Sleep Study

Has anybody ever done a sleep study?

I'm scheduled for one this coming Saturday night. The ENT I went to last week thinks I have sleep apnea and he wants them to observe me for a night. It's my first time doing one and just don't know what to expect.

Never had one....But keep me on your mind and you should be alright..hehehehe

Yeah, I've had one. It's uncomfortable and a bit irritating. But, they gain a lot of useful information from it that can really help you.

Most study rooms are set up like a bedroom with a private bathroom. There will be a person who monitors you all night long from another room.

They will place electrodes on your head, and hook you up to more wires than you've ever seen in an emergency room to monitor just about every aspect of your sleep. At some point they get you to wear a mask. This is for the machine that will assist you in breathing at night. That will be real bothersome at first, but hopefully you get a little used to it and go to sleep. Right when you are getting the best sleep of the night, they usually wake you up and send you home, LOL.

Sleep apnea is very common. If you have it, you will probably be prescribed and set up with a CPAP machine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_airway_pressure
A lot of folks have the CPAP machine at home that helps them sleep. For those that sleep with another person, they will love the fact that it prevents you from snoring all night. Until you get used to it, it can be a real PIA. But one day you will wake up and realize you had the first good nights sleep in years, and it will be amazing.

You will be surprised about the number of people that these things help.

I have had a sleep study. Twice. Each place is set up different. Some locations are in hospitals, others sleep study centers. My test was in a hotel. The polysomnography tech said they use a hotel to better simulate one's environment. The hotel room had cameras and shit (kinda funny). I was awakened at 6 or 7 in the morning.

If prescribed a cpap, USE it. It takes some getting used to, but continue.

I did one a couple of years ago and it was a take home deal, showed me how and where to attach the "probes" and a little deal on my finger and it was on a belt i had to wear.
At first it was a distraction but once i relaxed and went to sleep I was out for almost 8 hours.
Good luck, I hope you do not have it as the CPAP machine is expensive and from what I have been told takes a long time to get used to wearing, but once you do it is sleep like you have never had.

TD

I have a feeling that I do have sleep apnea. I haven't had a really good night's sleep in about 3 yrs. The only times I have is when I've taken sleeping pills.

The SO has told me numerous times that I've stopped breathing in my sleep for an extended time, which is scary in itself. I've even woken up with headaches in the mornings. I always just chalked up the headaches to sinus allergies. Just these couple of symptoms have me already pegged for sleep apnea. I hope I don't need a CPAP machine but I most likely will.

Has anyone ever heard of anyone being able to get off of one and have good sleep without it?

Take care of that Bro! I need someone to sneak away and smoke cigars with...UUhh oh. Did I post that publicly!?

Cigars.....yea!
ICM, i be there soon, we got some making up to do, hopefully it will help that sleeping thing.

ICM you better call BDS she sounds like she's got just what you need. I can't get her return my pm lol

I have medical background and previously worked with a sleep center. From the description of your SO you sound as if you will test positively for apnea. Yes the test is awkward but it gives you alot of information about yourself. No, you will not necessarily have a CPAP machine and if so, not necessarily for life. If you have minor apnea then you could possibly get a device similar to a mouth guard- it changes the position of your tongue and jaw to allow easier air passage. Otherwise, they will prescribe the machine. In that case, you can have your ENT dr determine if it is due to you having a small airway or if is because of blockage from extra throat/skin tissue. Do not even consider the surgery option! Only 30% effective and very painful. Alot of times apnea is weight related, so if you are a heavier set man, loosing a few pounds can reduce or even eliminate the apnea. All it really is is excess tissue in your throat area that becomes too relaxed while asleep and too heavy for the air to get through. If you do end up getting a machine, make sure you use it. Yes it will be very weird at first, but you will see a big change in your energy and health. If you suffer from high blood pressure currently and get treated for apnea, often times the blood pressure will reduce, since its often caused from the stress of apnea on your body. And make sure whoever gives you your machine properly shows you how to use and clean it! Many places dont which can cause issues later and not allow you to get the full benefit from it. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info Miss Funtimes.

I'm not fat, but I am overweight if you can understand that. When I was at my best and had the most energy I was 185 lbs. I'm up to 225 now. So, a brotha could stand to lose a few lbs. You're right, because right as I was nearing the 200 maek was when my sleep started to get crazy. So, the CPAP along with exercise will be my best friends.

I go in this Saturday night for and I'll be glad when its done. I need some good sleep.

Good Luck,

I have a feeling that I do have sleep apnea. I haven't had a really good night's sleep in about 3 yrs. The only times I have is when I've taken sleeping pills.

The SO has told me numerous times that I've stopped breathing in my sleep for an extended time, which is scary in itself. I've even woken up with headaches in the mornings. I always just chalked up the headaches to sinus allergies. Just these couple of symptoms have me already pegged for sleep apnea. I hope I don't need a CPAP machine but I most likely will.

Has anyone ever heard of anyone being able to get off of one and have good sleep without it? Originally Posted by IceCreamMan

The only way to avoid one of those machines is to have surgery. Otherwise that will be the only way you will be able to sleep and not keep your SO awake with your constant snoring. I am sure you are one of those people that says....."I don't snore".......yeah right............LOL

I have been studied and it is nothing to worry yourself about. You will have the electrodes stuck on you and cameras and of course someone looking at you all night. Nothing painful and might even be relaxing for you. If they figure out what is wrong you will start to get some sleep again if you do have apnea.

I don't have apnea but I do suffer from insomnia and I can sympathize with you from not getting a decent nights sleep. I sometimes go days without and then only get a few hours after exhaustion. It is great for my work because I get things done in a 1/4 of the time others do and my clients love being able to get a hold of me anytime since my days are a lot longer but it is a killer to constantly find things to fill the time.

I hope you get your problem taken care of and if not then just try and find a bright side to it and get a good hobby (other than this) to fill your time. Don't stress yourself over it too much. If it is apnea then it is manageable and you will get use to the procedures or like Ike said get the surgery. If that is an option I would go for that in a heartbeat.

Hey Darth if it is apnea you might need to find someone new to smoke with. He does not need to be smoking anything. ;-)

Going in tonight! Kinda interested in how it's all gonna go down.