Sleep Study ?

[castmemberb4]

Any one done a sleep study for sleep apnea?
I'm having one this Thursday and know what to expect technically,
but what about 'other' stuff. Can I bring a book to read, will I have trouble falling asleep? I always need water by my bed, will they have that or should I take a bottle. They gave me a list of stuff to bring, pajamas, medications, toothbrush..... but what about stuff I 'could' bring?

 

[Ohiodislover]

My DD had a sleep study a few years ago. They recommended bringing DVDs to watch, or something to read. There was a TV and DVD player in the room. She was allowed to have her own pillow, and could wear her own PJs. They just had to be two pieces and not a long gown. The tech needs to be able to put the monitors on.

Don't forget toiletries for the next morning. I think we packed toothbrush, paste, soap, washcloth, and a hairbrush.

I would probably bring your own bottle of water...you can always take it home if not needed.

 

[castmemberb4]

My DD had a sleep study a few years ago. They recommended bringing DVDs to watch, or something to read. There was a TV and DVD player in the room. She was allowed to have her own pillow, and could wear her own PJs. They just had to be two pieces and not a long gown. The tech needs to be able to put the monitors on.

Don't forget toiletries for the next morning. I think we packed toothbrush, paste, soap, washcloth, and a hairbrush.

I would probably bring your own bottle of water...you can always take it home if not needed.

I'm glad you mentioned the DVD player, they did say there was a tv in the room. I'll take Julie and Julia, I've fallen asleep during that one twice now !
Thanks !

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I've had two done. Both times I brought a book to read. I watched some TV, but not much interesting.

You may want to ask, if yours is inconclusive about a daytime study.
It's a pain in the rear, but with my second study they did one and discovered that I had narcolepsy. Guess that would explain why I am tired and can fall asleep during the daytime at the drop of a hat!

 

[castmemberb4]

I've had two done. Both times I brought a book to read. I watched some TV, but not much interesting.

You may want to ask, if yours is inconclusive about a daytime study.
It's a pain in the rear, but with my second study they did one and discovered that I had narcolepsy. Guess that would explain why I am tired and can fall asleep during the daytime at the drop of a hat!

I have a hard time falling asleep in my own bed that's why I was worried about being able to go to sleep. I'm having mine done b/c my husband can hear me stop breathing, and my brother has sleep apnea.

 

[RangerPooh]

Both DH and i have had a few sleep studies for sleep apnea. It's easy. Once you chnage into your jammies and are essentially ready for bed they will come in and start placing the sensors all over your body; arms, legs, back, belly, hair, face, etc. When we had ours done there was a tv and dvd player in the room. I also brought a book to read. I did bring water, but the nurse brought me some as well.

The bed that I slept in wasn't that comfy but I had it all to myself, so maybe that's why I slept fine.

 

[gm]

how do you go about looking for sleep study?

 

[bookgirl]

When I did mine it was set up like a bedroom, big BIG tall comfy bed and a huge flat screen with cable. No DVD. I brought my own bottle of water. They just had me wear what I normally wear to bed (boxers/tshirt) and told me that I could read (but because I was hooked up I'd have to tell them when I was done so they could turn out my overhead lights or watch tv if I wanted. I actually brought my quilt and pillows from home. They said that was fine.

As soon as I was hooked up they would leave the room and test the equiptment (take three deep breaths, tense up and hold for 5 seconds, move your right leg, move your left leg, etc) They also told me that they would moniter me all night but the actual "testing" would be between a certain time, if I really appeard to be in trouble they would wake me and put me on air, but if not they would not disturb me until 5am when they came in to wake me up.

I thought I would have a hard time sleeping, and I was really restless and afraid to move much so it took me a few hours to actually get to sleep, but once I kinda found a spot it was okay. I woke a few times and they had to actually use my whole night to test as I was not in REM during the testing time. But it really was very easy.

Heck when I went back for my second night (monitered on Cpap) I went to sleep and never moved till they woke me up. LOL

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I just had one done last Friday!

