OT: Sleep Study part II

[NTDawg]

I had a dr's appointment yesterday and he recommended the sleep study. Baptist Hospital called me today and scheduled the study next week. I asked what I needed to bring. She said bring whatever makes me comfortable and helps me sleep. I asked so it is ok for me to bring my whiskey. She said no I can't bring my whiskey. But she just said bring whatever makes me comfortable. They need to make up their mind. Doubt I will have any trouble falling asleep but do you y'all think I can get away with having a little sip to take the edge off? Any suggestions on what I should or shouldn't do to get help get thru the night. As always thanks for the advice.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

IF you are a light sleeper like me you are in for a long night. They had me wlred up from head to toe and I was aware of it all night. Sleep aid may help.

 

[patdog]

That's one reason I've never pursued having a sleep study done. There wouldn't be anything for them to study because I'd be up all night.

 

[NTDawg]

I think I will be able to "sleep" I think I sleep all night and sleep pretty heavy. One of the problems is I "sleep" all night but don't feel rested when I get up. But any suggestions from those who have been thru this before is very much appreciated.

 

[ShrubDog]

Just get your cortisol down and you will sleep better. I bet your doctor never tested your level.

 

[natchezdawg]

She said no I can't bring my whiskey

Either move your sleep study to St. Dominic or just take Vanilla Extract.

 

[aTotal360]

I did it and it sucked. The headband with all the wires made it impossible to sleep. IMO, it was a bust.

I've discovered that taking half a Unisom once a week (either Friday or Saturday night) helps me tremendously the remainder of the week. It's the one night a week I know I'll get some serious rest. More than half of one of those little pills 17s me up and ruins my day. I've tried the herbal stuff, but none of it really works for me. Plus Unisom is dirt cheap. Give it a shot. It you typically go to be around 10:30, take it about 9:45.

 

[FQDawg]

I've had two sleep studies done. Both times I felt like I didn't sleep at all and that I was up all night. Both times the lab techs and the doctor told me I slept long enough for them to "study" me. For the second one, I made sure I took a day off from work the following day because I knew I'd be exhausted.

TBone is right - they wire you up from head to toe and it can be hard to get comfortable. The other issue I had is that I tend to start on my back and roll over to my side during the night. Every time I did, they came on the speaker and asked me to go back to laying on my back which obviously woke me right back up.

I'd just try to do some relaxation exercises if you can - focus on breathing, count backwards from 100 (more than once if necessary), etc...

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

I thought I slept all night and was a heavy sleeper too. but I didn't feel rested in the morning either. Turns out I stopped breathing 167 times in 8 hours. The nurse even came and woke me once when I stopped breathing for almost 2 minutes. It took me 6 months to finally sleep through the night with my cpap mask on. I had to try several different masks. Try the little one that is just a little bigger than a chap stick roll and has two "plugs" that go into your nose. I liked it best. The first night I did sleep through the night with my cpap, I woke up feeling the best I had felt in years and realized that I had needed one since junior high. I now have 2, one I leave at home and one I leave at deer camp during the season and it becomes my traveling one the rest of the year. I got the second one for free from my brother's mil who couldn't get used to it.

The only problems are that you have to be religious about cleaning them and I can't sleep without one now.

 

[aTotal360]

This summed my experience to a T. I heard the same lines from the technicians too. I don't know how they got enough info from me. I didn't sleep a wink.

 

[FQDawg]

The other suggestion I have, and you probably won't like it, is to cut back on the alcohol consumption - especially in the evenings.

If you sleep all night but don't feel rested, it's possible you have sleep apnea. Alcohol can exacerbate it. I've had a cpap for about six years and it's been a huge help but I noticed I slept even better and felt more rested starting about two years ago when I gave up drinking during the week (aside from the occasional drink with dinner). If I don't have to be up for anything (meaning Friday or Saturday nights), I may have a little more to drink but cutting back on school nights has made a big difference in my sleep quality.

 

[LTblows]

The ended up giving me a sedative, so, that might happen to you- worst case scenario.

 

[DoctorDawg]

The tech offered me an Ambien for my study. I didn't take it on my first visit, but did for my second. Made a huge difference. My cpap made a world of a difference , made the wife happy also, no more snoring.

 

[MarkDallas]

I've had three done. One was an in-home study, which they can do now. I'm not calling anyone's motives into question, but they make a lot of money off the ones done in the lab.

