can't sleep at the test

sadbigblu · Post by **sadbigblu** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:26 pm

I went to a sleep study prescribed by my doctor. 2.5 hrs in I left. I couldn't get into the crappy sleep I normally get. The wires and stuff kept me from getting to sleep since I move a lot during sleep. I went for a second test because the guy that runs the lab said I have to make it thru the night to get to step 2 and get hooked to a machine. The guy said I just had to go until the morning no matter what and could go to step 2.

That test went the same way. They got 101 minutes, broken up that is, in about 6 hrs of the test time. They had to come in multiple times to reconnect wires.

They finally told me later, congratulations you don't have apnea. They didn't even get an accurate test by their own admission! Now I can't even go to step 2 to see if the machine will get me a solid nights sleep. The insurance game is what the doc says is killing me. If he cared, he could get me to step 2 to see if it will help. I can't help it I toss and turn.

My doc intoduced me to a guy before the test. He said he used the machine and said it was sleep utopia. Now the doc won't do his job to help his patient. He was the one who gave me a quiz that said I had sleep apnea.

What do I do now. I want the sleep utopia to see if it improves other things in my life that I'm told is created by the lack of sleep I have.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:37 pm

Ask them to give you a copy of the complete report from both nights you went there. Not a "summary" report which would be just one or two pages from each night.

A complete report should have anywhere from 6 - a dozen pages PER night. Even if you walked out two and a half hours into it on one night, and were awake most of the second night, there should still be a "full report" (not just a summary page or two) for each night that they can give you. Especially for the second night.

When you get that full report, please let us know. There are people (one in particular, nicknamed "StillAnotherGuest") who could shed some light (no pun intended!) on some of the things you may be dealing with. But he'd need to see the graphs and charts that are part and parcel of the "full report."

Did any doctor suggest you take Ambien for the second try after the first attempt was so "sleepless?"

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:39 pm

Maybe ask your doc for an overnight oximeter to see if your oxygen level is indeed dropping. If it isn't, congrats, you don't have sleep apnea.

If it does, well sounds like you WILL have to endure the complete sleep study to find out why it drops. Consider sleeping pills, OTC if the doc won't prescribe but I suspect s/he will.

Whatever you take, you must tell the lab so they can account for it will reading your sleep data. Could it simply, be your mind is keeping you awake? At home too?

Good Luck,
GumbyCT

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:58 pm

rested gal wrote:Did any doctor suggest you take Ambien for the second try after the first attempt was so "sleepless?"

No he didn't. I put myself in a behaviour center and at some point I got ambian in there and I have been taking it every night since. I only have a few days left of those. The center gave me seroquil for sleep. I got no sleep but was a walking tator for most of the next day. The Ambian has seemed to help.

I used the Tylenol sleep tabs before each sleep test. The problem is I roll around to much and the wires pulling on me or coming off won't allow me to get to a point of the sleep I try to get. I won't pay for a 3rd test. I don't plan on paying for the 2nd test I already took. The head guy said I just had to make it until the end, which I did. Not much sleep but to the end. Then they say no step 2 for you because data says no disorder yet it was all based on 101 minutes of broken up time. I don't even think I sleep that much. The test, even according to my General, is stacked against me becasue of the way I sleep. He never should have introduced me to the guy who told me how great his sleep got after getting the machine.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:12 am

Your family doctor can prescribe a cpap machine for you without a sleep study. You can buy the machine from an online store like cpap.com, if you're willing to pay for it out of your own pocket. If you want to try it. If you decide cpap doesn't help you, you could always sell the machine -- for example, on cpapauction.com

With all the tossing and turning you do, you'd have to dig into this message board for a lot of information about masks that might suit an active sleeper, and figure out a way to keep from getting tangled in the air hose:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

Or...just start asking everyone you come across in your town: "Do you know anyone who uses a cpap machine, or has stopped using their machine?" You might find someone who has an extra one you could borrow. Or find someone who is no longer using a machine that's now stuck back in a closet.

SleeplessinCLE · Post by **SleeplessinCLE** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:59 am

Please see a chiropractor. I couldn't sleep either. I kept waking and tossing and turning. It turned out that I did not have apnea, but had 2 discs out of place in my neck. After about 4 or 5 visits to my chiropractor, I could sleep! It was the first time in 5 years.
I was taking Sonata every night, and now take nothing and sleep better than I ever had.
Please try it. You've got nothing lose.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:17 am

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Sundown · Post by **Sundown** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:43 pm

I had severe Restless Legs Syndrome (Mirapex augmentation) during my study... my legs kept twitching and waking me up during my study. I would get up and wiggle my legs... and jog in place... it was AWFUL... the technician would come on the speaker "can I get you anything"... what I should have said was YES...some sleeping pills.. lol... but the wires and glue in my hair.... the RLS was a nightmare... I have no idea how they got ANY information.. but apparently they did....enough to say I have Sleep Apnea. I wish your insurance would somehow cover a "retry"....for you. I must have only slept a couple of hours... if that.