Sleep Study - or Fun with Wires

[erikaw1971 0]

Okay, I don't know how this sleep study thing really works out in the end. Last night I went in at 9pm and was done at 5am this morning.

At home, I sleep on my stomach, I don't snore, I fall asleep quickly (like 5 minutes), I don't wake up throughout the night (sleep like a log) and don't stop breathing as far as my husband can tell.

How can they possibly get a read on how you sleep at home when you don't remotely sleep like you do at home? At the sleep center I couldn't sleep well AT ALL. It took me at least an hour or two (couldn't tell time) to fall asleep and then I woke up a lot because I was so uncomfortable, especially with that prong in my nose and everything taped on me. It sucked. I just question how it relates to real life sleep. I mean, who wouldn't have sleep issues with all of that crap on you.:biggrin:

I need a nap.

[btrieger 21]

Cross your fingers and hope you don't get a call from them later this week for a follow-up.

My favorite part is the glue they stuck in my hair. I am a guy with short hair. I can only imagine what it is like for you girls.

All you can do is grin and bear it. It's for a good cause, your health.

Good luck with everything.

[erikaw1971 0]

If they call me and tell me I have to do a CPAP titration...well...argh. I can't even imagine that kind of fun. Thankfully, I might be spared. The pulmonologist said that unless I were in dire circumstances (lots of apnea events) he would just release me for the surgery because losing the weight would get rid of minor apnea. So here's hoping that I didn't stop breathing constantly during the night. (I woke up feeling rested at 5am, so that seems to be a good thing at least.)

Oh yeah and that sticky goo...It took three shampoo-ings and I still had a tiny bit left at my hairline. Blech.

Other than that, it was slightly relaxing there since at home I have three little kids. It was very peaceful, like a hotel room.

[RavenClaw779 2]

Hands down the worst experience of the pre-surgery prep(see my blog).

My bariatric center pretty much mandates sleep lab and cpap - in fact its almost like they go looking for any minor blip to equivocate the need for the cpap machine.

I now have one and am ashamed to say that as much as I thought it was a bunch of crap, the three nights I've used it, I've awaken much more refreshed and haven't needed a nap during the day or fallen asleep while watching TV at night.

Still haven't managed to wear it all night. It has a humdifier and last night I set it too high. In the middle of the night it dripped Water on my upper lip and freaked me out - kinda like that scene in Alien!:biggrin:

[Drasan 23]

I'm laughing reading the posts. I too thought it was the worst of the pre-op experiences. The wires, the goop, looking at the camera knowing you're being watched as you sleep. I have to say though, the technicians were professional and reassuring.

I had to return for a second time to be fitted for a cpap machine and I was not happy about it. I'm a little claustrophobic and the masks put me in a panic within seconds. I was finally able to somewhat tolerate a little pillow mask that sets below the nose with inserts that go into the nostrils. But I could not sleep, not at all and I kept panicking, feeling like I was being suffocated.

The tech had to come in to help me remake my bed (I'd managed to pull up the sheets and blankets in my twisting and turning) then about 3 or 4 hours later with me still twisting and turning (not sleeping at all)I sat up on the edge of the bed, the tech came in and I said, "Just unplug me and let me die!" :biggrin:

I can be a little dramatic.

Long story coming to an end.

First week at home with the machine, there were a lot of frustrated tears, feelings of humiliation and me wearing the mask improperly (I really couldn't breath) but I finally got it figured out and now I am tolerating it, not loving it, but I am being compliant.

I'm looking forward to losing the weight and doing another sleep test with the hopes of retiring the machine. If not, I will be getting a dental appliance to replace it. Keeping this goal in mind is getting me through.

Good luck to you. Let us know how it works out.

[RavenClaw779 2]

Drasan - Clue me in-there's an oral appliance for SA? I'm learning to tolerate this damn machine but just barely.

In fact I have to bring it with me tomorrow so they can slap it on me post-surgery and then I have to return for a follow up appt. with the pulmonologist in two months to see how I'm doing i.e., another damn sleep study.

