Meds

My vitamin D was low last year; I take D daily now. I can't do a formal sleep study because I can't sleep in strange places.

Just a thought from my experience with Vit D. Have it checked again this year, if you can. Also, do some research on what is considered optimum levels of Vit D. The ranges that doctors use tend to be a bit low sometimes.

You can get your doctor to order an overnight at-home study that just tests oxygen levels if you don't have a way to do that yourself. I did this once. Or you could purchase a pulse ox thing for your finger or wrist that will record all night and then you can transfer the information to your computer with software that comes with it. They're actually pretty affordable.

You might not be able to do this, but someone here at some point made the suggestion of setting up a video camera to record yourself while sleeping. If you could do that somehow, you could see exactly what your body is doing while you sleep.

I know you said you can not sleep in strange places and I am the same. I also don't drive at night and never in the morning before I have had a shower and coffee.

I got through it and slept enough for the test. You can do this. Give it serious thought. See what your doctor's think.
Find a sleep lab that can accommodate your normal sleep hours if possible.

Sonnyboy wrote:I know you said you can not sleep in strange places and I am the same. I also don't drive at night and never in the morning before I have had a shower and coffee.

I got through it and slept enough for the test. You can do this. Give it serious thought. See what your doctor's think.
Find a sleep lab that can accommodate your normal sleep hours if possible.

Its too much of a risk; if I fail I will have a monster co-pay. I need that money because I may lose my job soon.

I may see if I still have a prescription for Provigil; if so I may triple the dose and see if that helps. I only slept five hours last night, so another day of hell ahead.

Noctuary wrote:I may see if I still have a prescription for Provigil; if so I may triple the dose and see if that helps. I only slept five hours last night, so another day of hell ahead.

The big problem with Provigil and Nuvigil is the off switch - they don't have one. It may be impossible to get the right dosage/timing so that the effects of the drug are gone by your bedtime.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

Noctuary wrote:I may see if I still have a prescription for Provigil; if so I may triple the dose and see if that helps. I only slept five hours last night, so another day of hell ahead.

The big problem with Provigil and Nuvigil is the off switch - they don't have one. It may be impossible to get the right dosage/timing so that the effects of the drug are gone by your bedtime.

After I wrote the above I fell asleep so I feel better now, even with the bout of sleep paralysis I had. My personality and outlook change so drastically when I am not refreshed.