Question:
Sleep Study - Has anyone not slept?
I had my sleep study last week, and didn't fall asleep the whole night. Uncomfortable bed, room, etc. Has anyone had this happen? What did you/they do? — maryd (posted on October 19, 2003)
October 19, 2003
My sleep study is tomorrow night. I am worried about the same thing
happening to me. This is my last steep before being given a surgery date
and every time I think about this sleep study tomorrow night I get so
anxious youd think it was my surgery I was having instead of the sleep
study.
— JennA
October 19, 2003
The sleep lab I went to gave me a dose of ambien after I did not sleep for
45 minutes. Then it took another 45 minutes to fall asleep.
If you think you have apnea you may want to ask the lab to test you over
again, for free, and let them know you are going to take a mild sedative if
you can not fall asleep.
If they will not test you over for free I suggest finding a new sleep lab
if possible. Either way good luck!
— Emily H.
October 19, 2003
I slept like a baby. I took a benedryl when I got there which knocks me
out, and the room was nice and cool (the way I like to sleep). Even with
all the wires, I slept very well, and fortunately, I did not have sleep
apnea which surprised me.
— Happy I.
October 19, 2003
Do they normally tell you NOT to take anything? I thought I'd take
something when I have my test because I don't think I'd sleep much without
it.
Seems creepy having someone watch you sleep. Ewww. (Mind you I'm single
with no children LOL)
— Marrilee M.
October 19, 2003
I had to go thru the sleep testing twice, not because I couldn't fall
asleep. They tested me the first time and found out that I have sleep
apnea, then I had to go back a second time and actually sleep with a cpap
machine so they could figure out what setting works best for me. The first
time was awful. I couldn't fall asleep, finally they bought in a recliner
and I finally fell asleep for what seemed like a couple of hours. The
second time I went was worst then the first time, but I got thru it, and
you will to. The technicians told me not to use any kind of sleep aid, but
ask them if you can. Some places are diffrent then others. Don't have
anything with caffeine and try and do something relaxing before you go.
E-mail me if you have any other questions. Good Luck!!!
— marian
October 19, 2003
I know exactly what you mean. When I had mine done I was up and down all
night long. The tape holding the microphoane to my throat was so tight that
when it was removed I had marks that lasted almost two days. Even though I
didn't really sleep well enough for them to get any good readings the
doctor did say just from observing me that they could tell I had apnea.
— Kathryn B.
October 19, 2003
I had the test brought to my house to do myself, it came with all the
things you need to attach to you while you sleep in the comfort of your own
home.
— Shannon B.
October 19, 2003
I had to take the sleep study 3 times, the first time it showed mild sleep
apnea, but I didn't feel I slept,2nd and third I didn't sleep either. My
insurer Kaiser sends their patients home with the machine, it just checks
your oxegen level by your finger only. Just the stress of that thing on my
finger was enough for me, I know I'd never sleep with wires all over me.
Your not alone.
— Karen A.
October 19, 2003
I've had 3 sleep studies. The first time I didn't sleep at all well. My
sleep lab was one that says not to take anything to help you sleep because
it messes up their readings, interferes with your normal sleep pattern (as
if having all those wires on didn't do that already!). What I did the last
two times worked well for me. I stayed up really late the night before,
like 2:00 am, then got up at the normal time and had a normal day. I was so
tired when I got there I could have slept on a bed of nails! Best of luck
with your surgery!
— Chyrl W.
October 19, 2003
I just had my sleep test this past Friday night (10/17/03). I couldn't
sleep worth a damn. I thought I was tired when I got there, but there the
newness and excitement of everything they do to you to prep you for sleep
woke me right back up. The girl was real nice and chatty, so that didn't
help either. She only let me watch tv for like 30 minutes. Then I had to
pee, so she had to come unhook me. It took me at least 4 hours to fall
asleep. Then when I finally was good and asleep, it was 5:30 and she was
waking me up. It is very hard for me to sleep on my back. She preferred
that I did that, but as big people with big guts, big boobs, we know that
makes us feel like we're suffocating. Who wouldn't have apnea after that?
LOL! I suggest that you stay up REALLY LATE the night before and get up
early the morning of the test. Stay as busy as possible all day WITHOUT
CAFFEIN. Hopefully you'll be so exhausted you'll fall right to sleep. I do
suggest if you have favorite pillows, to bring them. I hated their pillow
and had to request extra. If you need complete darkness bring a mask. The
light from the machine and the thingy on my finger drove me crazy. But you
will also find everything wrong with the whole atmoshpere in a weird
situtation like that. Best of luck to you!
— Lisa E.
October 19, 2003
I flunked "sleep study 101" big-time. Since I was given ether as
a child, I had a terror of masks, period. The first time they tried to
glue all those electrodes to my head etc, I couldn't stand it the nearer to
my face they got. I was so panicked my husband took me home. My second
try, they got about 20 minutes of interrupted sleep,but enough to know that
I had a severe sleep apnea problem and restless leg syndrome. However, it
was still difficult for the dr. to know for sure where to set my CPAP
machine, so a year or so later, I went in, figuring this would be strike
three, but they gave me Ambien so I could sleep some in spite of everything
and then they got enough good info. The problem was, though, that by the
time they wanted me to get up, get dressed and leave, that was when I
really could have slept. So I slept more once I got home. If you have a
patient dr., he/she will let you try again if you mess up the first, and
even the second time, lol. LM
— catly
October 20, 2003
I have had 3 sleep studies and I have had different experiences with all.
More than likely they will make you do it over. Make sure you don't have to
pay. I actually just posted on my profile page about sleep studies earlier.
If you are interested visit my profile.
Shelly
— Shelly I.
October 20, 2003
I also had a terrible time falling asleep during my sleep study. It was
frustrating because I knew going in that not sleeping was likely to
happen, but they didn't want me to take any medication. Finally after
several hours they gave me a low dose of Ambien. It only took about 45
minutes and I was sound asleep. They were able to record just enough
actual sleep for the study. *If I ever have another sleep study, I will
pre-arrange with the doctor to take an Ambien or I will take an OTC
antihistimine.* To me it felt like a waste of precious data-collecting
opportunity to not sleep for the vast majority of the time.
— jules R.
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