2021 - 21:16

    I got sent to a sleep study and the solution for me was to stop sleeping on my back so I got a device that detects when I'm on my back and vibrates on the back of my neck which prompts me to change position. That device also tracks data such as how much I was snoring and how long I was spending asleep etc. Ultimately for many people sleep apnea is a fat bastard problem so if you can't see your toes I would start there.

  • Waltervp on 19/11/2021 - 07:37

    My Garmin Vivosmart 4 is about $200 and does a great job tracking ichthyologist while I sleep and hear rate and movements. Also gives me a body battery indication to see if my sleep was effective. I have a chronic health condition effecting my lungs and I think this watch is brilliant for assessing sleep and general health.

    Doctors will tell you these are toys and not clinically proven etc. But anything noon pharma is classed that way. To me it is very indicative of my health. And tends is really all you need to see. As far as I'm concerned the sleep studies they've done on me are extremely similar in results. I would definitely do both, get a vivosmart 4 and a sleep study!

  • mingofmongo on 19/11/2021 - 07:49

    Surprised noone has mentioned the Withings Sleep analyser so far - it's brilliant and noninvasive. You put it under your mattress.
    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/withings-sleep-analyser?a…

    Tracks sleep, heart rate, snoring, sleep apnoea. $199 at in and can sometimes be had for $160 or so on sale.

    • shaybisc on 19/11/2021 - 09:38

      Under the mattress? Sounds like it would work better with ensemble beds. Under my mattress at the moment is metal and a lot of gaps - Zinus Quicklock.

  • pdperth on 19/11/2021 - 08:13

    A sleep study at pharmacy 777 for example costs about $100 I think. It's take home and no waiting, Medicare covers the rest if you qualify after a short survey.

  • numloxx on 19/11/2021 - 08:17

    Don't do it yourself. Goto your GP, get a referral to a sleep clinic. They can give you a kit to use overnight that will measure everything. Watches and apps don't do the right thing. Get properly diagnosed.

  • Lastchancetosee on 19/11/2021 - 09:09

    If this is a recent development are there changes in your situation or lifestyle which could be causing you to sleep less or less well, such as stress, new job, etc.?

    In any case, go down the GP and referral path and get some evidence-based medical care. They can work through the various options methodically until you get to the underlying reason.

  • peter de voil on 19/11/2021 - 09:27

    1. Consult your GP who will ask you the "20 questions" (actually, I think it's 6). If you're over a threshold you can get a detailed examination on medicare. Most sleep clinics don't do sleepovers any more - they'll get you to wire yourself up to a hired monitor at home.

    2. After the overnight study you can determine the appropriate path. If you end up with a CPAP machine, there is open source software to decipher the logs

    3. Lots more here: http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/

  • Cliche Guevara on 19/11/2021 - 10:03

    Cheap option to experiment with yourself - just search (eBay) for those silicon 'snore stoppers'. They work for me.

  • OzHunterNSW on 19/11/2021 - 11:09
    -2

    Revise what you are doing. Are you up watching/playing action packed movies/games all night? Are you in and out of the fridge all night?
    Look at remedies such as: Closing off all light in your bedroom. Have a small glass of warm milk. Look at techniques such as counting sheep (no joke). Clean sheets.
    Consider the fact you may have depression/anxiety. Speak with your doctor and obtain a script to address your ailments, if any.
    If you find it hard to sleep, toss and turn, wake up at 5am, and find it hard to go back to sleep, then it is a medical condition for which your doctor can help.

    DON'T worry about fandangle magic watches, or expensive wrist bands. If it is snoring, change your sleep position. Lose some weight!

  • Sensiekatie on 19/11/2021 - 12:07
    +1

    I have had 2 sleep studies both of which were bulk billed. The first was in a lab and the second in my own home. The lab was useless as I didn't sleep.

    The second time in my own home, they came to me every time throughout the process and it was all free. That included a CPAP trial. I didn't have to see a specialist at all, but they were involved in the analysis of the sleep data and determining treatment. I just didn't have to deal with them. The sleep therapist (an RN) was all I ever saw in my home.

    I know there are people out there offering surgeries, but not sure about effectiveness. I have no problems with my CPAP.

    • djk on 19/11/2021 - 22:57

      How did you access the cpap trial please?

  • Essem on 19/11/2021 - 20:23

    I had sleep study in hospital prior to Bariatric surgery and diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea. Used to get up to the toilet 3x night. That apparently is a sign of sleep apnoea. Used CPAP for about 12 months and in the meantime lost a lot of weight. Haven’t used CPAP since but often wonder about sleep apnoea and purchased SnoreLab app which records sleep overnight. I can hear myself breathing steadily with occasional mild snoring so I am confident I’m not gasping for breath and I NEVER have to get up for the loo. SnoreLab has a free version but limited recording ability.

  • Ritzee on 20/11/2021 - 07:40
    +1

    For me, I have found my low vitamin D count is the culprit when feeling tired when I wake up. I recommend getting a blood test done checking vitamin D level.
    Also, don’t waste time self diagnosing. Get the proper diagnosis for sleep apnea as there’s research that shows increase in the risk of dementia.

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