I thought I would pass right out even with all the stuff on because I'm so tired all the time, but it did take me longer to get to sleep. Once you get to sleep, they will get enough to study.

Don't drink before you go in there (or during). If you are going to all that trouble, you want accurate results.

 

[OneParticularHarbor]

It is worth the trouble

It's tough and I still struggle with a full-mask CPAP occasionally, but when I get 6-7 hours of deep sleep (and my machine keeps stats and uploads to a database you can access online) I wake up feeling MUCH better than when I miss a night and think I sleep well. For my second study (I failed my first like others, getting basically no sleep) I got half an Ambien and that helped get me to sleep. Wear something like a comfortable, loose t-shirt and gym shorts to sleep in. They will strap you in on top of it with a ton of wires and leads, so be ready. When you get a CPAP, try different masks if needed. I had to try a couple of different ones to settle on one I could live with.

 

[NTDawg]

17 that

 

[NTDawg]

Don't drink before you go in there (or during). If you are going to all that trouble, you want accurate results.

That would be an accurate of my typical night, no drink would be unusual.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I still sleep with a toothpick. I haven't had any issues or studies done since the last thread on this. Just trying to keep y'all abreast of the situation. Square cut, or the ones with little grooves on a flat end work best. "Don't, never, ever" use one of those frufru cocktail ones with the colored plastic flair on top. If no toothpicks can be found the right sized stick or plastic swizzle stick should suffice.

 

[dorndawg]

If I were cynical, I'd say used car salesmen medical professionals don't want folks sleeping well during sleep studies, so they can then "treat" them.

But I'm not cynical so I'd never say that.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I had trouble falling asleep but it being pitch black in the room helped. I had chronic sleep apnea and the CPAP has been a lifesaver for my rest and my marriage because I was a legendary snorer... rattle the roof and walls guy.

Deal with the trouble and get the machine if you need it. I would advise getting the model that lets you put distilled water in to keep from drying out. I hope you can use the nose mask. I had to go with the full mask and it get uncomfortable if I don't put a sock under the neck band.

There's another old thread on here about this if you want to search for it.

 

[FQDawg]

Haha. Fair enough.

 

[Tin Cup Cowboy]

A serious question for you that have sleep apnea and use the mask.

How many are you are overweight?

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I could stand to lose 20-25 for sure. I'm stocky as hell with a lot of muscle mass. Sleep Apnea is chronic with weight lifters and bodybuilders. The extra mass closes airways.

When I drink or smoke cigars I have it really bad. Like stop breathing for minutes and choking for air.

 

[1msudawg]

My one piece of advice for this is to make sure you have whatever life insurance in place that you want. Because most insurance companies will either not issue life insurance or rate you up higher if they give it to you.

Just my .02

 

[missouridawg]

I've had two sleep studies done. Both times I felt like I didn't sleep at all and that I was up all night. Both times the lab techs and the doctor told me I slept long enough for them to "study" me. For the second one, I made sure I took a day off from work the following day because I knew I'd be exhausted.

TBone is right - they wire you up from head to toe and it can be hard to get comfortable. The other issue I had is that I tend to start on my back and roll over to my side during the night. Every time I did, they came on the speaker and asked me to go back to laying on my back which obviously woke me right back up.

I'd just try to do some relaxation exercises if you can - focus on breathing, count backwards from 100 (more than once if necessary), etc...

This is relevant. With the wires, you are forced to sleep on your back. I'd suggest practicing that at home and figuring out how to get comfortable that way. Some suggestions.... a pillow under your knees (I do this every night) and maybe even some thin pillows under elbows at your sides to discourage you from rolling over.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

Just for giggles...call back and ask if you can bring porn.....or better yet ask if you can pick up and bring a hooker on the way.....id love to see their faces when you arrive

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

A serious question for you that have sleep apnea and use the mask.

How many are you are overweight?

I am but I also have a deviated septum that was operated on once. I broke my nose and they will not do the surgery now.

The weight is an issue now but the breathing issues had always been there even when I was thinner, they just didn't have the cpap when I was younger.

In other words, doc says even if I lost a ton of weight I would have the problem still.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

A serious question for you that have sleep apnea and use the mask.

How many are you are overweight?

I used to be big snorer and woke up every morning feeling as if I hadn't even fallen asleep. I was also 40lbs over weight. Had a sleep study done and they recommended I get a cpap. Decided to lose the weight 1st to see if that would help. When I lost the weight my snoring stopped and now feel 100% better every morning.

