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[zarathustra]

I mentioned fatigue and the possibility that I stop breathing while I sleep to my GP and she has booked me a sleep test appointment for tomorrow night.  I'm to report at 8 pm to the sleep center with my pajamas and pillow, and I get checked out at 5:30 or 6 a.m. 

I haven't fallen asleep before 8 pm (not including naps) in at least 2 decades, so I'm wondering how effective this test will be, especially if they send me off at 6 a.m. 

Has anyone else taken a test like this?  I think it will be interesting, at least. 

[yellowtractor]

Yes, twice, actually.

Most sleep centers ask you what time you usually go to sleep and schedule accordingly.  (The last time I had one, I went in at midnight for a study that was to run 1 a.m.-9 a.m.)  Are you sure you can't get the sleep clinic to change the time?

Otherwise, you might try to wake up extra early tomorrow morning, to make sure you're properly fatigued when you go in.

I hated these, by the way, even though the second one did answer the question of just what was wrong with my sleep cycles.  I sleep on my stomach and often toss & turn, shifting position.  Most sleep tests require you to sleep on your back and remain reasonably still (because of all the wires).  Trying to sleep on my back without turning over was absolutely miserable on its own account.

Good luck.

[dept_geek]

You may report at 8 or so, but it will be 10 or 11 before the test gets rolling. The first bit of time is dedicated to filling out forms and putting on all the electrical equipment.

Make certain you do not nap or have any caffiene the day of the test. You will have enough trouble sleeping as it is (strange room, odd sounds, funky equipment on your head and face, etc). The first time I took the test, I slept maybe 4 hours, very little of it contiguous.

They will get enough info to rule in sleep apnea. The flat lines on the chart are a (no pun intended) dead giveaway.

[zarathustra]

Yes, twice, actually.

Most sleep centers ask you what time you usually go to sleep and schedule accordingly.  (The last time I had one, I went in at midnight for a study that was to run 1 a.m.-9 a.m.)  Are you sure you can't get the sleep clinic to change the time?

Otherwise, you might try to wake up extra early tomorrow morning, to make sure you're properly fatigued when you go in.

I hated these, by the way, even though the second one did answer the question of just what was wrong with my sleep cycles.  I sleep on my stomach and often toss & turn, shifting position.  Most sleep tests require you to sleep on your back and remain reasonably still (because of all the wires).  Trying to sleep on my back without turning over was absolutely miserable on its own account.

Good luck.

I'll call them and ask about going in/staying later.  I'm also wondering if they do prefer I go in that early if I can bring my iPod or some reading material.  I'm betting a big fat "NO" to those questions though. 

On preview: eek? No caffeine?  I'll be nauseated with a headache! I will keep it to one cup of coffee though.   I'll do my best not to nap but that's been veeeerrry difficult of late.

That's interesting that the sleep apnea can pop up within 4 hours.

I'm almost hoping I do have sleep apnea, since they can prescribe that funky Darth Vader machine to sleep with (that sounds bad...you know what I mean).  Then maybe I'll drop weight faster!  I think I just have congested sinuses, instead.

[yellowtractor]

I'll call them and ask about going in/staying later.  I'm also wondering if they do prefer I go in that early if I can bring my iPod or some reading material.  I'm betting a big fat "NO" to those questions though. 

Depends on the clinic.  Mine (second test) did allow for light reading before bed.  They basically said the machines would start when I turned off the lights.

(Their literature also mentioned the possibility of bringing stuffed animals or other "comfort props."  I think this was meant for children.  I admit I was tempted.)

[ms_turtle]

Hi. I've had a sleep test and I also have sleep apnea. I have a CPAP machine and love it.

My sleep test was clunky and didn't go well for me. I think I was supposed to be there around 8pm as well. It can take 30 min to an hour to get you hooked up, more if there are several patients there that night. I felt like a freak -- I wish I had brought my camera! Then they have to calibrate the incoming data. It's a lot of "blink your eyes, move your left leg, grind your teeth, etc."

Then you can wind down. I could read a book, watch tv, listen to music, etc. They even said it was ok to fall asleep watching tv.