[btrieger 21]

Got my CPAP 4 months ago and have used it maybe 4 full nights. I pull it off in the middle of the night subconsciously or wake up in a panic because it is trying to force air down my throat while I am trying to exhale.

I gave up on it.

[Drasan 23]

Hi Erika .. Yes! There is an alternative to the cpap machine. Google dental appliances for sleep apnea.

Not all pulmonary doctors are on board with the use of dental appliances. I found one who is. My doc told me to use the cpap machine to get me through the surgery and to lose a little weight, then if I still need assistance with breathing at night, we will look at getting a dental appliance.

btrieger .. you have been so inspirational with your compliance through your weight loss during pre-op! I can sympathize with your difficulty with the cpap machine. I still wake up at times in a panic feeling like I can't breath. But when my doctor explained the possible outcomes from non-compliance, I knew I had to make it work. Talk to your pulmonary doctor about a dental device. If he knows you can't tolerate the cpap machine, my guess is he'll want to help you with alternatives.

[btrieger 21]

btrieger .. you have been so inspirational with your compliance through your weight loss during pre-op! I can sympathize with your difficulty with the cpap machine. I still wake up at times in a panic feeling like I can't breath. But when my doctor explained the possible outcomes from non-compliance, I knew I had to make it work. Talk to your pulmonary doctor about a dental device. If he knows you can't tolerate the cpap machine, my guess is he'll want to help you with alternatives.

Thanks and you are right. I probably shouldn't have given up.

I am down about 100 pounds since my sleep study. I don't know when my next sleep study will be but I am hoping they say the apnea is gone. If not, I will have to look into alternatives to the CPAP.

[smyz64 0]

Ok, after getting through all the posts, I realize :scared2:I go tomorrow night for my CPAP sleep study.

Love the glue haired look at work, though. :biggrin:

[Julianne 0]

To first answer someone's question -- yes, there is an oral appliance that can be worn to correct some *mild* apnea.

I'm one of the lucky ones that had to go back to a bigger hospital to get a PES sleep study. They put a tube up my nose and down my throat in addition to the other stuff to also measure how much the back of my throat collapses. (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, I think.) So I may not be having typical apnea, but I AM having a mini asthma attack when I am on my back. All night long.

So, I wasn't a typical sleep apnea case, but my sleep architechture was way skewed. I dream all night long and never get to the restorative sleep.

[mimi368 0]

I had my sleep study 5 years ago and have been sleeping with my c-pap since then. It did take a long time to get adjusted to it but now I sleep through the night every night without ever waking up and feel so much more rested the next day. All that said, I am so looking forward to getting rid of it one day!

[caldwell33 0]

I went for my first sleep study on 1/12 and it was a nightmare in the makes, first they couldn't get the equipment working and were still trying at 12:30 am, the equipment broke down twice during the night and then they told me to leave at 5:30 am, the test was over. I was furious, there was no way they could get a accurate test from the is experience. Then the bad news came, they told me I had to do the study over again because I had severe apnea and stopped breathing 110 times during the night. They were in a panic. I told them it was their equipment

failure. Well I did the study the second time and was told I needed a cpap machine immediately. I almost flipped out.

Well, they came 2 weeks later (so much for stopping breathing more than 110 times a night) and they installed the cpap machine.

I fought with this thing every night the first week and a half, and now I am getting used to it and can sleep thru the night and have to say I feel alot better & can't imagine not

wearing it. Please don't give up, they do work. I wake up totally refreshed, not as tired and I am breathing better during the day. My husband says he doesn't hear me

snoring anymore, (I was really bad). Oh yeah, that goo they put in your hair is horrible to get out. Have a great day and

keep smiling, we're all going to be as beautiful as we are on the inside now on the outside too!

[btrieger 21]

Y'all have convinced me to give mine another shot.

Thanks!!

[RavenClaw779 2]

Whew - I am so glad I'm not the only one out here struggling with this cpap demon.

I still wonder how accurate these tests are when you're not in your own environment? The guy who did my bipap fitting was telling me that the technology exists to create a take home testing kit - wonder when they get that going?