Should I ask for a sleeping pill before doing a new sleep st

[jacobsbd]

Changing insurance again so I am going to have to do a new sleep study. The primary care doctor does not know how to read my “old” studies and has been told that everyone suspected of apnea needs one before seeing the sleep doc.

I have done three sleep studies in the past. The most recent one was an at home one which just confirmed that my pressure settings were acceptable. Basically take one of their APAP machines home and look at the recorded AHI in the morning. The other two were done in full sleep labs. I had two problems. First, I have worked a lot of shift work in the past so my ideal sleep time is from about 2AM to about 10AM. The sleep study locations want me to sleep from about 10 PM to 6 AM. It usually takes several hours to get some sleep starting at 10 PM

The two laboratory studies I have done in the past were reported as incomplete because of about 7 hours total sleeping time I had about two minutes total of REM sleep which is what is supposed to be the hardest time for most apnea events

I have been using an APAP machine faithfully for more than three years now and my AHI numbers are ok but I am not finding my tiredness improving. I could sleep till at least noon every day. I need to do what the insurance wishes so I can get supplies and I would like to talk to a sleep doctor about changing my sleep schedule if possible.

If I ask for a sleeping pill will it suppress REM sleep or increase the chances of it happening. I cannot even get the name of a sleep doctor out of this HMO before the study so asking a doctor is not an option.

Thanks and sorry about the long post

[49er]

Hi jacobsbd,

It is my understanding that when sleep results are analyzed, that if someone took a sleep pill, that is taken into consideration when evaluating everything. Unfortunately, not being a sleep professional, I don't understand the technicalities of the effect meds have on sleep stage.

I don't know how HMOs work but is there an advice nurse you can ask regarding this situation?

Changing insurance again so I am going to have to do a new sleep study. The primary care doctor does not know how to read my “old” studies and has been told that everyone suspected of apnea needs one before seeing the sleep doc.

I have done three sleep studies in the past. The most recent one was an at home one which just confirmed that my pressure settings were acceptable. Basically take one of their APAP machines home and look at the recorded AHI in the morning. The other two were done in full sleep labs. I had two problems. First, I have worked a lot of shift work in the past so my ideal sleep time is from about 2AM to about 10AM. The sleep study locations want me to sleep from about 10 PM to 6 AM. It usually takes several hours to get some sleep starting at 10 PM

The two laboratory studies I have done in the past were reported as incomplete because of about 7 hours total sleeping time I had about two minutes total of REM sleep which is what is supposed to be the hardest time for most apnea events

I have been using an APAP machine faithfully for more than three years now and my AHI numbers are ok but I am not finding my tiredness improving. I could sleep till at least noon every day. I need to do what the insurance wishes so I can get supplies and I would like to talk to a sleep doctor about changing my sleep schedule if possible.

If I ask for a sleeping pill will it suppress REM sleep or increase the chances of it happening. I cannot even get the name of a sleep doctor out of this HMO before the study so asking a doctor is not an option.

Thanks and sorry about the long post

[archangle]

Any doctor who sends a patient to a $leep te$t without a sleeping pill to take "just in case" should be horsewhipped. Yes, you'd rather have the data without the sleep aid, but data with a sleep aid beats the heck out of data without any sleep. Lots of people end up paying for a useless sleep test because the doctor is being a jerk. I'll bet quite a few apneacs end up not getting treatment because they're not willing to take another sleep test after being screwed over in the first test.

[knightlite]

I checked with sleep lab and I used half of .5 mg Xanax just so I would relax . I don't like the stuff but it works for me, they noted it on my file and I slept well. The person in the other room was snoring so loud that it would have been a problem otherwise . The dosage was my choice , I have a running supply that I use rarely -for anxiety. I have some very old ambien that I choose not to use unless a 911 event .Who wants to go through a study without sleeping ? Clear it with your doctor first . Most of what I hear on here think its okay. I would not use a heavy dose or over do it.
Maybe you should do a test run ,sleep on a couch at a friends house under same hours to see what you would need. These sleep studies are expensive.
I believe some people expect too much from cpap results the same as lens implant patients expect to get their child hood eyes back. It can't undo your lack of exercise or makeup for too much weight picked up over the years . Speaking about my own sins , I have lost over 65 pounds in ten months . I am within my weight table and have severely dropped off medication , my doctor is very happy with this . I don't eat anything every other day, it is called the alternate day diet . I take it to the extreme , only water on that day . Not many people can do it , my doctor is envious , she admits she can't do it . I will eventually go to the 5/2 diet as a way of life not temporary diet . That is no eating 2 non consecutive days of the week .

Good luck on your sleep test.

