Concerns about sleep study

[JayR101]

I have my 1st study coming in a couple weeks, but am concerned I won't be able to sleep. I usually need to take 2 ambien before sleeping at home (I work 24 hr shifts and have no internal clock), and wonder how they get you to sleep in a strange place all wired up? How long do they have you sleep? Are you allowed to follow your normal rituals? (I read for a couple hrs before I can sleep, and thats normally around 3am). Weird sleep habits, thanks to 30 yrs of EMS work.
Any help would be appreciated!!

[jules]

a couple of those questions you need to talk to them about in advance - like the med question and the starting time for the test --------- and length of it

[Muse-Inc]

You can take sleep meds (Ambien is preferred I believe). Why not call the lab and talk to one of the RTs and ask them your questions re your sleep habits? In my case, I was to show up about 7:30-8 PM. I took my pillows, a book (didn't need as I was actually sleepy that night), slippers to trek to the bathroom to pee (I pee'd 8-10 times/night that stopped on night 1 of CPAP...yippee!!!), a bottle of water (never drank until morning), and shower stuff. Seems to me it took about 30 mins to wire me up but I wasn't paying a lot of attn to the time.

[Agape=Love]

If they are a quality lab and if they care, they will accommodate you. If they don't tell your doctor and find another lab that will.

Agape

[kteague]

Hi. Yeah, it's hard to imagine doing a sleep study when one doesn't easily sleep, especially during the time frame they are scheduled. You should have some reading time, but they aren't likely to want you to wait till 3 am for lights out, as they'd have very little time left to gather data before the usual stopping time of around 6:30am, but different places have different policies about how to handle those whose sleep schedule is not the expected.

Working your kind of schedule is notorious for messing up circadian rhythms. If at all possible with your schedule the day before your appointment, get up at a time that will allow you a very long day, and if it's tiring, that's even better. No naps. No caffeine. All you can do is put yourself in the most likely position to be sleepy the night of the study and let nature (and Ambien) take its course. If you have particular comforts that help you sleep, take them along, like a favorite pillow or pj's or warm socks. Hope all goes well. Would love to hear how it turns out.

[montana user]

I totally understand your issue as an EMS worker myself for years. At my lab I always try to find out what time the person goes to bed. If its late then I have them come in about an hour before there usual bedtime. We give ambien at our lab if requested. Now in some of the larger sleep labs they won't let you come in later than everyone else because they think it will disrupt other people as they sleep. The best thing to do is call and ask like others have said. As a sleep tech I appreciate the heads up on weird sleep habits so I can change my schedule accordingly!
If you more specific sleep study questions feel free to ask or pm me! Glad you getting the test!