Sleep Study ~ Overview of my experience

kaytiebugs · July 8, 2008

I just want to share my experience with everyone.

I did my sleep study at a sleep center in Johns Creek, Ga.

I arrived at 8:00 pm. My room was awesome. The blankets and sheets were a lot higher thread count than at home, there was a flat screen TV, nice decor, I had my own bathroom, etc. Very nice. I was really expecting to get some awesome sleep on the super soft awesome pillows they had.

They explained everything they would do then gave me 30 minutes to get settled in for bed. She came in and stuck the little sensors all in my hair, on my face, and my neck (I swear there were like 30 thingeys taped all over me). The ones in the hair sucked the most because I was left with globs of goo in my hair and didn't pack Shampoo so I had to go to work with the globs still in my hair... but my hair covered them and I was able to wash out the one that was visible. They also put the nose thing people wear in hospitals for oxygen up your nose, but don't actually send any air through it... it senses your breathing or something.

So between the 20-30 things stuck all over me, the band around my chest and abdomen, the thing stuck to my finger, and the thing stuck up my nose.... sleep was IMPOSSIBLE!!

I tried the CPAP thing before I went to sleep, so I would know what it was like. It's really strange. It's basically a mask that is constantly blowing air to your face. It felt harder to exhale. I felt like I was really pushing out the air.

I woke up every 30 minutes or so because I couldn't sleep. I'm afraid I'll have to do it again because I don't think I fell into a deep sleep all night.

CMTurner · July 9, 2008

That sucks. Sorry. That is sooo what I am afraid of happening when I have my sleep study done next weekend. I hope they got what they needed so you don't have to try and redo the test. Recently I have been having to take something to help me sleep anyway.

orea15 · July 9, 2008

I don't sleep well there, either. I probably would if I didn't have to be on my back.

It took me about a week of real effort to get used to my CPAP machine. I was cranky for a while there! But now I don't want to be without it. I have a battery backup for my machine in case the power goes out, that's how important it is to me.

You will get used to the greater effort of the exhale, but I want you to know that there are machines with a "flex" feature that sense when you are exhaling and soften the pressure just enough to make it feel more natural. I invested in one of these (there are some good deals on the Internet) and it is my machine of choice. Mine also has an "automatic" feature which senses how I am breathing and supplies just enough pressure to keep those passages open. I have been able to watch my pressure decrease as I lost weight this year.

It's well worth the effort to get used to your machine--should you need one.

Hope this helps.

Orea

Shamrockgirl60 · July 9, 2008

I hate my CPAP (or CRAP) machine. I am still trying to get used to it after a month. I can wear it and sleep for about 5 hours, then I wake up and take it off and go back to sleep. I know I shouldn't do that but I will try to not take it off. I went from full face mask to nose mask and hope my next one will be the pillow one for the nose. I hate having my face covered in any way and that head gear thing against my forehead gives me a terrible headache in the morning.

Hoping with the weight loss, I will get rid of this thing in a few months.

I have two tests first one without the mask, then diagnosed with sleep apnea and the second one with the mask. I thought I didn't sleep at all but they told me I slept each of those nights about 4-5 hours so they got a good test done.

orea15 · July 9, 2008

I recommend the Breeze nasal pillow mask from Puritan Bennett. I bought one with my own $$ and it was the best investment ever. It doesn't bind, it never leaked from the first moment I slipped it on. And it doesn't have an assortment of buckles and latches to fumble with every time you need to take it off or put it on. There are cheaper places to get it than the site below, but you might like to see the reviews. --Orea

Breeze SleepGear CPAP Interface System with TWO sets of Nasal Pillows

kaytiebugs · July 10, 2008

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I go today to get my results.

For anyone who has to do a sleep study in the future, I strongly suggest bringing your own pillow if they will allow it. I think I would have gotten more sleep if I had my own pillow.... theres were a little too fluffy for me.

orea15 · July 10, 2008

An excellent suggestion! I brought my pillows both times. No one minded a bit.

Orea

kaytiebugs · July 10, 2008

I just got back from the doc. I don't have sleep apnea, but he said I slept for a total of TWO hours!! That wasn't even two hours straight, that was like 15-30 minutes here and there.

Shamrockgirl60 · July 10, 2008

Thanks Orea, I will ask the company that I got my equipment if they have that one when I get to change my masks in a month or two. If now I'll buy this one and see if I like it.

I appreciate your help.