 

[harrydawg.sixpack]

Don't rub one out during the sleep study. They have cameras.

seriously though, they hook you up on all these probs, you are as uncomfortable as possible, they are watching and recording you......then they say good night. I felt as if I watch the ceiling all night. Finally, a nurse came on and asked if I needed something to help make me sleep - is a hand job out of question?

amazingly, when morning finally came around, they said I had "border line sleep apnea"....it took some time to find the right gear but now, my poor wife is a lot happier and I do feel great. Do it, it will be 100% worth it

 

[Tin Cup Cowboy]

I ask that because I could stand to lose 20-25 lbs and I know my snoring has gotten worst since I've gained weight.

And I'm like you TBone, if I drink it's much worse.

 

[The Peeper]

Do they ever NOT recommend a cpap machine after the study? Everybody I know that's done the study was told to get one, like oil change techs always tell you that you have dirty air filters and need one regardless

 

[codeDawg]

I've known a few people on their way to a CPAP who decided to make a few minor life changes and avoided it while ending up much happier in general. If I were to guess, 90% of your issue is that you drink to much and you're fat. If you will cut out the school night drinking and substitute lunch with a protein bar, you will be a completely different person in 2-3 months. Add in doing some brisk walking at lunch instead of eating at the meat and 3 and you will feel even better. I would bet you could very easily lose 15-20 lbs over that period. You would be surprised to know what a difference cutting out the booze and losing a little weight can make.

That, or you can be drunk, fat, unhappy, and go to sleep attached to a machine for the rest of your life.

 

[ShrubDog]

Do they ever NOT recommend a cpap machine after the study? Everybody I know that's done the study was told to get one, like oil change techs always tell you that you have dirty air filters and need one regardless

I was about to post the same question. If they recommend you need a sleep study they already know you don't sleep well. I have been referred multiple times for 15 years and have never gone because Im not wearing a cpap, I aint sleeping while wearing one. Got my cortisol levels down and sleep fine.

 

[FQDawg]

This applies to me, too...

I could stand to lose a bit but even when I was skinny as a rail, I didn't sleep well. It has something to do with the way my jaw sits... when I sleep, regardless of my weight, it drops and obstructs my airway.

The other thing you might want to try, if you're opposed to the cpap, is one of the bands you put around your head that keeps your mouth closed when you sleep. I have one with my cpap and it definitely helps. Something like this:

http://www.bulkcpapsupplies.com/ruby-cpap-chin-straps.html

I've found that if I use just that (even without the cpap), I can sleep pretty well for an hour or so, which makes it perfect for a weekend nap when I don't want to strap in to the whole machine.

 

[crushing]

I took the sleep test and they did not recommend a CPAP.

On another note, my Co-worker said he went a couple of different times for sleep study and they did not recommend the CPAP. He thought he needed one so he did the sleep study again, but they let him take something home and do the sleep study at his house, and after that, they did recommend the CPAP for him. Not sure how that works, but that's what he told me. It wasn't in Mississippi BTW.

 

[codeDawg]

What did you do for cortisol?

 

[msualohadog]

I got the Inspire implant in April and it works like a champ! No more CPAP! Turn it on every night with a remote control against my chest and off every morning. Cured both the apnea and the snoring. No more metal detectors or MRIs but other than that, works awesome and no side effects. Takes about two months to heal and set then change battery every 10 yrs w/ outpatient surgery. Emerging technology, got mine in Atlanta. google it if your interested.

 

[Jacknut1]

There's no doubt those changes could help someone with MILD apnea. Unfortunately, all the weight loss in the world won't reduce the size of my tongue and soft palate which shut off my airway at night. Making healthy choices may not be enough for some.

 

[codeDawg]

Absolutely true, but most of the people that go in for these sleep studies and end up on CPAP have minor apnea and are just fat / drunk. I was on that list at one time.

There are a ton of people that just have extra tissue, but there are a lot of people who have extra weight that compress the tissue in. You would have called me "thin" if you saw me, but I was actually 30 lbs overweight. Losing the weight made a night and day difference for me and others I know. The drinking is another huge part of it.

 

[HotMop]

I'd screw with the sleep tech and wear thong underwear. I've had the study down and it's a pain in the ***. I actually drank a couple of beers in the parking lot the 2nd time as I wanted a "true" study.

$10 says you have sleep apnea and they recommend a CPAP. I'd like to see the % of patients that haven't failed the sleep test. I'm not sure you can pass.