Worried after not sleeping much in my first sleep study

[cake321]

Hello all,

I am very worried this morning after having my first sleep study last night. I was awake for most of the night staring at the ceiling. When I sleep at home, I never have this problem... I sleep and snore loudly throughout the entire night. I asked the tech about if I slept at all, and she confirmed that I did. She told me I even entered REM sleep at one point. I'm just concerned because my sleep last night was NOT typical to what happens when I sleep at home. It's really strange because I was getting very sleepy as she wired me up, but as soon as the lights went out I was wide awake. I tried falling asleep in different positions with no luck.

Has anyone ever had a problem like this? What eventually happened? I guess I'm just looking for some comfort. I feel like I'm never going to get better.

[Pugsy]

Don't worry. They don't need 7 hours of sleep to get enough data to make a diagnosis.
I slept extremely poorly at both my first and titration studies. Though I did find out that while I thought I maybe had an hour of sleep I did have about 4 hours at the first study and almost 3 at the titration. And I even had an Ambien CR.
It is hard to sleep in that environment.

[nanwilson]

I don't think that any of us has ever slept well in one of those facilities.....not only a strange bed and pillow...hooked up to wires...knowing that someone is watching you.............Don't worry I'm sure they are used to making a diagnosis with only a little recorded data. Good luck and welcome to the world of hoseheads.

[cake321]

I'm concerned that I'll have even more trouble if/when they set up my CPAP study. I wonder if it would help to stay up late the night before to ensure that I'll be extra tired the night of the study?

[nanwilson]

No, I don't think you need to be extra tired, I think they need you as normal as possible. Don't fret it, they know what they are doing and you will get titrated just like we did. I know its scary, all this new info and a machine to add to the daily routine. Do some reading here, the new users guy and the cpapwiki are good ones to look at and absorb. If you have questions ...just ask.
Take a deep breath, it will happen and you will be home with your "new best friend" and sleeping like a log sooner than you think.Good luck
Nan

[Pugsy]

Did they give you any sort of sleep aid?

If not, ask for one before your go for the titration study. Adding the mask into the mix can make it even harder when we are wired up.

Sleep aid won't affect the test and you have to get good sleep to get a good titration.

[cake321]

No, they did not offer any sleep aid. I guess the tech noticed that I was moving around a lot and not sleeping, and checked on me at one point. I told her that I was having trouble falling asleep and she said that it is likely because I'm sleeping in an unfamiliar environment.

[Pugsy]

When they call to schedule titration study...get someone to give you RX for sleep aid for one night.
I had one and it was still difficult. Ambien CR... helps get to sleep and timed release to stay asleep. Take it early enough to give it time to work. Don't wait like I did the second study..Tried to sleep on my own first.. Ended up taking it 2 hours into the study.. so I only got 156 minutes on the titration study.

[Lizzzabeth]

Skip your morning coffee that day! I made it a point to avoid all caffeine, stay away from hot & spicy food and keep things on a calm and steady basis. Wouldn't do well to schedule a sleep study on a day filled with stressful meetings and the like.

[cotech50]

Wait for the report. I managed 42 min of sleep on the study although I did not realize it, but it was enough to get the diagnosis. Recommendation was to repeat or go on an auto 7cm to 15 at home then do a titration with a sleep aid. Did the auto and titration pressure was close to where the auto showed me at. GOOD LUCK!!!

[cake321]

Skip your morning coffee that day! I made it a point to avoid all caffeine, stay away from hot & spicy food and keep things on a calm and steady basis. Wouldn't do well to schedule a sleep study on a day filled with stressful meetings and the like.

I actually dont drink coffee and made it a point to not have any sort of caffeine 24 hours prior to my study.

[cake321]

I think that you wasted your money all together. If they already knew you had Obstructive Sleep Apnea then why are they wasting your time?

I don't think they can fully diagnose without a sleep study for proof.

[archangle]

Lazlo's opinion on this differs from the opinion of most of the medical community, and, I trust, the opinion of most of the users of this board.

Note that he just registered today and has already posted 6 times.

[MidnightOwl]

I'm concerned that I'll have even more trouble if/when they set up my CPAP study. I wonder if it would help to stay up late the night before to ensure that I'll be extra tired the night of the study?

This is a reasonable concern. I think they need more time asleep to do a good titration than in the initial study. I had trouble during both tests. I tried staying up late but it didn't really help. Perhaps I should have tried to stay up even later. If I had to do it again I'd probably ask for a sleep aid. Some doctors will allow it some won't. Actually I'd probably ask for 2 so I could try it for one night before the night in the lab.

Perhaps you'll be lucky however and the lab will bother you less now that it's familiar.

[cake321]

Anyone know about how long it usually takes for a doctor to analyze your results (after 1st study)? I don't want to annoy them by constantly calling and asking.