[Julie]

Most people here who've used something used Ambien... you might want to look it up in the search bar.

[ShelaghDB]

People take sleeping pills for a sleep test?
This is normal?

Interesting.
I had 2 more or less failed sleep tests as did my husband and no doctor ever told us to take sleeping pills.
Mind you, he didn't tell us anything at all...


Am I right, when reading this, that this is the norm?
That you should take one and they are able to take into effect how it will change your results

[avi123]

You need to ask the physician who will interpret your sleep test what Rx you could take.Almost all psychotic drugs effect sleep. Rxs have different affects on sleep. Ambien (Zolpidem) delays REM sleep. Paxil and Xanax have other affects, etc. I routinely use 10 mg of Zolpidem for sleep so I also took it at my sleep tests. The interpreter physician entered a note about it in the interpretation of my sleep tests. I used to also take Paxil but I stopped taking it and take XANAX instead.

See a note about Paxil here in one of me sleep tests:

{see it in the first paragraph about Paxil}

[Jay Aitchsee]

Jacobsbd, I'd opt for the ambien, as Julie suggested. I believe it has a minimal effect on sleep architecture and respiration as well as having a relatively short half-life. Again, do a little research and consult with your physician as Avi suggests, it could mean the difference between a failed and successful study.

[ShelaghDB]

I don't believe I would have wanted to throw an extra challenge at the doctor that I had. He seemingly was unable to get much right. I think that might have confused him too much.
NOW i know how to sleep with my mask when i have another sleep test, I will be able to sleep as I will have a mask that doesn't leak, give me headaches being taped down so hard so as not to leak, and so on.

But it sure would have been helpful had the doctor advised us to do that t he first time.

/sighs, I just keep reading more and more that proves further that the doctor I used was absolutely useless, although he told me he was the best in the field in Toronto.
God forbid there was any truth to that statement.

So yes, I was just surprised to read that this was a common practise and doctors can make an accurate assessment around it.
I was also under the impression that pills like that would create more apneas, not the obstructive type though...

[archangle]

I don't believe I would have wanted to throw an extra challenge at the doctor that I had. He seemingly was unable to get much right. I think that might have confused him too much.

With most apneacs, by the time the medical community gets a clue that they need a sleep test, their apnea is so bad that a bright 12 year old with a few hours training could diagnose sleep apnea looking at the results. Including apneacs who have taken sleep aids. Or drunk themselves into unconsciousness.

The data from a sleep test is usually pretty clear cut in terms of whether you have apneas or not.

Figuring out the proper treatment and titration long term may require a little more finesse. Even with an in-lab titration, the final tuning should be done using the actual data from a fully data capable CPAP, too.

For that matter, throw in "Treating apnea without monitoring and adjusting the treatment in the home with a fully data capable CPAP machine" in the "things that should get a doctor horsewhipped" list.

[photonic]

My first of three in lab tests, I felt I did not sleep at all. In reality I got three hours. Therefore I needed another test for titration. BIG unnecessary expense because I refused the sleeping pill offered me (Ambien). Eagerly took the pill the next two tests. My MD (board certified neurologist with a two year sleep fellowship from Stanford) says there is no problem using a short acting sleeping pill in the lab.

If you need it, take the pill.

[Sir NoddinOff]

People have analyzed the daylights out of this issue you posed, as would be expected. My opinion is hell yeah, take some Ambien or whatever your doctor suggests. It is universally recognized that a sleep study with some sleep data is a whole lot better for you and your sleep doctor than NO sleep study data at all. No-Brainer if you think about it. As my sleep doctor once said after I failed a sleep study, "We've got to get you into the system before we can really do much - take some Ambien next time. The half life of ambien is very short being only about four hours, so bring a second dose for the last half of the night, in case you need it". Actual quote. Also: test it at home to see what kind of dose you need since everybody is different in their reaction. The sleep lab is no place to test sleep drugs.

[jacobsbd]

Ok, I will see what the doctors say when I call again Monday morning if I can reach anyone. I will probably skip the pill otherwise.

Thanks

PS: one of my lab studies had a typo. It recommended 90 M of water pressure. They meant 9 CM but typo-ed it and did not proof read the summary before sending it out. 142 PSI would kind of be a problem for mask leaks.

[ShelaghDB]

The sleep lab is no place to test sleep drugs.

I guess that answered my question then as i don't use anything to sleep which is why I assumed that suddenly throwing on a sleep med for the sleep test would be confusing.
Pills have only ever madee me groggy in the morning. But i have only ever taken them perhaps 3x in my life


But this isn't about me..........so i am understanding reading this that many do take them on sleep tests.
I was just surprised.
I had not thought of it or heard others mention it before this thread........