Going for my MSLT (nap test) Monday & Tuesday, questions

Hi everyone!
*Before* I had my initial sleep test, my sleep doctor said that she found that about 1 out of 3 patients on xPAP did not get rid of their daytime tiredness completely and some needed additional help to maintain awakeness during the daytime. She advised that no one knows for sure why it is, but it is generally believed that your body sort of becomes "trained" to be sleepy during the day, and that even if you are getting enough and good, restful sleep, you may still have the daytime tiredness.

I should probably note that at the time, I was so freakin' tired I could barely function, so I was probably barely coherent during this conversation. Further, since the daytime tiredness was what I wanted to stop - that was my worst symptom - my biggest fear was that I would get an xPAP and it wouldn't help.

Now, a little over a month later, I have been one of the lucky ones. Since night one I have been Miss Super Compliant Girl, and I have seen huge and wonderful benefits from my little machine. After 5 weeks, I can say if I get 7 hours of sleep I have NO daytime tiredness. When I have the time to nap, I don't because I don't need to. I can't even sleep in on a Saturday because I have no tiredness.

Which brings me to my questions... geez I am pretty wordy today!

1. I don't think I need this study, should I still go?
2. If I don't fall asleep at all during the "nap times" will they still get the data they need?
3. If I *do* fall asleep during the nap times, what can that indicate?

Although I am totally ok with the CPAP for the rest of my life, for some reason I am in fear that I will get prescribed some "upper" to use for the rest of my life. I worry too much! Seriously, how bad could it be?

Anyway, if you have experience with this study or the medication or whatever, let me know what you think...

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

I have not had the test (the MSLT) and I have not been on the medication.
I do think that medication (while undoubtably helpful for some) is not something to be taken if it is not needed and from your description it does not sound like it is needed.

But I recommend that you discuss these questions with your sleep doctor.

Glad to hear that your treatment is going so well!

Best wishes,
Bill

1. I don't think I need this study, should I still go?

Prabably not. Sounds like the machine has corrected the problem for you. If it were me, I'd just tell my Doc everythign seems fine for now, and that we should probably wait for several months to see if I can still make it htrough hte day or not.

2. If I don't fall asleep at all during the "nap times" will they still get the data they need?

I wouldn;'t think it would. I'm not familiar with the nap test, but it would seem logical that the reason for hte nap would be to determine how deep a sleep you fall into and if you experience any apneas during the time.

3. If I *do* fall asleep during the nap times, what can that indicate?

A lack of Awakefulness? J/k, I'd probably skip the test, and like I said, just wait a few months to see how thigns went

I had the MSLT immediately following my sleep evaluation, spent the night and the majority of the next day. Didn't have narcolepsy, did have OSA. But that was so many years ago .....

Obviously you need neither the "daytime med" nor the MSLT so you should call your sleep doctor, have her return your call if necessary, and explain how well you are doing and that you are cancelling the MLST as not needed. She's not going to script you a med when you tell her you don't need it. And even if she did still script it, you don't have to fill the script much less take any of it.

For the sake of others who might well need this MSLT time slot, call right away Monday to cancel your appointment. The sleep lab and your sleep doctor will appreciate that consideration for others.

Slinky wrote: For the sake of others who might well need this MSLT time slot, call right away Monday to cancel your appointment. The sleep lab and your sleep doctor will appreciate that consideration for others.

On this point, my sleep clinic is very new. They do not have enough patients yet, although I think they are very good. I suspect that it may be PARTLY due to this problem that they scheduled me for this study at all... although I think at the front end of the treatment when they scheduled me they genuinely did not know whether it would be needed or not. I told the lady who confirmed my appointment yesterday that I have been very compliant and feeling great, and in addition I have been in twice in the last month for various things and they have pulled my data AND reviewed it with me. It was evident to everyone that I was a) compliant and b) benefitting hugely. Even after all that though, they want me to come for the study... but I admit I did not specifically say I don't think I should come, just "are you sure this still needed?"

I guess my concern is, since I know so little about this study, even after reading about it in several locations, is it possible they would detect something that I am not even feeling? Would the study possibly find some weird quirk they could point out and I could feel even better? The part I kinda want to go to was the overnight part BEFORE the nap test, hoping they can get some data on the sensors or by watching me that might help me tweak my treatment on my CPAP to an even better level.

I just don't know what the nap test could reveal if I don't sleep (i.e. I'm in good shape sleepwise?) and if I do sleep (Ack! You need drugs to stay awake!).

Perhaps I need to study for this test a little more.

Dawn

If you don't sleep... you've ruled out Narcolepsy... but there are other things that could cause daytime sleepiness. Idiopathic Hypersomnia is one that I was told about. Both of these are treated with drugs.

Try reading this:

Practice Parameters for the MSLT/MWT

SAG

Try reading this:

Thank you - that's a lot of information but it does have a good deal of helpful explanation.

I am still reading but it looks like I might benefit from this study after all.

Dawn

A MSLT tests for narcolepsy and hypersomnia (excessive fatigue). Basically you take 5 "naps" during the day. If you fall asleep within 20 minutes, then they let you sleep for 40 min. and look to see if you go into REM (which narcoleptics do). If you don't fall asleep within 20 minutes you get up. Repeat process a few hours later.

When I had mine done, I didn't fall asleep during the 1st nap and thought to myself, "what if the performance pressure gets to me and I can't sleep?" Well by nap 3 I was snoozing away. I didn't even know I fell asleep! I coulda sworn I didn't.

I'd say do the test. Better to have the info than not. Even if all it does it tell you you're not narcoleptic or a hypersomniac.

Sarah