This probably sounds weird, but I have this stuffed rabbit I sleep with that I have had since I was 5. I'm so used to having it in my arms that I don't sleep well without it. I don't know what to do with my arms without it. I brought her and they had no problems with it.

I had a book to read. You will definitely have some downtime. I had to get there at 7:30 and did not go to bed until 10. After she initially hooked up the electrodes to my skin, she went next door to hook up the other patient. So I had some time then to read.

I have also read that they recommend bringing your own pillow. I wish I had known that in advance- that was the flattest pillow I have ever had!

Just bring what you want with you. The worst they can do is tell you no!

 

[castmemberb4]

how do you go about looking for sleep study?

Mine was ordered by my ENT.

Thanks for all of the information!
I've heard that the beds are pretty luxurious at the center I'm going to, actually kinda looking foward to it, sleeping with out a husband and two cats laying all over me
They just didn't give me quite as much information as I would have liked.
Think I have it under control now, I'm definately taking my temprapedic pillow and I'd been thinking about taking Walter Elias Disney Behr with me, he's been sleeping with me for 7 years now ! But I don't take him on vacation so think I'll be okay if I decide not to take him.

 

[bookgirl]

how do you go about looking for sleep study?

I talked to my general practice doctor. Told him I was having a lot of the symptoms and he said "Do you want a sleep study? We'll put you in for one." Two weeks later I was scheduled. About a month later I had my Cpap.

I had most of the adult symptoms and I would have been positive for all but two of the childhood symptoms if they asked 40 years ago.

Symptoms include:
Excessive daytime sleepiness.
Waking with an unrefreshed feeling after sleep, having problems with memory and concentration, feeling tired, and experiencing personality changes.
Morning or night headaches. About half of all people with sleep apnea report headaches. 2
Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth at night.
Swelling of the legs.
Getting up during the night to urinate (nocturia).
Sweating and chest pain while you are sleeping.
Symptoms of sleep apnea that others may notice include:

Episodes of not breathing (apnea), which may occur as few as 5 times an hour (mild apnea) to more than 50 times an hour (severe apnea). How many episodes you have determines how severe your sleep apnea is.
Loud snoring. Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore, but not all people who snore have sleep apnea.
Restless tossing and turning during sleep.
Nighttime choking or gasping spells.


Symptoms in children
In children, symptoms of sleep apnea depend on how old the child is:

In children younger than 5, symptoms include snoring, mouth breathing, sweating, restlessness, and waking up a lot.
In children 5 years and older, symptoms include snoring, bed wetting, doing poorly in school, and not growing as quickly as they should for their age. These children may also have behavior problems and a short attention span.
Children who have sleep apnea nearly always snore. But they may not appear to be excessively sleepy during the day (a key symptom in adults). The only symptom of sleep apnea in some children may be that they do not grow as quickly as they should for their age.

 

[castmemberb4]

I wondered how long it would take to get the Cpap machine. I'm going straight from the sleep test to my ENT office. I have a friend who's willing to give me one if I can get them to put the RX in it for me. I'm going to ask.

I have almost all of the adult symptoms, except the getting up to go to the bathroom. My test was ordered after I asked my Dr if the Acid Reflux I had recently been diagnosed with contributed to my snoring. She started asking questions and found out my DH can hear me stop breathing, she ordered that study right away.

My brother was tested last year, during his test he stopped breathing 80times in the first hour

Has anyone found relief from heartburn and reflux while using the cpap?

 

[4forMe]

Mine was ordered by my ENT.

Thanks for all of the information!
I've heard that the beds are pretty luxurious at the center I'm going to, actually kinda looking foward to it, sleeping with out a husband and two cats laying all over me
They just didn't give me quite as much information as I would have liked.
Think I have it under control now, I'm definately taking my temprapedic pillow and I'd been thinking about taking Walter Elias Disney Behr with me, he's been sleeping with me for 7 years now ! But I don't take him on vacation so think I'll be okay if I decide not to take him.

I was supposed to do a sleep study two years ago and chickened out at the last minute. My dad and brother both have sleep apnea. I am trying to lose weight that I've gained hoping that will help with my snoring. However, if the weight loss does not help I will have to schedule a sleep study over the summer.

