I Had a Sleep Study Done Last Night

That is why I am up so early. Got home not too long ago. I have had insomnia and all-night vivid dreaming for about 20 years, now. It has gotten worse and I simply cannot get up in the morning. It takes me a couple of hours to be fully awake. I can fall asleep during the day with little problem, though. I don't nod off, but if I decide to nap in the day, I will fall asleep.

My doctor suspected sleep apnea. He sent me to a specialist who diagnosed asthma. The specialist I have mentioned that prescribed an inhaler, a daily pill and a rescue inhaler, though I have never had an asthma attack. This same specialist also told me "Your chin is too small for your skull, therefore your mouth is too small for your tongue and therefore your airways are too small." I said "Really?" He said "Well, you do look into the mirror every day?"
Ok, so my specialist, I think is a nutcase. Though my skull does look more like the Mandela Effect one...but I digress.

The specialist sent me to the sleep study. I read up on the internet on what to expect and had a packet of instructions and what to expect. Nothing prepared me for what actually occurs.

The room is very nice. Looks more like a hotel room, though is in a hospital.




I was told to do do what I normally do before bed. To try to sleep by midnight, but if I couldn't, to watch TV or go on my laptop or whatever and then try again.

Seems so far, so good. The massive 360 degree night vision camera and intercom that cannot be turned off was a little off-putting, but I soon forgot about them.

I did not sleep until about 3:45 am. The room was freezing and then too hot. Though the bed was nice and firm and they brought me 2 more pillows. There was a nice white quilt on it. I think this is the problem:



I did make that face for the benefit of the respiratory therapist, who was there when I took the selfie. Made her laugh. But what you see is not even all of what was connected to me. There were other things connected to my waist and legs.

They got about 2 hours and 15 min of sleep data from me, but say the other hours of data when I was awake were also useful. She said I do not have sleep apnea. I had a couple of episodes of 'shallow breathing' and there were some odd EEG readings when I was asleep, but that she would leave that to my Dr to interrpret.

There has to be an easier way. Everything I read on the internet said 'most people fall asleep relatively easy during a sleep study'. I wonder how heavily most people were sedated, LOL. I did take a Sonata at about 9:30. It did not help.

Just wanted to share this experience. I am not sure how much last night will help in determining what ruins my sleep.

I know this will probably sound too simple, do you get enough exercise?

a reply to: intrptr

Yes I do. After 20 years of this, everything has been tried. From not exercising right before bed to what not to eat, what to eat, every sleep medication available, meditation, Feng Shui, removing electronics form my bedroom, bi naural beat music........

a reply to: reldra

I know when I work a little harder during the day I sleep better at night.

Drinking any Caffeine past about 2 pm?

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: reldra

I know when I work a little harder during the day I sleep better at night.

Drinking any Caffeine past about 2 pm?

No. That has been a no no for years.

a reply to: reldra

Oh god.

I've been needing a sleep study for years.

You've just empowered my denial for at least another six months.

/shiver

(Hope they find something that helps you though ... I too have insomnia ... it's no fun.)

I don't know how you managed to get any sleep with all those wires attached to you!I too am a long time insomniac(how I found ATS).I've been prescribed Seroquel which knocks me out when I occasionally use it.But don't want to move next morning!

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: reldra

Oh god.

I've been needing a sleep study for years.

You've just empowered my denial for at least another six months.

/shiver

(Hope they find something that helps you though ... I too have insomnia ... it's no fun.)

Don't put it off. If my doctor wants it done over again, I will. I will take a 2 mg Lunesta and a 1 mg Cyclobenzaprine though. I usually take that before bed and sometimes have luck. At least falling asleep before 1am on occasion. It was thinking it might mess up their readings, but I shouldn;t have tried to 'out guess' them. They did say 'take what medications you normally take.' Had I taken something a little stronger they may have had more hours of sleep data, I may have tolerated all the wires better.

a reply to: reldra

Okay, removing the physical barrier aside, what are you worrying about? When I asked that just now, a little knot of tightness may form in your abdomen as you thought of the answer.

Whatever that is needs addressing.

a reply to: reldra

That's the problem with you liberals, you're scared of hard work!

Lol, j/k!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I've been wearing the mask for a couple of years now. Do you drink enough water? From my time in the military I know that is the solution to everything! Get some blood work done, you may see you are iodine deficient.

