SadFreek
05-20-2005, 03:46 AM
I had to switch doctors but I finnaly got a sleep test scheduled. I have a few questions for you that have had them before.
First one, what exactly do they do to you?
Second, what time do they expect you there? I have a weird schedule and don't lie down until 2am and fall asleep until 3 or so. Is that gonna cause a problem?
Third, how long does it last?
Anything else I should know? I am really looking forward to this.
First one, what exactly do they do to you?
Second, what time do they expect you there? I have a weird schedule and don't lie down until 2am and fall asleep until 3 or so. Is that gonna cause a problem?
Third, how long does it last?
Anything else I should know? I am really looking forward to this.
Sponsor
Nixona
05-20-2005, 11:54 AM
I'm just speaking from personal experience here, but this is how mine went:
My family doctor referred me over to a pulmonary specialist (we have one of the leading guys in the country), I got in to see him and he scheduled the sleep test for a Thursday night.
I got there around 8 or 9PM, they gave me a few minutes to relax, change into sleepwear and get comfortable. The room was a nice effort at making a hospital room feel like a bedroom, and there was a television, which I almost always have on in the background when falling asleep at home. A nurse came in after a bit, and explained exactly what would happen. They then used some kind of temporary glue to glue electrodes to my head, I think forehead, neck, arms, legs, etc. The wires are a little annoying and I found I couldn't REALLY toss and turn the way I usually do just before I fall asleep. I was videotaped and monitored throughout the night. It took me about 90 minutes to get to sleep, a little longer than usual but I think they expect this. They woke me up around 4 or 5AM, I guess they only need so much time of recording data, probably 6 hours. They unstuck all the electrodes and cleaned me up as best as possible. I got up, drove home, showered and had some breakfast. I'm not sure if they still glue on the electrodes...if so the only thing you have to deal with is the glue in your hair. No matter how much you scrubs, rinse, shower or whatever, you'll be picking glue out of your hair for a day or two. It's a little odd, but I was more than willing to go through some annoyance to get a diagnosis and treatment.
The doctor's office called me within a week, scheduled a followup appointment to go over the results, and the rest is history.
As a sidenote- I think it's best to try to have a typical day up until the sleep test, just don't drink caffeine or nap, but go about your regular routine. Hopefully you've given up caffeine trying to find the source of the problem already anyway, so it shouldn't be too much to ask. It was great for me doing it on a Thursday night, although I did have to play in a varsity football game the following evening, I had the entire weekend to relax and catch up on my sleep once I made it through Friday.
Hope that helps a little!
My family doctor referred me over to a pulmonary specialist (we have one of the leading guys in the country), I got in to see him and he scheduled the sleep test for a Thursday night.
I got there around 8 or 9PM, they gave me a few minutes to relax, change into sleepwear and get comfortable. The room was a nice effort at making a hospital room feel like a bedroom, and there was a television, which I almost always have on in the background when falling asleep at home. A nurse came in after a bit, and explained exactly what would happen. They then used some kind of temporary glue to glue electrodes to my head, I think forehead, neck, arms, legs, etc. The wires are a little annoying and I found I couldn't REALLY toss and turn the way I usually do just before I fall asleep. I was videotaped and monitored throughout the night. It took me about 90 minutes to get to sleep, a little longer than usual but I think they expect this. They woke me up around 4 or 5AM, I guess they only need so much time of recording data, probably 6 hours. They unstuck all the electrodes and cleaned me up as best as possible. I got up, drove home, showered and had some breakfast. I'm not sure if they still glue on the electrodes...if so the only thing you have to deal with is the glue in your hair. No matter how much you scrubs, rinse, shower or whatever, you'll be picking glue out of your hair for a day or two. It's a little odd, but I was more than willing to go through some annoyance to get a diagnosis and treatment.
The doctor's office called me within a week, scheduled a followup appointment to go over the results, and the rest is history.
As a sidenote- I think it's best to try to have a typical day up until the sleep test, just don't drink caffeine or nap, but go about your regular routine. Hopefully you've given up caffeine trying to find the source of the problem already anyway, so it shouldn't be too much to ask. It was great for me doing it on a Thursday night, although I did have to play in a varsity football game the following evening, I had the entire weekend to relax and catch up on my sleep once I made it through Friday.
Hope that helps a little!
hry33
05-21-2005, 05:55 PM
I always dose myself with valium to make sure I get some sleep as I dont want to run the risk of lying there wide awake all night, have a shower first and dont put anything on your hair
I wear a beanie on my head as there can be a draft from the air conditoning
for some reason they always put me to bed at 6 pm, must ask why
I wear a beanie on my head as there can be a draft from the air conditoning
for some reason they always put me to bed at 6 pm, must ask why
analog2000
05-22-2005, 04:40 PM
I always dose myself with valium to make sure I get some sleep
Again, I think this is a bad idea. Taking tranquilizers/sedatives/muscle relaxants will alter your normal sleep patterns, giving the sleep lab an inaccurate picture of how you normally sleep. In the instructions I was given on how to prepare for a sleep study, it specifically says NOT to do this.
At a minimum, you should inform your doctor that you are planning on taking something to help you sleep.
Again, I think this is a bad idea. Taking tranquilizers/sedatives/muscle relaxants will alter your normal sleep patterns, giving the sleep lab an inaccurate picture of how you normally sleep. In the instructions I was given on how to prepare for a sleep study, it specifically says NOT to do this.
At a minimum, you should inform your doctor that you are planning on taking something to help you sleep.
SadFreek
05-22-2005, 04:59 PM
thanks for the posts guys.
I have my "consultation" at 3pm on Monday. Guess we'll see how that goes. And now my thyroid level (TSH 4.565) is hypo so that could be making me tired all the freakin' time too..
*sigh*
I have my "consultation" at 3pm on Monday. Guess we'll see how that goes. And now my thyroid level (TSH 4.565) is hypo so that could be making me tired all the freakin' time too..
*sigh*