Anyone done a sleep study?

[i'mfluffy]

I have cronic insomnia. I'm at my wit's end. Meds aren't working. I haven't slept well in 2 weeks. My doc called in stronger meds as a temporary fix but he thinks it's time for a sleep study. I haven't done one before. I'm worried that they won't find a cause for my insomnia. The thought of spending the rest of my life not being able to sleep is terrifying.

 

[badblackpug]

I've done one and it is no big deal. Basically they hook you up to a heart monitor and and EEG and you sleep. The next day they want you to attempt to nap 3 different times. They have you lay down for a certain amount of time and try to fall asleep. Be prepared to spend the night. The thing I thought was most difficult is that I am a belly sleeper and I tend to roll quite a bit so I kept getting tangled in the monitor leads and pulling them off.

 

[mom2girlsx3]

Yep! No big deal at all. Hakuna Matata!

Turned out that I have severe sleep apnea. Who knew? Hoping you get some answers!

 

[JUJU814]

yup, I've had a few. Turns out I had severe sleep apnea too. I got the machine, but ummm, I don't use it. I really should.

Actually, my last sleep study..man, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The rooms were nice bedrooms. Super comfy DOUBLE bed..TV, WiFi..I got there at 7:30pm to get wired up, and was able to sit and read, watch TV, surf the DIS..until 11pm.

It was like going out for a night to myself.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Years ago (17yrs) I had chronic insomnia and it turned out to be severe depression. That's under control now. This past year I did a sleep study (after falling asleep at the wheel) and it's sleep apnea. The study itself was no big deal. As someone else said, it was nice to have my own little room, watch TV, read (and no one interrupting me).

Go for it. Good luck!

 

[Swimalie]

My dad had to do one, twice. They made him repeat it a 2nd time (about 2 weeks later) because they couldn't believe he could hit REM sleep in about 15 seconds. He has narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome. He said his test was no problem, either. Not relaxing for him but then again, back then, no sleep was relaxing until after the test and he got meds for his conditions. Good luck.

 

[ShannonMB]

I'm going in for a consultation at a sleep place on Monday, so I'm interested in this thread! I suspect I have sleep apnea, because I snore like crazy and DH tells me I stop breathing when I sleep. I'm nervous about the whole entire thing, including how weird it will be to be in a room with people watching me sleep. Just strange! Especially while I'm there in all my glory in my PJs just snoring up a storm! Ah, embarrassing! OMG, freaking out a little.

SOO, then if my suspicions are correct and I end up needing the CPAP, can anyone who wears one go in to detail about how that is?? I have read that compliance isn't good -- I'm assuming because it's uncomfortable? I have also read where people who really need it and finally get one are amazed at what a good night's sleep does to their energy level the next day. Makes me wonder why if one feels so much better the next day, what makes them not wear it?

Sorry if this is a hijack, OP! But I'm hoping to hear all about sleep stuff on this thread of yours!!!

 

[Ericandjenng]

Sleep studies are fairly simple. My experience was different from a pp who said something about naps??? I went to the hospital and was hooked to all the monitors and sat watching tv and reading until bedtime...at least their bedtime...I have an unusual work schedule so it was odd trying to sleep at as more normal time. Here only one tech/nurse watches you through a video feed. But I felt like I slept backwards--dreaming at a different time of night. They woke me up at one point to put me on a CPAP machine and then sent me home before six am....go figure

As for the PP who asked about the CPAP I used mine for about 6 months then I had RNY surgery and lost alot of weight. It also caused me to dehydrate easier and the CPAP even with a built-in humidifier is very drying. It does take some getting used to. I gave up very quickly on the chin strap they wanted me to use to breathe through my nose and not my mouth.

Good luck and you'll be fine!

 

[powellrj]

Sleep studies are fairly simple. My experience was different from a pp who said something about naps??? I went to the hospital and was hooked to all the monitors and sat watching tv and reading until bedtime...at least their bedtime...I have an unusual work schedule so it was odd trying to sleep at as more normal time. Here only one tech/nurse watches you through a video feed. But I felt like I slept backwards--dreaming at a different time of night. They woke me up at one point to put me on a CPAP machine and then sent me home before six am....go figure

As for the PP who asked about the CPAP I used mine for about 6 months then I had RNY surgery and lost alot of weight. It also caused me to dehydrate easier and the CPAP even with a built-in humidifier is very drying. It does take some getting used to. I gave up very quickly on the chin strap they wanted me to use to breathe through my nose and not my mouth.

Good luck and you'll be fine!

They have different kinds of studies. I have had many over the years and have had both the kind where you leave in the morning and the other kind where you stay and nap all day. I was told something different each time I went. I still have insomnia, but its something I have learned to live with.

Good Luck and I hope you get help.

 

[mugsy]

I did two studies -- I got put into a second one because a subsequent doctor suspected that a better sleep lab (with more precise measurements) would give a more accurate result. It is not the most comfortable experience (lots of wires and gummy stuff in your hair and on your body for lead wires), and it's a little weird being monitored and being woken up to try you out on different CPAP pressures and devices.

That said -- I've been sleeping with a CPAP machine for over a year now, and I sleep much better and deeper than I did before (great dreams and REM sleep). I had to change from being a stomach sleeper, and now sleep on two firm pillows on my side, which is better for my back and neck. I really noticed a difference when our power went out a week ago, and I could not use my CPAP - I really, really missed it. Plus, my wife now can sleep in the same bed without earplugs! If you commit to it (and get over the initial discomfort sleeping with a CPAP), it is very, very, worth it!