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I myself am new to this and worried about the testing. I can't imagine a good nights sleep hooked up to any thing. My husband has been elbowing me in the middle of the night for months, he says I stop breathing and he waits to see if I will start again and when I don't' he elbows me. I just went to the doctor today and the want me to have the test done. I already am having problems figuring out when and how. I work during the day and my husband works nights and we have two sons. Things are rough timing wise. I have gained a lot of weight in the past few years and I do really believe that this is related to being fat. We are addressing that also with diet and diet meds. You are in the this alone and frightened,
Marylee In PA.

mykidsdrovemenuts,

Hello and welcome. I've had 2 sleep studies, and both were on Saturday nights. The sleep lab I went to runs 7 nights per week, so I set them both up on the weekend. You might inquire with your local lab to see if they run on the weekends.

Good luck to you,

Boomer

Boomer,

I agree that Saturday night is the best time -- or when you don't have to go to work the next day -- you will probably be toast after the test!

mrhyak -- LOL! You are going to scare the newbies with the nail gun comments!

There is also correct -- it is much easier to sleep at home -- the sleep test is difficult, but necessary. Once you start feeling better it will all be worth it -- do it for you and your family!

Try to look at it as a good thing.. even if the only thing you can imagine good about it is the hubby stopping with the poking! When I finally gave in to my gf and went for the test, I started talking with friends about the issue. I was suprised to find out that I already knew 5 people who used cpap, and talking with them REALLY helped me.

By the time I went for the test, I was actually excited, but one of the main reasons was the hope that my gf would quit waking me up with a poke and "honey, move to your side!" (My apneas and snoring were less on my side).

That optimism is pretty much what got me through the strangeness of getting hooked up to the EEG and all. Both my tests were a bit nerve racking. The first because of the newness of it all, and having the EEG hooked up, as well as my sleep test was done in the hospital, and I was admitted through the emergency room. The second because of not knowing how i was going to handle the CPAP itself. But I made it! I've been on CPAP for a whole week as of last night, and am starting to get used to it. I've stopped waking up quite as often, and best of all, my girlfriend doesn't wake up and kick me for my snoring/apneas! It seems to get a little better every night. Good luck, and you won't be sorry you made the effort to do something about it!

mykidsdrovemenuts wrote:I myself am new to this and worried about the testing. I can't imagine a good nights sleep hooked up to any thing. My husband has been elbowing me in the middle of the night for months, he says I stop breathing and he waits to see if I will start again and when I don't' he elbows me. I just went to the doctor today and the want me to have the test done. I already am having problems figuring out when and how. I work during the day and my husband works nights and we have two sons. Things are rough timing wise. I have gained a lot of weight in the past few years and I do really believe that this is related to being fat. We are addressing that also with diet and diet meds. You are in the this alone and frightened,
Marylee In PA.

Keep in mind too that those who are not having problems are probably not doing much posting here. The forum tends to be a place for folks to let off some steam and look for solutions.

I did both my sleep studies on Friday nights - good thing, cause I would never have made it to work the next day. You would think that with all the wires and unfamiliar surroundings, they would do their best to see that conditions were conducive to helping you sleep - like LARGE comfortable beds, comfortable pillows (a variety to choose from), soundproofing, availability of "white noise" generators and night lights. I RECOMMEND TAKING YOUR OWN PILLOW TO THE STUDY!

Despite the construction noise (the reverse gear "beep-beep" noise makers on the trucks, and the heavy duty vacuum being used to vacuum the hospital halls in the middle of the night, wearing night clothes (I sleep in the nude), a bed that was way too small (and about 6 inches too far off the floor), I did manage to get a little sleep - enough for them to do their measurements and satisfy the insurance company that I had severe apnea and needed a second study to do the titration. In second study, the nose mask clogged my sinuses to the point that I could hardly breath - and no one could find any kind of nasal decongestant! What a poorly run operation (and this is a major hospital sleep study center).

Despite all that, I survived it all and the insurance company approved a cpap machine. I must say that other than a few noisy mask leak problems, I have no problems sleeping with my cpap on. The hose doesn't bother me (except when the cat sleeps on it beside me.) I can sleep on my side and can now sleep on my back for the first time in 20 years. I don't find it uncomfortable. I no longer toss and turn all night (My mind rationalized that it was because my current position was uncomfortable or that I had to go to the bathroom, when my body was screaming at me to wake up and breath).

While I don't pop out of bed brimming over with energy, I no longer doze off at my desk in front of the computer (I'm a programmer too) or nod off in front of the TV in the evening. I've been on it for 2 months now and I would never go back. In fact, it was clear to me how much better I really feel when I went a night without it - I had cataract surgery and had to wear a metal eye patch the first night after surgery - tried the mask that night and there was no way to do the mask & the patch. I could REALLY tell the difference the next morning.

So hang in there - do the studies - remember to take your pillow(s), nose spray, a bottle of water and anything else that may help you through what will probably be an uncomfortable night. Having your own machine at home is a completely different experience - it may take a little time & effort to work out the kinks, but it will eventually improve the quality of your life and may well save your life.

Hang in there... we're all rooting for you.

_________________

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Great story and advice, ballast. And I thought I had a miserable night, on the first study! Sheesh!! I kept smelling the coffee the techs were making, made me want to get up and have a cup...

Hang in there mykids....you can do this!!

Boomer