My 3 year old has a sleep study tonight

[pilotwife_02]

For almost a year we've had some serious sleep issues with my 3yo DS and the doctor has decided it's time to have him do a sleep study to see if they can find a reason why.

He has no problem falling asleep, it's staying a sleep throughout the night that's the issue. Up until 10 months ago he was a GREAT sleeper, he would go right to bed, sleep through any noise, sleep all night long and wake up in a great mood.

Lately though he goes to bed fine, but wakes up 5-6 times a night, and at times will wake up around 3 or 4 and not want to go back to sleep. Rarely, perhaps once a week he'll sleep past 5. I think what happens is that around 5 he "thinks" he is fully rested and is ready to start the day.

Then by 7 he's exhausted and wants to go back to bed, which isn't possible since he has preschool or I have to go to work. Plus ANY sleep during the day will keep him from sleeping that night.

Anyway, I'm hoping they find a reason, but I'm praying it's a simple fix. I'm thinking he has sleep apnea since he snores and at times snores loud enough that he wakes my 4 year old up.

I'm just hoping that it's not a fight to get him to cooperate at the hospital, poor DH is stressed out about what the night holds.

Anyone else have a child this young go through a sleep study?

 

[vettechick99]

Well 3 year olds "shouldn't" snore, so that may be the trouble! Has he had his tonsils out?

GL!!

 

[pilotwife_02]

No he still has his tonsils. We're thinking that may hold the answer, I'm wondering if this will be able to determine that or will we have to visit another doctor to find that out.

 

[bookgirl]

I snored as a three year old and ended up getting a study done as an adult. Since I have snored my entire life, on back/on side, winter/summer, skinny/fat, allergy season/non allergy season, with my mouth open or shut, I've been told I probably have an abnormality in my sinuses or throat. I had my anoids and tonsels taken out at 11. But have never actually had it scoped to see if I have a deviated septum or a malformation in my windpipe.

I would never hope for anyone to have something wrong with them, but I hope they find out that he does have something that can be fixed either with a cpap or surgery. I cringe when I think I went 40 years with out a good nights sleep. I wished they had cpaps when I was 3

Good for you for doing this, even if it is a little scary.

 

[vettechick99]

No he still has his tonsils. We're thinking that may hold the answer, I'm wondering if this will be able to determine that or will we have to visit another doctor to find that out.

Just talked with my BFF - her snoring DD4 had her tonsils and adenoids out a few months ago. She's never slept better!

 

[simba20]

Well 3 year olds "shouldn't" snore, so that may be the trouble! Has he had his tonsils out?

GL!!

My 3 year old snores. Been doing since a few months after she was born. I chalk it up to allergens...she's always stuffy. Just what she does. She does sleep through the night and is otherwise healthy. Daddy and I love the fact that she snores, as that's how we know she's truly asleep. LOL!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED! My son has the EXACT same problems except he doesn't snore!

 

[pilotwife_02]

I snored as a three year old and ended up getting a study done as an adult. Since I have snored my entire life, on back/on side, winter/summer, skinny/fat, allergy season/non allergy season, with my mouth open or shut, I've been told I probably have an abnormality in my sinuses or throat. I had my anoids and tonsels taken out at 11. But have never actually had it scoped to see if I have a deviated septum or a malformation in my windpipe.

I would never hope for anyone to have something wrong with them, but I hope they find out that he does have something that can be fixed either with a cpap or surgery. I cringe when I think I went 40 years with out a good nights sleep. I wished they had cpaps when I was 3

Good for you for doing this, even if it is a little scary.

That's interesting about getting scoped to find something wrong. I'm not sure if this is related or not (probably is) but he had HORRIBLE nose bleeds and had to have his nose cauterized this summer to stop them. They would just start out of the blue and he would literally gush blood and it would take 20 minutes or so to stop. Wound up that he has some blood vessels really close to the surface. So I'm wondering if there is a connection.

 

[pilotwife_02]

I just got word from DH that it's going horrible. TJ is freaking out and they won't let DH hold him

I'm about to tell him to just bring him home.

I'm SO thankful that DH is doing this. There is no way that I could handle seeing him like that right now (my pregnancy hormones have me crying at everything lately). I'm sitting here crying with what DH is telling me and I don't have to see him go through it.

 

[SaraJayne]

Three year olds should not snore. My DS had his tonsils and adnoids out a couple weeks before his 3rd birthday, due to snoring.

He's never snored since then and he's almost 14.

 

[bookgirl]

Well a deviated septum they would just diagnose with an xray or CT, my mom had a head CT last year and they said "how'd you break your nose" and she was like "I didn't" LOL.

a scope would only be used to look for things like scar tissue or skin flaps or other non-bone things...I guess they could do a MRI or CT, but someone in passing mentioned and ENT and scoping and I never really took it seriously, expecially since I am fine with my cpap. Maybe he has scar tissue up in his sinuses, that is blocking an even airflow?

