Maintenance of wakefullness test - PRIVATE PILOT

[Stinson]

I have been on CPAP for two years , diagnosed with apnea, with no difficulty in compliance. I am also a private pilot and require a MWT to renew my medical and prove to the FAA that I can stay awake during the day.

I do not have current daytime sleepiness symptoms as prior to CPAP.

My Doctor has asked for a sleep study followed the next day by the MWT. My concern, as with my last two tests, is that I will not be fully rested after the sleep study. My goal for the MWT is to prove that I CAN stay awake.

Has anyone had the MWT test that can shed some light. It would be great if there are other pilots out there with experience in this.

Keith
Denver, CO
kroberts@karsh.com

[chrisp]

I agree with you. A wakefullness test the day following a sleep study is a STUPID idea as you do everything but sleep during a sleep study. After sleeping in your own bed is a much better idea. IMHO

Cheers

Chris

[Thomas]

I don't see why the doctor asked for a sleep study. The daytime MWT is all the FAA is asking for, correct? If so, I would do only that and not the nighttime sleep study. You should already have a record of that with successful titration from two years ago, anyway. Either your doctor doesn't understand something or they just want to take more money from your insurance company.

Tom

[ahujudybear]

I just saw the summary of my wakefulness test: "Sleepiness was probably tdue to inability to sleep during sleep study the previous night"

<ROFL>

Doncha just love it?

- JB

[Bud66]

I just saw the summary of my wakefulness test: "Sleepiness was probably tdue to inability to sleep during sleep study the previous night"

<ROFL>

Doncha just love it?

- JB

well sdid you pass the test?

[Goofproof]

It sounds like a good racket to me.... Your Dr. should know your compliance and how well you are doing. You could buy a new REMstar and softwate and teach him how to use it. It would cost less than a sleep study.

[Judybear]

Well, actually that test has nothing to do with compliance

What they are looking for is symptoms of narcolepsy. If you fall back to sleep within XXX minutes, you are normal. If you fall asleep faster than that you might have narcolepsy.

- JB

[ozij]

Hey, ahujudybear
Is that really you? How are you doing?

O.

[Goofproof]

Well, actually that test has nothing to do with compliance

What they are looking for is symptoms of narcolepsy. If you fall back to sleep within XXX minutes, you are normal. If you fall asleep faster than that you might have narcolepsy.

- JB

They could check for that in the Dr's waiting room, just have the receptionist watch the patient while the are waiting for the Dr. to see them.

If a person doesn't fall asleep then, they aren't going to. P.S. I might fail that test.

[kf7tt]

The MWT - Maintenance of Wakefulness Test - "is a polysomnographic procedure used to evaluate the extent of daytime somnolence", Sleep Dirsorders Medicine page 231. It is commonly ordered after a pilot has been on CPAP and doing well. Typically a patient is sent to the sleep lab the night before to verify they actually slept. I would expect that you could use CPAP during the night. They are specifically looking to see if you go to sleep. With the goal being to stay awake. In our lab you set in a semi dark room with nothing to do.

The MSLT is for narcolepsy,and you are encouraged to go to sleep.

Hope that helps

Duane