Questions to Ask Your Doctor When Speaking About Insomnia and Sleep Apnea

Questions to Ask Your Doctor When Speaking About Insomnia and Sleep Apnea

If you regularly struggle to fall asleep, wake throughout the night or feel exhausted despite spending enough time in bed, it can be difficult to know what is actually going on. Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can occur separately, but they also commonly occur together, a combination known as comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea, or COMISA.

Talking openly with your doctor about all your sleep symptoms can help you get a clearer picture. Here are some useful questions to guide the conversation.

Could I have both insomnia and sleep apnea?

This is an important question because the two conditions can have overlapping symptoms. Both can cause disrupted sleep, daytime fatigue and concentration difficulties. However, insomnia typically involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after waking early, while OSA can cause snoring, breathing interruptions, gasping and unrefreshing sleep.

Not everyone with OSA experiences obvious symptoms, so mentioning both your nighttime and daytime experiences can help your doctor assess the full picture.

How will you work out what is affecting my sleep?

Ask what assessments might be appropriate for you. Insomnia is generally assessed by discussing your symptoms, sleep patterns and daytime functioning, sometimes with the help of a sleep diary or questionnaire.

If OSA is suspected, your doctor may recommend a sleep study to examine what happens to your breathing while you sleep. Asking whether you should be assessed for both conditions can be particularly helpful when your symptoms do not fit neatly into one category.

What treatment options are available?

If you are diagnosed with COMISA, ask whether both conditions need to be treated and how your treatment plan will be approached.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia, while continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is recommended for moderate and severe OSA. Other OSA treatments can mandibular advancement splints for those with mild to moderate OSA or for those who do not tolerate CPAP. Healthy sleep habits, reducing evening alcohol, limiting caffeine after midday and weight management where appropriate may also form part of treatment.

Which condition should we treat first?

There is no single treatment sequence that suits everyone with COMISA. Your doctor may consider which symptoms are most troublesome, the severity of each condition and your individual circumstances when deciding where to begin.

When should I seek further help?

Before finishing your appointment, ask what symptoms you should monitor, when you should return for review and whether you need referral to a sleep physician or another sleep professional.

If poor sleep is regularly affecting your energy, concentration, work, driving or quality of life, do not simply put up with it. Speak with your doctor about your symptoms and ask whether both insomnia and sleep apnea could be contributing. Getting the right assessment is the first step towards finding a treatment approach that works for you.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Knowing what to ask is an important first step, but you also need the right support to understand what is actually affecting your sleep.

At Sove CPAP Clinic, our Sleep and Respiratory Physicians and experienced Treatment Consultants can assess your symptoms, sleep patterns and potential signs of both insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Rather than focusing on just one symptom, our team can help you get a more complete picture of your sleep concerns.

We offer bulk-billed home sleep studies for eligible patients to investigate obstructive sleep apnea, alongside personalised support for patients experiencing insomnia symptoms. Depending on your assessment and individual needs, your treatment pathway may include insomnia support, CPAP therapy, a mandibular advancement splint (MAS), or further care with our clinical team.

With face-to-face and telehealth consultations available, Sove can support you from assessment through to treatment and ongoing care. If you’re unsure what is causing your poor sleep or what your next step should be, call our friendly team on 1300 76 29 39 or come visit us in clinic.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. MAS is intended to assist in and or prevent snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. When considering whether a sleep study, MAS or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.