But it was a strange bed and it took me the longest time to fall asleep. They actually didn't get enough data during the night. A few weeks later after data analysis, I was able to use a rental CPAP that collected much the same data over a 1-month time span. Infinitely more sensible if you ask me.

I left around 6am as well. At the sleep lab I went to we didn't have a choice regarding early or late sleeping shifts. I wish I could have gone in later and slept later.

[infopri]

My Better Half went through this, and his experience was similar to the others reported here.  I think we had to show up at 9, and it easily took an hour to wait his turn and then get all hooked up.  (I remembered to bring a camera, though!  Hee!)  I was allowed to stay with him until about 10 or so.  He was allowed to read or to watch the TV contained in  his room.  (The room, by the way, is nothing like a hospital room; it's more like a really, really small motel room.)  He, too, had a lot of trouble sleeping with all the wires and the strange bed and room, but he slept enough for them to determine both that he had sleep apnea and that his blood oxygen during the night was around 75 percent--heart attack territory.  Thank god he got tested and now uses a biPAP machine.

Speaking of which, he, too had to go for a second visit, but not to repeat the test.  The purpose of the second visit was to hook him up to a CPAP machine (they didn't have a biPAP available) and figure out what the proper pressure settings were.  Again, he had trouble sleeping, in part because the machine they used wasn't nearly as comfortable as the biPAP machine and particular mask he ended up with.  It took him about a week to get used to his own machine, and now he wouldn't go a single night without it.

[gennimom]

Okay, I've considered this issue minor compared to the others, but I've had issues for years. But if I ever get this done, I'm in trouble. I'm a side sleeper and if I have to sleep on my back, it won't be good. It is when I roll to my back that I wake up.

Ugh. NOW something else to worry about. Thanks Zara! ;)

[spork]

Goo Gone gets rid of the electrode gunk in your hair.  Just don't get the Goo Gone in your eyes.

[elsie]

Has anyone ever had a sleep test for insomnia issues, or does it mainly help with apnea? I don't think apnea is my problem, since my problem is either getting to sleep or getting back to sleep. Would a sleep test be able to determine anything related to that?

[psychdiva]

Has anyone ever had a sleep test for insomnia issues, or does it mainly help with apnea? I don't think apnea is my problem, since my problem is either getting to sleep or getting back to sleep. Would a sleep test be able to determine anything related to that?

The sleep specialist that I refer to will do a sleep study if the insomnia does not respond to less invasive/expensive measures, however some money-grubbing insurance companies won't pay for a sleep study if the sole diagnosis is insomnia.

[dept_geek]

Has anyone ever had a sleep test for insomnia issues, or does it mainly help with apnea? I don't think apnea is my problem, since my problem is either getting to sleep or getting back to sleep. Would a sleep test be able to determine anything related to that?

The sleep tests discussed so far are useful for things that can be seen on a graph. There are other tests for insomnia, ask your doc to refer you to a sleep psychologist. I posted on another thread (and was soundly poo-poo'd) about sleep hygiene... that helped me with some of the insomnia issues.

[elsie]

I've  been working on sleep hygiene. My caffeine consumption is way down, and I try not to stay in bed watching TV when I can't sleep, but that can mean that I end up at the computer most of the night. It's very frustrating to get so little real sleep.

[psychdiva]

Zara, some additional suggestions for your sleep study...

- Bring pajamas or a t-shirt and leggings. A loose top is best, since they'll be putting an elastic strap around your chest to measure your respiration.

- Go in with squeaky clean hair, with no mousse, hairspray or conditioner. This helps the electrodes make the most accurate recording off of your scalp surface.

- Try to remember to go to the bathroom before they hook you up to the recording equipment. You can go once you're hooked up but it's kind of awkward to carry all of those wires with you.

- If you are the kind of person who needs to eat something right after you get up, bring a baggie of cereal or a granola bar.

[psychdiva]

I posted on another thread (and was soundly poo-poo'd) about sleep hygiene

Bah! That's a shame. Sleep hygiene interventions and a little cognitive-behavioral work with a sleep psychologist are, overall, a more effective and more permanent solution than sleep meds.