Would you please post a follow up to let us know how everything went? I would truly appreciate it.

 

[castmemberb4]

I was supposed to do a sleep study two years ago and chickened out at the last minute. My dad and brother both have sleep apnea. I am trying to lose weight that I've gained hoping that will help with my snoring. However, if the weight loss does not help I will have to schedule a sleep study over the summer.

Would you please post a follow up to let us know how everything went? I would truly appreciate it.

I'd be happy to!
I'm excited to get my study, hoping the cpap will bring back some of the energy of my youth Okay I'll settle for just feeling rested in the morning. If it'll help with the reflux that would be

 

[bookgirl]

I wondered how long it would take to get the Cpap machine. I'm going straight from the sleep test to my ENT office. I have a friend who's willing to give me one if I can get them to put the RX in it for me. I'm going to ask.

I have almost all of the adult symptoms, except the getting up to go to the bathroom. My test was ordered after I asked my Dr if the Acid Reflux I had recently been diagnosed with contributed to my snoring. She started asking questions and found out my DH can hear me stop breathing, she ordered that study right away.

My brother was tested last year, during his test he stopped breathing 80times in the first hour

Has anyone found relief from heartburn and reflux while using the cpap?

I thought mine was bad at 68 until I found out a friend's sister had 102 episodes per hour.

You have to take the test then they have a doctor analyze it then you have to go back and do a monitered test while on the cpap but the second one is much faster to get back and you get the machine RX just shortly after.

I had reflux as well as the apena but they put me on a one a day blocker just before I was tested so that pretty much took care of the reflux, don't know if the machine alone would help, though on the few nights I've forgotten my pill I haven't had any reflux attacks.

 

[jelloarms]

My mom had that done about 2 years ago. She ended up hardly sleeping b/c the guy next to her was snoring and she was so focused on the test. WASTE!

 

[Barbossa]

I had a sleep study done 2 years ago and was diagnosed with severe SA. I got my CPAP and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. No more dozing off during the day, no more crappy sleep, no more breathing problems. And this is in addition to the fact that I'm not killing myself every time I go to bed. My CPAP is the one thing I wouldn't leave home without.

 

[Mickey527]

I had one done many years ago and they recommended the CPAP but I couldn't sleep with the mask on, I was too claustrophobic.
I had my uvula and adenoids removed and it didn't help at all, but since then I have lost alot of weight and have less problems.
My grandson (age 4) had one done last week. They won't remove tonsils and adenoids anymore without the sleep study.
Make sure to bring a hat. he came home with so much gunk on his head from the wire clips. He had to get a bath immediatly.
He had a temporpedic mattress but my poor son had to sleep on a lounge chair. He didnt' sleep all night it was so uncomfortable.

 

[Disney Doll]

DH has had a few. His first one he stopped breathing 150 times in the first hour, one of those times he didn't breathe for 45 seconds. They told us they were going to do a split study...1/2 the night no CPAP, 1/2 the night with CPAP. After the first hour they put him on CPAP...I think they were afraid he was going to die in their testing center!!!! His pulmonologist, who only does sleep apnea and nothing else, told him it was the worst case she'd ever seen in her whole career.

He had his machine within a few days and uses it every night. We call Darth, for Darth Vader. Darth travels with us too. It would kind of ruin vacation if DH were to die during the night while we were in WDW.

 

[Barbossa]

I had one done many years ago and they recommended the CPAP but I couldn't sleep with the mask on, I was too claustrophobic.
I had my uvula and adenoids removed and it didn't help at all, but since then I have lost alot of weight and have less problems.
My grandson (age 4) had one done last week. They won't remove tonsils and adenoids anymore without the sleep study.
Make sure to bring a hat. he came home with so much gunk on his head from the wire clips. He had to get a bath immediatly.
He had a temporpedic mattress but my poor son had to sleep on a lounge chair. He didnt' sleep all night it was so uncomfortable.

The latest CPAP masks are much smaller and lighter than they used to be. Here's an example:

http://www.resmed.com/us/products/swift_fx/swift-fx.html?nc=patients