How do I know........

Casey T Carver · Post by **Casey T Carver** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:13 pm

I feel like I don't get any sleep. When the alarm goes off in the morning, I feel like I just laid down and am exhausted. I almost fell asleep in the shower this morning. I sleep alone so I don't have anyone to observe me sleep or monitor my sleeping habits. I am tired all of the time regardless if I have had 10 hours of sleep or 4. My self diagnosis would be some sort of apnea.............where do I begin to get this diagnosed and under control?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:34 pm

Casey, if you have insurance, your best course would be to have a doctor (any doctor) refer you to a sleep clinic for a sleep study. Your self-diagnosis of sleep apnea could very well be right on target. If that's the case, the sooner you find out, the better.

If a formal PSG (polysomnogram - expensive!) in a sleep clinic is out of the question, the next best things to uncover the possibility of sleep apnea - in this order - might be:

an "at home" sleep study

a one week trial on an autopap

overnight recording pulse oximeter

videotaping (preferably with audio too) yourself sleeping

audiotaping yourself sleeping

I'm not a doctor or health care professional. Just my opinion.

Good luck!