I’m having some big problems sleeping, even taking Ambien CR it is a crap shoot as to how long it takes me to get to sleep and how long I will sleep for. Every day I just feel exhausted. My doctor has suggested a sleep study several times but I’m not convinced that it is worthwhile because I think that it is medication and/or pain that prevents me from sleeping properly.
I take several medications every day which include Hydrocodone (which I have read causes insomnia), I have to take it 3 times a day to help reduce the pain in my back and legs (caused by disk problems), but I still get some pain and discomfort when I lie down.
So I’m wondering if a sleep study would be able tell whether my insomnia is just caused by medications and/or pain, or if it is something else. I’m quite interested in doing it, but I’m worried that it will be a huge waste of time and money.
On a side note, I have tried several other sleep medications but Ambien CR is the most effective.
I think you are wise to question the value of having a sleep study, given you are taking hydrocodone which can cause insomnia...
I doubt a sleep study will do much to help you "fall" asleep...however, it may be possible that a sleep condition unrelated to the hydrocodone is adding to the problem. It may be worthwhile to "consult" with a board certifed sleep specialist, keeping in mind that the specialist is the person who decides whether or not a sleep study is to be done...
Before they make that decision, they take into consideration your past medical history, the answers on an extensive lifestyle/sleep questionaire, and do a physical exam.
So to answer your question, I think it may be worthwhile to consult with a sleep specialist...but that wouldn't necessarily result in a sleep study.
Sleep study analyzes your sleep pattern and what time you usually get a break from your sleep at night. These records are essential to find the graph of your sleep and what can be done to overcome them.
In my case, it definitely was not worth it. I learned that sleep doctors are only interested in sleep apnea. They have little or no interest in insomnia. I did learn from the sleep study that I do have mild sleep apnea but also that the apnea is not causing the insomnia in my case. Nothing changed when I used the CPAP except that it made my insominia worse. The sleep doctor advised to use Ambien every night which I'm not doing. He even said that it's not addictive and we all know that it is. At any rate, ambien doesn't really work for me. I only sleep about 4 hours when I take ambien and feel miserable the next day......even worse than when I take nothing.
In my case, it definitely was not worth it. I learned that sleep doctors are only interested in sleep apnea. They have little or no interest in insomnia. I did learn from the sleep study that I do have mild sleep apnea but also that the apnea is not causing the insomnia in my case. Nothing changed when I used the CPAP except that it made my insominia worse. The sleep doctor advised to use Ambien every night which I'm not doing. He even said that it's not addictive and we all know that it is. At any rate, ambien doesn't really work for me. I only sleep about 4 hours when I take ambien and feel miserable the next day......even worse than when I take nothing.
I agree with the above. Sleep disorders are basically categorized as either insomnia or sleep apnea, which can be diagnosed by wearing a monitor for one night. It can be successfully treated with a CPAP machine. Insomnia is a disorder that defies treatment in many people. We have a sleep lab in town, and after reading their pitch, I decided it wouldn't be worth it. They can show patients lots of cool printouts and graphs of various sleep stages, but at the end of the day-and after spending a lot of money-, I don't think they can offer much help besides the usual "sleep hygiene" and sleeping pills. You can also record your sleeping sounds with an inexpensive sound-activated digital recorder. If you hear a lot of coughing and wheezing, you may have apnea. If you snore a lot, try the adhesive strips that hold your nasal passages open. I've always thought I was a very light sleeper, but I almost always sleep with the windows open, and I discovered that nighttime sounds like sirens and wildlife that are picked up on the recorder don't awaken me. Go figure. It sounds like your insomnia is due to a combination of your meds and pain. Hopefully it will pass once your off the meds. Ambien seems to be the most effective sleep aid, but it is addictive. You should try to get off it as soon as you can. Hang in there.
You should go for a sleep study. It will not be a waste of time and money. You may also record your sleep pattern through a sleep manager and take consultation based on its records.
If you decide to go for a sleep study, I would ask the following questions before signing up.
1. How many patients with the same or similar symptoms have they successfully treated? Are the patients still experiencing substantially improved sleep after one year or more?
2. What is their usual treatment protocol? Do they prescribe long term use of sleep meds, lifestyle changes, sleep hygiene changes, diet changes, etc?
You can find an immense library of credible information on insomnia for free. I would exhaust all other sources before I would spend a lot of money on a sleep study.
If you have an underlying medical condition, such as pain, anxiety, or depression that is preventing you from sleeping (as you mentioned), then a sleep study won't reveal much. If you are taking meds that tend to cause insomnia, then you should ask your doctor for an alternative. You should address these problems first. Then if you still can't sleep, consider the sleep study, but don't expect some miracle treatment that will make you sleep better. It probably won't happen.
Worth doing a sleep study? 