 

[bookgirl]

Poor baby,

Is it that he doesn't like the electrodes? Or that he has to sleep in the strange bed byhimself?

 

[stitchlovestink]

DD15 had her adnoids out at 19 mo and tonsils at 5. She snored like a freight train. She had a sleep study done at age 8 or 9. They couldn't find anything. She still snores but not as bad since the tonsils were taken out.
Her sleep study was rather easy...her in one twin bed and me in another next to her w/a night table between the beds.

I'm sorry that this is so difficult for all of you...

 

[pilotwife_02]

Poor baby,

Is it that he doesn't like the electrodes? Or that he has to sleep in the strange bed byhimself?

It's the electrode all over his head and face and the oxygen thing they taped to his nose (which measures the amount of oxygen he takes in) that is freaking him out.

Thankfully DH gets to sleep in the same room as him, although I'm not sure he'll be sleeping much tonight.

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts. It's so hard having to put your child through this and not being able to do anything for him.

I know we are very blessed that this is the worst issue we have to deal with, there are so many people who have to endure much worse with their children.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Our developmentally delayed son did this when he was 2. We tried to do it at home first. It didn't work so we ended up at the hospital at a later date. What helped is that they gave us extra electrodes to practice with. It did help with him getting used to the tape but the night of the exam he still didn't sleep well in a new place.

I hope you figure out whats going on. Our now 3 year old isn't much of a sleeper either.

 

[minkydog]

It's the electrode all over his head and face and the oxygen thing they taped to his nose (which measures the amount of oxygen he takes in) that is freaking him out.

Thankfully DH gets to sleep in the same room as him, although I'm not sure he'll be sleeping much tonight.

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts. It's so hard having to put your child through this and not being able to do anything for him.

I know we are very blessed that this is the worst issue we have to deal with, there are so many people who have to endure much worse with their children.

Awww, don't feel like you have to justify yourself. This is a pretty big deal to your little one, as well as to you. Heck, even adults have trouble with a sleep study. So if you need an extra dose of comfort it's okay.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Awww, don't feel like you have to justify yourself. This is a pretty big deal to your little one, as well as to you. Heck, even adults have trouble with a sleep study. So if you need an extra dose of comfort it's okay.

Thank you.

They just got home and now we wait for the report to be sent to the pediatrician. They said they couldn't tell DH how many times a night DS woke since it would be practicing medicine, all they would say is they "saw stuff" so we'll just have to wait. The only thing is that they said it will take 2 weeks to get the report to the doctor. So we'll wait and hope they get it back sooner.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thank you.

They just got home and now we wait for the report to be sent to the pediatrician. They said they couldn't tell DH how many times a night DS woke since it would be practicing medicine, all they would say is they "saw stuff" so we'll just have to wait. The only thing is that they said it will take 2 weeks to get the report to the doctor. So we'll wait and hope they get it back sooner.

Good luck. Not sure why they wouldn't tell you. My sleep study people told me and I was gnarly to them. I hated the electrodes too! Okay, I wasn't horrible but I needed the sleep study to be cleared for surgery so they all understood I didn't want to be there. The pulmonologist scheduled the appointment for 8 a.m. the next morning so I could get the results immediately. Sorry you have to wait.

Hope your son is feeling better soon. I'm thinking my DD may need to go through one. Her one doctor just mentioned that we can't clear up one issue without first addressing her sleep walking issues (bad - we double bolt all outside doors ).

Keep up posted.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Good luck. Not sure why they wouldn't tell you. My sleep study people told me and I was gnarly to them. I hated the electrodes too! Okay, I wasn't horrible but I needed the sleep study to be cleared for surgery so they all understood I didn't want to be there. The pulmonologist scheduled the appointment for 8 a.m. the next morning so I could get the results immediately. Sorry you have to wait.

Hope your son is feeling better soon. I'm thinking my DD may need to go through one. Her one doctor just mentioned that we can't clear up one issue without first addressing her sleep walking issues (bad - we double bolt all outside doors ).

Keep up posted.

Good luck to your daughter. I used to sleep walk bad too. One time my parents found me in the backyard (I was 5 or so). After that they put locks on the top of the door where I couldn't reach. I used to also walk out, have conversations with them, then turn around and go right back to bed. I know I scared my parents sometimes when I would pop into the living room.

 

[left210]

DS had one at age 7. He had PLMD - periodic limb movement disorder caused by an iron deficiency. It affected his sleep and his behavior because he was never getting enough rest and was agitated and irritable.