I don't know how they think they can study anything resembling normal sleep when you have all those wires attached to you... Never mind the slightly creepy idea of being watched all night.

Cute pic, though!

I hope the doctor can give some helpful insights. Insomnia sucks.

a reply to: Gryphon66

I have it too! My problem is, I fall asleep on the couch watching TV around 8:30pm, wake up at around 3 hours later, then can't sleep the rest of the night. I've tried to break that pattern by not letting myself settle down at that time, but then when I go to bed at 11:00, I'm wide awake. Ugh.

originally posted by: TDawg61
I don't know how you managed to get any sleep with all those wires attached to you!I too am a long time insomniac(how I found ATS).I've been prescribed Seroquel which knocks me out when I occasionally use it.But don't want to move next morning!

My dr tried seroquel and trazadone and probably 10 other things. They don't help. I switch between Lunesta, Sonata and Ambien. Ambien was doing well, until they made a generic. There is a difference. Lunesta just came out with a 3 mg. I am waiting on insurance approval. Tried belsomra recently, it didn't work and the side effects effected me.

When I first started having insomnia, my grandmother gave me Soma. That worked. My doctor is reluctant to prescribe it. He has no problem with 5mg of clonazepam a day and 3 other things, but I suggest something that works and doctors get funny.

reldra

I sometimes can't sleep .. a few weeks ago I had insomnia..couldn't shut my mind off.. the only thing that I found helps me out is this stuff:

Dreamwater

It is all natural and it works for me. No morning after grogginess and even if I sleep for only a couple hours..it makes me feel like I've slept for 6-8. I don't know if this would be helpful to you..but when I am on a no sleep cycle..this is what usually brings me out of it..

Of course, it would depend on what other medication you are taking..I only drink 1/2 a bottle at a time. And if you are used to stronger prescription medicine..it may not be helpful for you.

But I could never have slept with all that going on..even for a few hours..so, hats off to you!

Thanks,
blend57

a reply to: reldra

Maybe you should do something boring before you got to bed like call the cable company so they can put you on hold, listen to some Coldplay, prepare a Power Point presentation and/or sit in a traffic jam.

originally posted by: kaylaluv
a reply to: Gryphon66

I have it too! My problem is, I fall asleep on the couch watching TV around 8:30pm, wake up at around 3 hours later, then can't sleep the rest of the night. I've tried to break that pattern by not letting myself settle down at that time, but then when I go to bed at 11:00, I'm wide awake. Ugh.

Try sitting up and watching your shows at a computer. Most people won't doze sitting at a desktop. (though I have 1 friend who does), cokeandpopcorn.ch for most tv shows. It's a safe site. The current episode of almost any show will be up within an hour after it is done airing. They will stream, you don't have to download anything.

Just a suggestion.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: reldra

Maybe you should do something boring before you got o bed like call the cable company so they can put you on hold, listen to some Coldplay, prepare a Power Point presentation and/or sit in a traffic jam.

LOL. Calling Verizon and asking tech support just about anything tires me out and the conversation lasts at least an hour. You might have something there

originally posted by: blend57
reldra

I sometimes can't sleep .. a few weeks ago I had insomnia..couldn't shut my mind off.. the only thing that I found helps me out is this stuff:

Dreamwater

It is all natural and it works for me. No morning after grogginess and even if I sleep for only a couple hours..it makes me feel like I've slept for 6-8. I don't know if this would be helpful to you..but when I am on a no sleep cycle..this is what usually brings me out of it..

Of course, it would depend on what other medication you are taking..I only drink 1/2 a bottle at a time. And if you are used to stronger prescription medicine..it may not be helpful for you.

But I could never have slept with all that going on..even for a few hours..so, hats off to you!

Thanks,
blend57

I have tried Dreamwater. To me it is just like water. But thanks for the suggestion.

originally posted by: reldra
I have tried Dreamwater.

Sounds like something Cosby gave to his dates.


Heyyyyyyyyy, there's a thought. Call Dr. Huxtable, the sleep doctor.

originally posted by: bonsaihorn
a reply to: reldra

Do you drink enough water? From my time in the military I know that is the solution to everything! Get some blood work done, you may see you are iodine deficient.

I drink at least 2 1liter bottles of spring water a day. My doctor is a blood work fanatic and there is a lab on the first floor of the building he is in. Occasionally I an Vitamen D deficient and get a RX for 50k IU 1x a week or am told to take 2k IU a day, depending on the reading. Everything else is fine.