Sleep Study This Weekend

[Maryland_Mike]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I have a sleep study scheduled for this weekend, and after years of not knowing what is the cause of my daytime sleepiness, morning grogginess and overall zombie state-of-mind I am hopeful of getting a diagnosis. I am also afraid that I either won't be able to fall asleep or won't be able to get a definitive diagnosis.

Is there anything I should know before my sleep study? If I am diagnosed with apnea, how soon will I have to wait to get a CPAP? I've been researching and am going to try to force myself to practice good sleep hygiene before my study but that is easier said than done. I pretty much collapse into bed as soon as I get home from work, sleep a couple hours and then am up until a few hours before my alarm goes off. I spend most of the weekend napping, as I can only sleep a few hours at a time.

I've wondered if I have chronic fatigue, severe allergies or something else entirely, but the lightbulb has really clicked with the idea that I might have sleep apnea. I'm so hopeful that I can finally have an answer as to why I feel so horrible but am also terrified that I might not get the diagnosis after all.

[Spirit]

Hi,
I'm an insomniac, and too my surprise, I fell asleep around 10pm, and slept through the night, the reason being, the atmosphere was very relaxing, 3 channels on tv, so i read a book, turned off the night light, and I was out, till I was awoken by the tech to put on cpap. I had no computer to keep me up, Lol !!!!

My fatigue was so bad, I was scheduled for 24 hour sleep study, doctor believed I may had Narcolepsy, but that morning 6am, I was awoken by the tech, told to go home, they discovered the problem, I have apnea.

My sleep results took 5 weeks, cause the sleep doc was on vacation for a week. So it would have only taken 4, but depends on sleep lab, how soon results return, I recieved my cpap approx a week later.

I was tested for alleriges, and I have them severe, which caused fatigue, but nothing compared to apnea. I was ableto function with allergies, but apnea I was non functioning, too tired to even walk.

But whatever is causing your fatigue, I'm sure will be discovered in time. Good luck with study.

[Pugsy]

Time frame varies from provider to provider. Some get one in 3 days some 3 weeks, and so sad, I have seen some say it took 3 months. Ask at the sleep study how things work with them.
Also do not be disheartened if they don't wake you in the middle of the night to put you on a cpap machine.
I didn't meet criteria for a split study yet I had what is classified as severe OSA in REM sleep but mild in other sleep.

I had first study done on April 27, titration study done on May 20. The facilities I used normally have the results the next morning and a machine order to DME that day. It all depends on how quickly the doctor signs off on your results.

I live small town. Minimal choice of DME providers. I personally visited each one to decide which one I liked the best and see what machines they normally offered. So do your home work if at all possible.

Good luck. I too was actually relieved with the diagnosis so that I could finally have something tangible to fight.

[Rustyolddude]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I have a sleep study scheduled for this weekend, and after years of not knowing what is the cause of my daytime sleepiness, morning grogginess and overall zombie state-of-mind I am hopeful of getting a diagnosis. I am also afraid that I either won't be able to fall asleep or won't be able to get a definitive diagnosis.

Is there anything I should know before my sleep study?

No stimulants 12 hours before, no coffee, cola, chocolate, OTC medications with known stimulant properties. Try to avoid any situations that might get you riled up before hand or you might dwell on. You might ask for a sleep aid from your doc to take to the study. The study itself is painless, they just stick a bunch of wires to you and tuck you in. They'll adjust the thermostat for your comfort, you'll have a private bathroom etc. If there are any specifics that concern you, go ahead & post them. There is a video accessable thru the link at the top of the page that gives an idea of what the sleep lab it like.

[SleepyT]

...Is there anything I should know before my sleep study?

Take your ear plugs and your favorite pillow!

[carbonman]

I am also afraid that I either won't be able to fall asleep or won't be able to get a definitive diagnosis.

I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep, so I asked my doc for an ambien.

Worked like a charm. I had a split study. Walked out w/complete information.
...haven't been back since.
New life in progress as we speak.

Hope you find some answers.

[Froro]

I was really very concerned I wouldn't be able to sleep either at my study. Prior to cpap I would not normally fall asleep until 2-3 am on a good day. Doze perhaps for a few minutes but then I'd be awake for hours.

I brought my laptop as I always fall asleep to something mundane on the tele. I plugged in my headphones and watched a film as I got sleepy, eventually falling asleep. My computer shuts down after a period of inactivity so no bright screen or anything to disrupt my sleep once it was achieved.

They were fine with it at the sleep lab as I had told them ahead of time.

I still go to sleep with the tv on. Well..not really. I actually turn the tele off but I have wireless headphones and I listen to a program until I fall asleep. I keep the volume very low and once I'm out, I'm out now. Sometimes I'll wake up and slide them off but more often than not I wake up with them still on after a full 8 hours of sleep.

My sleep lab was pretty cool about letting me do whatever I normally do to fall asleep. When I went back for titration, I again brought my trusty laptop and movies. When facing the fear of claustrophobia, the new sensations of the mask, etc, it gave me something to focus on besides all these unusual sounds and foreign objects around me. (wish I'd picked a better movie though. It wasn't very good.)

[Uncle_Bob]

Yes if want to take out any life insurance get it before the study as the rates sky rocket if you get diagnosed with sleep apnea.

[spacetoast]

I'll second the no stimulants before the study. If I go in for another sleep study, I won't even drink my morning coffee that day.

For my study last month, I forgot and drank a big ol' glass of iced tea at 6 p.m. right before my study. Normally, I'd still be able to fall asleep in my own bed, but hooked up to all those wires and the tickly cannulas up my nose made it really hard. Luckily, I did get enough sleep for baseline portion and the titration portion of the test, though.

Good luck with your study!

[Maryland_Mike]

Thanks, everybody. I'm working on my sleep hygiene and researching CPAP machines and masks. I have been a mouth breather my entire life so I assume I'll be needing a full-face mask. I'm also a teckie so I think I'll want a machine with data capabilities.

[Georgio]

I was always a mouth breather as well, mostly due to allergies I think. It was never a big problem until I started cpap. I now take Zyrtec D and Flonase which, combined with cpap have me breathing thru my nose better than ever before. I am able to use a nasal interface by using the meds.

Georgio

[Maryland_Mike]

I just got home from my study and it did not go well. I was barely able to sleep at all.

I was told that I had a couple centrals during the brief time that I was out, but that there may not be enough data to score. I should get a call late this week or next week.

[Guest]

Just spoke with the sleep lab and they've diagnosed me with apnea. (They're faxing the results to me later today.) I have a titration study scheduled for Monday night.

I'm so relieved that they didn't tell me I'm normal, or that I hadn't slept enough to score the polysomnogram.

[Maryland_Mike]

Whoops, that was me -- didn't realize I wasn't signed in.

[SleepyT]

Just spoke with the sleep lab and they've diagnosed me with apnea. (They're faxing the results to me later today.) I have a titration study scheduled for Monday night.

I'm so relieved that they didn't tell me I'm normal, or that I hadn't slept enough to score the polysomnogram.

Mike...yes, I'm sure you were relieved. Part of the mystery is over! Now the real fun begins! Stick with us here....everyone will get you through any future issues you might have !

T.